BEHA 55: TEST 1

Analogue setting

an observer setting that is not part of the client's normal daily routine. Typically involves a setting such as a separate room where all stimuli and activities are controlled by the experimenter.

Baseline

the condition or phase in which no treatment is implemented.

Behavioral Assessment

measurement of the target behavior (or behaviors) in behavior modification. May also refer to measurement of antecedent and consequences of the target behavior.

Continuous recording

a type of recording procedure in which some aspect of the behavior is recorded each time the behavior occurs. Frequency, duration, latency, or intensity can be recorded in a continuous recording procedure.

Direct assessment

behavioral assessment involving direct observation and recording of the behavior as it occurs. Direct assessment may also refer to direct may also refer to direct observation and recording of the antecedents and consequences of the behavior.

Frequency-within-interval recording

a recording method in which the number of times the target behavior occurs (frequency) is recorded within consecutive intervals of times during the observation period.

Indirect assessment

assessment that relies on information from others. The information on the problem behavior, antecedents, and consequences is not derived from direct observation but from retrospective report in interviews and questionnaires.

Interobserver agreement (IOA)

occurs when two observers independently observe and record a person's behavior at the same time and agree on the occurrence of the behavior.

Interval recording

a type of behavior recording procedure in which the observation period is divided into a number of consecutive time intervals and the behavior is recorded as occurring or not occurring in each of the intervals.

Momentary time sample recording

a variation of time sample recording in which the behavior is recorded only if it occurs at the exact instant the interval ends.

Natural setting

an observation setting that is part of the client's normal daily routine. The target behavior typically occurs in the natural setting.

Observational period

the time period in which an observer observers and records the behavior of a client participating in a behavior modification program

Partial-interval recording

with partial-interval recording, the observer scores the interval if the behavior occurred during any part of the interval

Product recording

a type of behavior recording in which the outcomes or permanent product of the behavior is recorded as an indication of the occurrence of the behavior.

Rate

the frequency of the behavior divided by the time

Reactivity

the phenomenon in which the process of recording behavior causes the behavior to change even before treatment is implemented for the behavior.

Real-time recording

a recording method in which you record the exact time of each onset and offset of the target behavior in the observation period. Real-time recording results in information on the frequency and duration of the target behavior, as well as the exact timing of each instance of the behavior in the observation period.

Self-monitoring

a type of direct observation data collection in which the client observes and records their own behavior as it occurs.

Structured

the observer provides instructions or arranges for specific events or activities to occur during the observation period.

Time sample recording

a behavior-recording procedure in which the observation period is divided into intervals, and the behavior is recorded during a part of each interval. In time sample recording, the observation intervals are discontinuous.

Unstructured

no specific events, activities, or instructions are given during the observation period.

Whole-interval recording

with whole-interval recording, the occurrence of the behavior is marked in an interval only when the behavior occurs throughout the entire interval.

ABC observation

a functional assessment method involving direct observation of the antecedents, the target behavior, and the consequences of the behavior. Typically conducted in the natural environment where the target behavior occurs.

Automatic negative reinforcement

automatic negative reinforcement occurs when the target behavior automatically reduced or eliminates an aversive stimulus as a consequence of the behavior and the behavior is strengthened.

Automatic positive reinforcement

when the behavior produces a positively reinforcing consequence automatically, and the behavior is said to be maintained by automatic positive reinforcement.

Control condition

a functional analysis condition in which you present the AO for the behavior and do not provide the reinforcer for the behavior if it occurs.

Exploratory functional analysis

a type of functional analysis in which the behavior analyst may not have a hypothesis about the reinforcing consequence maintaining the problem behavior and is exploring a range of possibilities in the functional analysis. An exploratory functional analysis typically includes three or four test conditions and a control condition. In each test condition, the behavior analyst presents an EO and a possible reinforcer for the problem behavior and, in a control condition, presents an AO and withholds the possible reinforcers.

Functional analysis

a functional assessment method in which environmental events (antecedents and consequences of the behavior) are manipulated to demonstrate a functional relationship between the environmental events and the behavior.

