Behavior Analysis

Behavior Definition

An individual living organism’s activity, public or private, which may be influenced by internal or external stimuli.

Goals for Behavior Analysis

1. Predict behavior

2. Positively influence behavior

Characteristics of Willed Actions

A willed action. goal directed

Functional Variable

Something that reliably and systematically influences behavior

Dependent Variable

What you are measuring (Behavior)

Independent Variable

What you are changing/manipulating

Experiments

manipulating the independent variable to determine the effect on the dependent variable

Assumptions of behavior analysis

1. Behavior is determined

2. The scientific method is a valid way to reveal determinants

Experimental Analysis of behavior

- interested in basic determinants

- conduct experiments in lab settings

Applied Behavior Analysis

Interested in Determinants

Research Focused (non-lab)

Behavior Service Delivery

Use discoveries to address the needs of the patients they serve

Behavior analysis is defined by its…

goals, assumptions, and activities

Direct Observations

Directly watching behavior

or seeing lasting change made by the behavior

IOA stands for

Interobserver agreement

Behavioral Definitions

precise specification of topography of behavior, allowing observers to reliably identify instances and non-instances

Count

How many times a behavior occurs

Frequency

How often a behavior occurs

Combines count with time frame

Latency

How long it takes before a behavior starts after a signal

Duration

How long a behavior lasts

4 Direct Observation Techniques

Outcome Recording

Event Recording

Interval Recording

Duration Recording

Acceptable level of IOA

90%

Formula for IOA

agreements

agreement + disagreements times 100

4 Dimensions of Behavior

Frequency

Count

Duration

Latency

Outcome Recording is used when

Measuring count

Behavior leaves a lasting product that can be measured at a later time

Event Recording is used when

Measuring frequency or count

Does not leave a lasting product that can be measured later

Response durations do NOT vary meaningfully from instance to instance

Interval Recording is used when

Measuring frequency or count

Behavior does not leave a lasting product that can be measured later

Response variations DO vary meaningfully from instance to instance

Duration Recording is used when

Measuring duration or latency

Outcome recording:

Used when behavior leaves a lasting product

Can count the products

The observer is not present

Event Recording:

Response variations do NOT vary meaningfully from instance to instance

Observers are present to record every instance of behavior the moment it occurs

Used when there is no distinct, observable, and lasting product

Interval Recording

Measures behavior during consecutive units of time

Duration of target behavior varies meaningfully

Behavior does not leave a lasting product

Partial-interval recording

Asks: Did the behavior occur at ANY point

Used to estimate how frequently the behavior occurs

Intervals are brief and of fixed duration

If the behavior occurs, it’s recorded as positive; if not, it’s recorded as negative

Whole Interval Recording

Used to estimate how frequently behavior occurs

Behavior has to occur throughout the entire interval to be recorded as positive

Antecedents…

cause behavior

Operant Behavior

behavior affected by antecedents and consequences

Reinforcer

follows behavior and increases Behavior

Punisher

Decreases Behavior

Reinforcer…

Follows behavior and increases behavior

Reinforcement

procedure using a reinforcer

Contingency

IF-THEN relation between behavior and consequence

Positive reinforcement

Addition of a stimulus and increases behavior

Negative reinforcement

Removal (or prevention) of a stimulus increases behavior

Escape behavior

removes an aversive stimulus

Avoidance behavior

prevents the aversive stimulus from ever occurring

Extinction does what?

decreases behavior

Extinction

A previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced

1st Effect of Extinction

Extinction Burst - initial increase in behavior

2nd Effect of Extinction

Topography of the target behavior become more variable

3rd effect of extinction

The probability of target behavior decreases below baseline levels. HAS TO HAPPEN TO BE EXTINCTION

4th effect of extinction

Extinction-induced resurgence - a 2nd behavior increases

5th effect of extinction

Extinction-induced emotional behavior

Continuous reinforcement

behavior is rewarded every time it occurs

Intermittent reinforcement

behavior is reinforced inconsistently

Continuous reinforcement = ___ extinction

quicker

Intermittent reinforcement = ___ extinction

slower

Partial reinforcement extinction effect

Intermittent reinforcement has slower extinction, and continuous reinforcement has quicker extinction

Shaping

differential reinforcement of successive approximations of the target behavior

Approximations

behavior that is not “end” or target behavior

Differential Reinforcement

Desired behavior increases, and undesired behavior is extinguished

DRA stands for

Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors

DRO stands for

Differential reinforcement of other behaviors

DRI stands for

Differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors

DRA

Problem behavior is extinguished, and specific desired behavior is reinforced

DRO

Problem behavior is extinguished, and anything but the problem behavior is reinforced.

A predetermined amount of time must pass before the reinforcer is delivered

DRI

Problem behavior is extinguished, and incompatible behavior is reinforced

Factors influencing reinforcer efficiency

Immediacy, Contingency, Size, Individual differences, Motivating Operations

Immediacy

Immediate reinforcers are more effective

Contingency

IF/THEN - If reinforcers are free, why work?

Non-contingent reinforcement

makes behavior decrease below baseline levels

Individual differences

What acts as a reinforcer for some may not for others

Motivating Operations

Some temporary events can make a reinforcer more/less effective. Increases/decreases behaviors that lead to that reinforcer

EO stands for

Establishing Operation

EO

Environmental change that temporarily increases the value of a reinforcer and increases behavior that leads to that reinforcer

AO stands for

Abolishing Operation

AO

environmental change that temporarily decreases the value of a specific reinforcer, and decreases behaviors that lead to that reinforcer

US

unconditioned stimulus

UR

unconditioned response

NS

neutral stimulus

CS

conditioned stimulus

CR

conditioned response

Pavlovian Extinction

repeated presentation of CS in absence of US reducing the CR

Problems with pavlovian extinction

lots of emotional responding

Systematic Desensitization

Low levels of CS

CS never elicits the CR

gradually increase the intensity of the CS

Counter Conditioning

makes the CS that produces the unwanted response predictive of something good

Ex.) CS: Ringtone (predictive of bad news)

CR: Sadness

→

CS: Ringtone (predictive of good news)

CR: Happiness

Example of counter conditioning

Aversive counter conditioning

makes the CS that produces the unwanted response predictive of something bad

ex.) CS: thought of Alfredo

CR: excited feeling

—> get food poisoning once after eating it

CS: thought of Alfredo

CR: quest feeling

example of aversive counter conditioning

Primary Reinforcers

Reinforcers since birth

Always effective, unless you’re satiated

Conditioned reinforces

Requires learning through pavlovian conditioning

Generalized Conditioned Reinforcers

Predictive of many different things

“backup” reinforcers

tickets, money

examples of generalized conditioned reinforcers

Single Subject Design

exposes individuals to baseline and experimental phases

AB

comparison design

comparison designs have

low internal validity

ABA

Reversal Design

ABA has

high internal validity

Group Designs

compare two groups