Methods of ObservationMethods of Observation

RecallRecall

MethodsMethods

Outcome RecordingOutcome Recording

Event RecordingEvent Recording

Interval RecordingInterval Recording

Time Sample Time Sample RecordingRecording

Reliability and Validity of Reliability and Validity of Everyday ObservationsEveryday Observations

Reliability & ValidityReliability & Validity

Reliability: consistency in results; Reliability: consistency in results; accuracyaccuracy Repeated observations over timeRepeated observations over time Compare observations by more than 1 Compare observations by more than 1

observerobserver More agreement more reliabilityMore agreement more reliability

Validity: measuring what you think Validity: measuring what you think you’re measuringyou’re measuring Make use of outside observersMake use of outside observers

Does beh look like everyday instance?Does beh look like everyday instance?

Experimental MethodsExperimental Methods

Single-subject experimentSingle-subject experiment Presenting and withholding treatment Presenting and withholding treatment

(the actual beh modification technique)(the actual beh modification technique) Study one person repeatedly over timeStudy one person repeatedly over time

Establishes baselineEstablishes baseline Established reliabilityEstablished reliability Rules out alternative explanationsRules out alternative explanations

Comparison (AB) DesignComparison (AB) Design

Baseline (A) Treatment (B)

DAYS

NumberOf Beh

•One baseline phase ; one treatment phase•Does not rule out alternative explanations for change in beh

ABA Reversal DesignABA Reversal Design

DAYS

•One baseline phase ; one treatment phase; back to baseline phase•DOES rule out alternative explanations for change in beh

Baseline (A) Treatment (B) Baseline (A)

Num

ber

Of

Beh

ABAB Multiple Reversal ABAB Multiple Reversal DesignDesign

DAYS•One baseline phase ; one treatment phase; back to baseline phase; another

Treatment phase•DOES rule out alternative explanations for change in beh•Can be used to compare two behaviors (see pg 91)

Baseline (A) Treatment (B) Baseline (A) Treatment (B)

Num

ber

Of

Beh