Functional assessment

the process of generating information on the events preceding and following the behavior in an attempt to determine which antecedents and consequences are reliably associated with the occurrence of the behavior. Includes indirect assessment through interviews and questionnaires, direct observation of the antecedents and consequences in the natural environment, and functional analysis methods involving the manipulation of environmental events.

Functional interventions

interventions (extinction, differential reinforcement, and antecedent control) that decrease problem behaviors without the use of punishment by modifying the antecedents and consequences that control the behaviors.

Hypothesis-testing functional analysis

a type of functional analysis in which the goal is not to evaluate all possible functions, but to confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis. In this type of functional analysis, one condition (the test condition) presents the hypothesized EO, and when the problem behavior occurs, presents the hypothesized reinforcer. The other condition (the control condition) presents the hypothesized AO, and if the problem behavior occurs, and if the problem behavior occurs, does not provide the hypothesized reinforcer.

Scatter plot

a type of functional assessment procedure in which you record each half hour whether the behavior occurred in the preceding half hour. It is used to establish the temporal pattern in the behavior.

Social negative reinforcement

when another person terminates an aversive interaction, task, or activity after the occurrence of a target behavior, and as a result, the behavior is more likely to occur.

Social positive reinforcement

when a positively reinforcing consequence is delivered by another person after the target behavior, and as a result the behavior is more likely to occur.

Test condition

a functional analysis condition in which you provide the EO for the behavior and provide the reinforcer for the behavior if it occurs

Abolishing operation (AO)

one type of motivating operation. An event that decreases the potency of a particular reinforcer at a particular reinforcer at a particular time and makes the behavior that produces that reinforcer less likely to occur. Satiation is a type of abolishing operation.

Acquisition

the development of a new behavior through reinforcement.

Automatic reinforcement

a form of reinforcement in which the behavior produces a reinforcing consequences through direct contact with the physical environment. This is in contrast with social reinforcement, in which the reinforcing consequence for a behavior comes from another person.

Aversive stimulus

a stimulus that will decrease the future probability of a behavior when the stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behavior. Also called a punisher.

Avoidance behavior

a behavior that prevents an aversive event. The behavior is negatively reinforced by the avoidance of the aversive event.

Backup reinforcers

reinforcers used in a token economy. A client receives tokens for desirable behaviors and exchanges a specific number of tokens for any of a variety of backup reinforcers.

Behavioral contrast

occurs when a change in the reinforcement schedule in one component of a multiple schedule changes not only the rate of responding in that component but also the rate of responding in the opposite direction in the other component of the multiple schedule.

Combined schedule of reinforcement

a schedule arrangement that combines two or more basic schedules of reinforcement. Examples are concurrent schedules of reinforcement and multiple schedules of reinforcement.

Concurrent operants

two or more of different behaviors or response options are concurrently available for the person. Each response option is associated with a specific reinforcement schedule.

Concurrent schedules of reinforcement

schedules of reinforcement that exist at the same time for two or more different behaviors (and that are called concurrent operants). Which particular behavior occurs at a particular time depends on the schedule of reinforcement, magnitude of reinforcement, delay of reinforcement, and response effort for the available behaviors.

Conditioned reinforcers

a previously neutral stimulus that has been paired a number of times with an established reinforcers and consequently functions as a reinforcer itself.

Consequence

the stimulus or event occurring immediately after a behavior.

Contingency

a relationship between a response and a consequence is presented if and only if the response occurs. When such a relationship exists, the consequence is said to be contingent on the response.

Continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF schedule)

a schedule of reinforcement in which each instance of the behavior is followed by the reinforcer.

Deprivation

a condition in which the person has gone without a particular reinforcer for a period of time. Deprivation is a type of establishing operation; it makes the reinforcer the person has gone without more potent.

Escape behavior

behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus. The termination of the aversive stimulus negatively reinforces the behavior.

