Behavioral Assessment

1
Behavioral Assessment

• Selection and Definition of Target Behaviors
• Selection of a Measurement Device
• Recording behavior (Collection of Data)
• Assessment of Reliability or IOA (Lecture 6)
• Selection of Data Display/graphing (Lecture 7)

2

• Freedom of Speech?

3
Behavioral (OP) Definitions

• Walking
• Form Body movement with alternating L/R leg
  forward
• Restriction Body erect
• Restriction One foot always in contact with
  ground
• Revised form Body movement with erect torso,
  with alternating L/R leg forward with one foot
  always in contact with the ground
• Hallucination
• Form Verbal statement (usually of personal
  experience)
• Restriction Experience or events unlikely to
  have basis in reality
• Revised form Verbal statement about a personal
  experience unlikely to have any basis in fact

4
Characteristics of a Good Measurement System

• Objectivity Response (R) definitions are
  observable, unambiguous
• Poor self-concept
• Reliability Instrument produces consistent
  (repeatable) results
• Verbal estimate of amount of time spent running
• Validity Instrument produces accurate
  representation of events
• An 11.5-inch ruler
• Sensitivity Instrument reflects changes in R
• Use of an analog watch to time a race

5
Recording behavior (Data Collection)

• Outcome (product) Observable results of R
• Process Observable aspects of ongoing R

6
Outcome Observation

• Advantage Convenience does not require presence
  of observer
• Disadvantages
• Some Rs do not always produce the same outcome
• Study, athletic practice, amount of time spent
  working
• Some outcomes can be produced by Rs other than
  the target
• Weight loss (from diet, exercise, laxatives)

7
Process Observation

• Advantage Flexible can accommodate a wide range
  of Rs
• Disadvantage Requires system to account for
  multiple R dimensions
• Topography Form of R usually restricted by R
  definition
• Magnitude Force of R
• Frequency Number of occurrences of R
• Duration Amount of time during which R occurs
• Latency Time elapsed from some starting point
  to R onset
• Interresponse time (IRT) Time elapsed between
  episodes of R

8
Measuring Ongoing Behavior(Process Observation)

• Continuous Recording Every instance of R is
  counted
• Event recording Frequency, rate
• Duration recording Duration, latency, IRT
• Discontinuous sampling (i.e., interval
  recording) Only a subset of Rs is counted
• Divide session time into equal intervals
• Record occurrences of R during an interval
• Convert into of intervals during which R
  occurred

9
Sampling Methods

• Data Collection Exercises
• Videos
• In vivo

10
Interobserver Agreement (Reliability)

• Definition Consistency of an observational code,
  or the extent to which an observational code
  produces the same results across samples
  (subjects, behaviors, time, observers, etc.)
• Method for assessment Collect independent
  samples of data compare results to a standard or
  to each other

11
Reliability Calculations

• Total agreement Compare overall session values
  (totals) obtained by two observers
• Rel Smaller / Larger
• Interval agreement Compare individual data
  entries by two observers and score as agreements
  or disagreements
• Rel Agreements / ( Intervals)
• Exact agreement Compare frequencies entered by
  two observers and score exact agreements
• Rel Exact agreements / ( Intervals)
• Proportional (frequency-within-intervals)
  agreement Compare frequencies entered by two
  observers and score proportional agreements
• Rel ? (Smaller/Larger) / Intervals

12
Reliability Calculation Activity
13

• Calculate interval agreement score for the
  following data