Psy 407 Direct Behavioral Assessment What to Record

Psy 407 Direct Behavioral Assessment: What to Record and How

Characteristics: Topography FORM FORCE The _______, or _____ that a particular DURATION response takes. Golf swing n Backstroke n Important in teaching physical skills n w Craftsmanship, athletics, surgery, hobbies

Characteristics : Amount Frequency n n n The number of occurrences per time period RATE Often used synonymously with ____ The behavioral event must be discrete: it has BEGINNINGand an ____ END a _____ ; each occurrence is essentially similar ; opportunity or availability for responding w Plural nouns, “like”, passes caught, questions finished, spelling mistakes, tantrums, etc.

Recording frequency Operationally defining the behavior n n n OBSERVABLE 1. _________ 2. ______ BEGINNING and an end, 3. specific _________ TOPOGRAPHY Prepare a recording sheet that indicates w w Date, time, location, observer, behaver A place to tally each occurrence Mechanical counting of the event w w w Golf counter, electronic counter, sensory device Transfer items from one place to another Count the number of products n Scratches, items broken, widgets produced, etc. Maintain a record of the frequency n n Every hour? A daily tally? Weekly The problem with memory

The Frequency graph ORDINATE left hand vertical axis THE ______= n The “frequency” or “how many” ABSCISSA THE _______ = the horizontal axis n Indicates “time” or “opportunities” Each “tally” score from your recording is represented by a data point

FREQUENCY GRAPH ORDINATE ABSCISSA

BAR GRAPH (FREQUENCY)

CUMMULATIVE GRAPH

The Cumulative graph Same axes as the frequency but the ordinate ( the count) score for any data ADDED onto the value of the point is _____ previous data point ( IE. the score “accumulates”. A record of all occurrences to date. When a given tally is zero, the graph line HORIZONTAL ( can never be a value is ______ lower than the last data point) Change in the slope shows us changes in rate (acceleration or deceleration)

CUMMULATIVE GRAPH Each sessions data is added to the last Zero responding is a flat line

Record Sheet as Graph

Characteristics : Amount Duration of behavior LASTS as opposed n How long does it ____ n to how often it occurs For performances consisting of several responses, Which one(s) constitute an occurrence? Watching TV, Paying attention, Running, talking, tantruming, taking breaks Clocks, stop watches, timers What is better frequency or duration? Reading? Studying? Solving problems?

Characteristics: Intensity Typically measured with instrumentation n Decibel meter- loudness n Dynamometer- force (grip) n Radar unit : Pitching speed; Puck speed n OUTCOMES : Number of blocks broken Associated with physical skills

Characteristic : Stimulus Control When a specified response occurs ONLY _______ in the presence of a specified condition or setting The response is already in the repertoire (E. G. , answering phone) Topography or function? How ya doin? Como Vai? S’up? n Hey there! How YOU Doin? n

Characteristic : Latency TIME passes until a behavior How much _____ occurs after a specific condition “cue” (a stimulus) is presented. n Time to begin studying after entering Library n “Leaving the block” in sprinting n Reflex- goal tending, batting Typically measured with n Clocks, Timers, stop watch

Characteristic : Quality Combination of topography, Latency, Intensity or product n n n “Form” in gymnastics , figure skating, diving Form of a student’s handwriting Latency, form and speed in a “thrust kick” Timing of body movement and its form with voice intensity and tone in stage acting Number of citations and completeness of their description and relevance to a theme in a term paper

Recording Methods: Continuous Recording OCCURRENCE of a behavior Recording every _______ during a specified time segment. n A training session, for one hour, for a mealtime, a game Requires constant monitoring n Note: You are not looking when you are recording Can you detect every possible occurrence? n Related to your definition Can you observe in every relevant situation? n Time and resources,

Recording Methods: Interval Recording A specific block of TIME _____ (E. G. , 30 minutes) is sub-divided into smaller equal INTERVALS _____ (E. G. , 1 minute segments). Only the first occurrence of the behavior is recorded for any interval regardless of how many occurrences or the duration of any occurrence

Recording Methods: Time sampling OCCURRING or A behavior is recorded as ____ OCCURRING not ______ during very brief time samples which are themselves separated by much longer time intervals. E. G. , Is Bob “off task” when observed for 1 minute out of every hour during the school day?

Recording Methods: SAMPLING INTERVAL recording Time ______and ____ are often combined E. G. , Observing during a 30 minute session. Each minute is divided into 3 10 second observation intervals each separated by 3 ten second recording intervals. Each behavior occurrence, (or only the first) during observation intervals is recorded during the “record” intervals. (requires prerecorded tapes, headphones, recording 1 or 0.

Accuracy of Observation VARIABLES THAT INFLUENCE ACCURACY DEFINITION : 1. Response ______ Too vague, incomplete, too detailed SITUATION Observation ______ : n 2. Distractions, obstructions, interference COMPETENCY : Observer _______ n 3. n Untrained, Biased, Unmotivated, Incompetent 4. Data sheets & recording _______: PROCEDURES n Poorly designed or cumbersome

Accuracy of Observation Inter-observer Agreement (IOA) (Reliability) Two observers conduct the same DEFINITIONS observations using identical ______ and procedures. Precautions are taken to prevent them from RECORDING knowing what each other are _____. 1. How well do their recorded observations AGREE _____ ? CALCULATE 2. How do we ______ that agreement?

Accuracy of Observation Inter-observer Agreement (IOA) Total number of behaviors or intervals during a recording session recorded E. G. , Observer 1= 30; Observer 2 = 25 IOA= 25/30*100 = 83. 33% Are the actual agreements and disagreements (25), (5), the same? NO! but for frequencies it’s all we have

Accuracy of Observation Inter-observer Agreement (IOA) For interval recording we can compare each INTERVAL ______ for agreement. E. G. , out of 60 observation intervals Observer 1= 30; Observer 2 = 25 Of Obs 1’s 30 Obs 2 also scored 20 5 of Obs 2’s 25 were not recorded by Obs 1 Both observers agreed no behavior occurred on 15 intervals

Calculating IOA by total score = 83. 3 % By total interval comparison: n They agreed on 20 occurrences and 25 nonoccurrences =45/60 = 75 % By occurrence intervals only: n They agreed on only 20 ; IOA = 66 % LOW occurrence, When behavior is of ______ including non-occurrence intervals will ______ IOA scores INFLATE 80 – 100% Publication standards for IOA are____ ON 20%-30% _____ of all observations.