Establishing operation (EO)

one type of motivating operation. An event that increases the potency of a particular reinforcer at a particular time and evokes the behavior that produces that reinforcer. Deprivation is a type of establishing operation.

Fixed interval (FI) schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer is delivered for the first response that occurs after an interval of time has elapsed. The interval is the same each time.

Fixed ratio (FR) schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which a specific number of responses must occur before the reinforcer is delivered. The number of responses needed for reinforcement does not change.

Generalized conditioned reinforcer

a conditioned reinforcer that has been paired with a variety of other reinforcers. Money and praise generalized are conditioned reinforcers for many people.

Intermittent reinforcement schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which not every instance of the behavior is followed by the delivery of the reinforcer. Includes fixed ratio, fixed interval, variable ratio, and variable interval schedules.

Maintenance

continuation of the behavior change for a long period after the termination of a behavior modification program. Also, continuation of an operant behavior with intermittent reinforcement.

Motivating operations

an antecedent stimulus or event that alters the value of a reinforcer and alters the probability of the behavior that produces that reinforcer. Establishing operations and abolishing operations are two types of MOs.

Multiple schedules of reinforcement

in a multiple schedules of reinforcement, two basic schedules of reinforcement occur sequentially and each is associated with a different SD.

Negative reinforcement

a type of reinforcement in which the occurrence of the behavior is followed by the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus. It results in increase in the future probability of the behavior.

Operant behavior

behavior that acts on the environment to produce an immediate consequence and, in turn, is strengthened by that consequence.

Positive reinforcement

a type of reinforcement in which, contingent on the behavior, a stimulus or event is presented and the probability of the behavior increases in the future.

Positive reinforcer

a stimulus that will increase the future probability of a behavior when the stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behavior.

Premack principle

one type of positive reinforcement in which the opportunity to engage in a high-probability behavior is made contingent on the occurrence of a low-probability behavior to increase the low-probability behavior.

Reinforcement

the process in which the occurrence of a behavior is followed by a consequence that results in an increase in the future probability of the behavior.

Reinforcer

a stimulus or event that increases the future probability of the behavior when it occurs contingent on the occurrence of the behavior.

Response effort

the amount of force, exertion, or time involved in executing a response. With an increase in response effort for one behavior, the probability of that behavior, the probability of that behavior decreases relative to the probability of a functionally equivalent alternative behavior.

Rule-governed behavior

behavior that is controlled by a verbal statement (a rule) about a contingency between the behavior and a consequence.

Satiation

progressive (and ultimately total) loss of effectiveness of a reinforcer. Satiation occurs when you have recently consumed a large amount of a particular reinforcer or when you have had substantial exposure to a reinforcing stimulus.

Schedule of reinforcement

specifies which responses will be followed by delivery of the reinforcer. In a continuous reinforcement schedule, every response is followed by the reinforcer. In an intermittent schedule, not every response is followed by the reinforcer.

Stimulus

an environment event that can be detected by one of the senses.

Token

a conditioned reinforcer used in a token economy. The token is something that can be given to another person and accumulated by that person. The token is a conditioned reinforcer because it is given to the person after a desirable behavior and is exchanged for established reinforcers called backup reinforcers.

Unconditioned reinforcers

a stimulus that is naturally reinforcing because the capacity for our behavior to be strengthened by the stimulus has survival value. No prior conditioning is necessary for an unconditioned reinforcer to be a reinforcer. Examples include food, water, escape from extreme stimulation, and sexual contact.

Variable interval (VI) schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which the first response that occurs after a specified time interval is reinforced. The time interval varies around an average value.

Variable ratio (VR) schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which a specified number of responses is needed for the delivery of the reinforcer. The number of responses needed varies around an average number.

Conditioned punisher

a previously neutral stimulus that has been paired a number of times with an established punisher and consequently functions as a punisher itself.

Generalized conditioned punisher

a conditioned punisher that has been paired with a variety of other punishers. The word "no" is a generalized conditioned punisher for many people.

