Specifying and Assessing What You Want to Change Dr. Alan H. Teich Chapter 2

Operational Definition n Clear, Concise, Complete –Outcomes of poor operational definitions

Identifying and Defining Goals n Outcome Goals n Behavioral Goals n Behavioral Subgoals

Target Behaviors n Operant –Task analysis Identification of a “chain” and “links” –Response Generalization n Respondent

Alternative or Competing Responses n Identify responses that may be incompatible with the target behavior –To increase a behavior: reduce a competing response(s) –To decrease a behavior: increase an incompatible response(s)

Types of Data n Frequency n Duration n Latency n Quality n Magnitude

Assessing Behavior n Direct Assessment n Indirect Assessment

Observing Behavior: Behavior Sampling  Continuous Recording all behavior is not always practical; alternatives include: –interval recording: record the presence or absence of behavior in short intervals –time sampling: continuously record behavior in a sample of short intervals (e.g., the first 10 seconds of each minute)

Observing Behavior: Accuracy and Validity n Observers must ensure accuracy and validity of observations n Direct assessment is usually seen as accurate and valid n Results of indirect assessment can be suspect n Reactivity can reduce the accuracy and validity of observations

Developmental and Normative Comparisons n What is considered normal behavior tends to change with age n Children may be unable to complete self- report instruments n Children may be unable to record their own behavior n Children may be wary of observers and therapists who are strangers n Appropriate testing procedures tend to change with age

Research Designs  Group-Based Designs  Within-Subjects  Between-subjects  Intrasubject  AB  ABAB  Multiple Baseline Across behaviors, situations, subjects  Changing-Criterion

Functional Analysis n Operant behavior: ABC –identification of antecedents, behavior, and consequences n Respondent behavior –CS is the antecedent –The emotional and behavioral reaction to the CR is the behavior –The consequence is the result of the behavior

Evaluating Results  Generalization  Significant for the individual  Within “normal” range?  Cost-Benefit Ratio