Ch 2: Practice Test

Question 1

Give three reasons that measurement of the target behavior (behavioral assessment) is important.

Answer 1

1. measurement of the behavior prior to treatment will provide information that can help you decide whether treatment is necessary
2. behavioral assessment can provide information that helps you choose the best treatment
3. measurement of the target behavior during and after treatment will allow you to determine whether the behavior changed following the implementation of treatment

Question 2

The four steps involved in a behavior recording plan are:

Answer 2

1. defining the target behavior
2. identifying who, when, and where to record the behavior
3. choosing a recording method
4. choosing a recording instrument.

Question 3

A behavioral definition includes _______ describing _______ that a person _______.

Answer 3

active verbs, specific behaviors, exhibits

Question 4

A behavioral definition differs from a label for a behavior in that a behavioral definition is _______ and _______.

Answer 4

objective, unambiguous

Question 5

Labels for behaviors are _______; they can mean different things to different people because they do not identify _______.

Answer 5

ambiguous, specific actions

Question 6

It is important to identify a specific individual(s) who will record a behavior. The observer(s) must be trained to identify the _______ of the target behavior and _______ the behavior immediately. The observer must have the time to _______ and _______ the behavior and must be willing to function as an observer.

Answer 6

occurrence, record

observe, record

Question 7

The observer records the target behavior in specific periods of time called the _______.

Answer 7

observation periods

Question 8

The four dimensions of a behavior that may be recorded in a continuous recording method are:

Answer 8

1. frequency—the number of times the behavior occurs in an observation period.
2. duration—the total amount of time the behavior occurs from start to finish.
3. intensity—the amount of force, energy, or exertion involved in a behavior.
4. latency—the time from some stimulus event to the onset or initiation of the behavior.

Question 9

_______ recording involves recording the exact time of the onset and offset of each instance of the target behavior in the observation period.

Answer 9

Real time

Question 10

_______ recording involves recording the tangible outcome or permanent product of the occurrence of behavior.

Answer 10

Product

Question 11

_______ recording entails measuring whether the behavior occurred or did not occur during consecutive intervals of time during the observation period.

Answer 11

Interval

Question 12

_______ recording involves counting each instance of the behavior during consecutive periods of time (intervals) within the observation period.

Answer 12

Frequency-within-interval

Question 13

In _______ recording, the observation period is divided into intervals of time, but the behavior is observed and recorded during only part of each interval.

Answer 13

time sample

Question 14

The sooner the observer records the behavior after it occurs, the less likely the observer is to _______.

Answer 14

record incorrectly.

Question 15

_______ is when the process of recording a behavior will cause the behavior to change, even before any treatment is implemented.

Answer 15

Reactivity

Question 16

_______ is when two observers independently observe and record the same target behavior of the same subject during the same observation period.

Answer 16

Interobserver agreement (IOA)

Question 17

For frequency recording, IOA is calculated by

Answer 17

dividing the smaller frequency by the larger frequency and multiplying by 100%.

Question 18

For duration recording, IOA is calculated by

Answer 18

dividing the smaller duration by the larger duration and multiplying by 100%.

Question 19

For interval recording, the agreement between the two observers in each interval is checked. Then, the number of intervals with agreements is

Answer 19

divided by the number of intervals with agreements plus disagreements (the total number of intervals.)

Question 20

For frequency-within-interval recording you calculate interobserver agreement by

Answer 20

computing a percentage of agreement for each interval (divide the smaller number by the larger number) and then add the percentages and divide the sum by the number of intervals.