Developing and Using Baseline Measures of Behavior

What is a baseline? The standard against which you measure all subsequent changes implemented by your program. Usually shown as lines in graph form. Sometimes called: Reference points Adaptation levels Anchors Norms

Why use baseline measures? Baselines can: Show whether your efforts are working. Help you make sense about something complicated. Help you decide whether to start an intervention. Tell you if an intervention isn't necessary.

Developing a Baseline Pick indicators that best reflect the behaviors that are most important to you. Find measurements on those indicators.

Interpreting baseline changes Data points fall into a tight range. Best basis for starting.

Ascending and descending baselines Ascending: the indicator has increased. Descending: the indicator has decreased.

Unstable or variable baselines Data points range all over the place and there are no clear trends. Usually unwise to introduce any sort of intervention, because the variations make it too hard to tell whether changes are a result of the intervention.

Using baseline data to develop an intervention Decide what problem(s) to address. Identify primary targets of the intervention. Develop an action plan. Begin your intervention.