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

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

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

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

5. 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)

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

7. Assessing Behavior n Direct Assessment n Indirect Assessment

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

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

13. 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

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