Negative punishment

a type of punishment in which the occurrence of a behavior is followed by the removal of a reinforcing stimulus. It results in decrease in the future probability of the behavior.

Positive punishment

a type of punishment in which, contingent on the behavior, an aversive stimulus or event is presented and the probability of the behavior decreases in the future.

Punisher

a stimulus or event that, when presented contingent on the occurrence of a behavior, decreases the future probability of the behavior.

Punishment

the process in which a behavior is followed by a consequence that results in a decrease in the future probability of the behavior.

Response cost

a negative punishment procedure in which, contingent on a behavior, a specified amount of a reinforcer is removed.

Time-out from positive reinforcement

a type of negative punishment in which, contingent on the occurrence of the problem behavior, the person loses access to positive reinforcers for a brief period. Typically, the person is removed from the reinforcing environment in a time-out procedure.

Unconditioned punishers

a stimulus or event that is naturally punishing because avoiding or minimizing contact with such a stimulus has survival value. No prior conditioning is needed for an unconditioned punisher to function as a punisher. Examples are painful stimuli or extreme levels of stimulation.

Contingent observation

a type of non-exclusionary time-out in which, contingent on the occurrence of the problem behavior, the person is removed from a reinforcing activity for a brief time and required to sit and observe other people as they continue to engage in the activity.

Exclusionary time-out

procedure in which the person is briefly removed from the reinforcing environment- typically to another room- contingent on the occurrence of a problem behavior.

Non-exclusionary time-out

a type of time-out procedure in which, contingent on the problem behavior, the person is removed from all sources of reinforcement but is not removed from the room where the problem behavior occurred.

Time-out

the environment from which the child is removed during the use of time-out. The time-in environment should be positively reinforcing for time-out to be effective

Application of aversive activities

the consequence in a positive punishment procedure in which, contingent on the undesirable behavior, the client is required to engage in aversive activity (a low-probability behavior) to decrease the future probability of the undesirable behavior.

Application of aversive stimulation

the consequence in a positive punishment procedure in which an aversive stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the undesirable behavior to decrease the future probability of the undesirable behavior.

Contingent exercise

a positive punishment procedure involving the application of aversive activities. Contingent on the problem behavior, the person is required to engage in some form of physical exercise.

Guided compliance

a positive punishment procedure used with a person who displays noncompliant behavior. When you make a request and the person refuses to comply, you physically prompt the person to engage in the behavior. The physical prompt is removed as the person complies with the request on their own. Guided compliance prevents escape from the requested behavior, and thus also serves as an extinction procedure when the noncompliant behavior is negatively reinforced by escape from the requested activity.

Informed consent

the process in which the client is informed of the behavior modification procedure to be used and agrees in writing to undergo the procedure. Necessary for the use of positive punishment procedures.

Overcorrection

a positive punishment procedure in which, contingent on the problem behavior, a person is required to engage in effortful activity for a brief period. Positive practice and restitution are two types of overcorrection.

Physical restraint

a type of positive punishment procedure in which, contingent on the occurrence of the problem behavior, the change agent holds immobile the part of the client's body that is involved in the problem behavior so that the client cannot continue to engage in the behavior.

Positive practice

a type of overcorrection procedure in which, contingent on the problem behavior, the client is required to engage in correct forms of relevant behavior until the behavior has been repeated a number of times.

Response blocking

a procedure in which the change agent physically blocks a problem behavior so that the client cannot complete the response. It is often used in conjunction with brief restraint.

Restitution

a type of overcorrection procedure in which, contingent on the occurrence of the problem behavior, the client is required to correct the environmental effect of the problem behavior and to bring the environment to a condition better than that which existed before the problem behavior

Extinction burst

the phenomenon in which, when a behavior is no longer reinforced, the behavior temporarily increases in frequency, duration, or intensity before it decreases. Novel behaviors or emotional responses may also occur in an extinction burst.

Resistance to extinction

the tendency for a person to continue to respond after extinction is in effect for the behavior. Intermittent reinforcement schedules make the behavior more resistant to extinction than do continuous reinforcement schedules.