Question 1

Which of the following procedures is used to determine the degree to which two observers accurately record a target behavior?
A) interobserver reliability
B) concordance reporting
C) subjectivity elimination
D) observer discrimination

Accepted Answer

Interobserver reliability is the method used to assess the degree to which different observers are consistent in their observations of a behavior. This is crucial in research and clinical settings to ensure that data collected by different individuals are reliable and can be compared or aggregated.

Question 2

Counting the number of pencils broken, paper airplanes thrown, or spelling words answered incorrectly is an example of which type of recording technique?
A) frequency
B) permanent products
C) anecdotal
D) duration

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

Which of the following terms refers to the process in which an individual's behavior changes as a result of believing he received a treatment when, in reality, he received something that lacked any intrinsic treatment value?
A) the false treatment interaction effect
B) the Stanley effect
C) the paradigm effect
D) the placebo effect

Accepted Answer

The placebo effect occurs when a person's symptoms improve or they experience a change in their condition simply because they believe they are receiving treatment, even though the treatment has no therapeutic value.

Question 4

Time sampling is beneficial to the observer because it does not require their undivided attention.

Accepted Answer

Time sampling involves observing and recording behavior at predetermined intervals, allowing the observer to focus on other tasks or observations between these intervals, thus not requiring their undivided attention continuously.

Question 5

Which of the following terms refers to the phenomenon of working harder and producing more because of a feeling of participating in something new and special even when the innovations have no corrective merit?
A) the Skinner effect
B) the vocational effect
C) the Hawthorne effect
D) the interrelated effect

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals modify an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed. This term originated from a series of studies conducted at the Hawthorne Works plant in the 1920s and 1930s, which found that workers' productivity increased when changes were made to their work environment, even when those changes were merely experimental and not necessarily improvements. The effect highlights the impact of attention and perceived special participation on worker productivity.

Question 6

What is the purpose of the dead man's test?
A) to determine appropriate behaviors to decrease
B) to determine if the target behavior is a fair pair
C) to avoid targeting behaviors that require elaborate operational definitions
D) to ensure students understand instructions

Accepted Answer

The dead man's test is used to determine if the target behavior is a fair pair, meaning if a dead man can do it, it probably isn't a behavior worth targeting for change. This concept is often used in behavior analysis to ensure that interventions focus on increasing or improving behaviors rather than eliminating all actions.

Question 7

A teacher is the only person who should make a behavior observation.

Accepted Answer

Behavior observations can be made by various individuals including parents, psychologists, and other professionals who interact with the child, not just teachers.

Question 8

Ms. Knebworth is recording the number of times Edgar initiates a conversation. Although this behavior was operationally defined, she begins to record behaviors that were not part of the original definition. Which of the following terms describes this phenomenon?
A) objectivity lapse
B) observer drift
C) occurrence subjectivity
D) reactive effects

Accepted Answer

Observer drift refers to the phenomenon where there is a gradual shift in the way an observer interprets or records a behavior from the originally defined criteria. In this case, Ms. Knebworth starts recording behaviors that were not part of the initial operational definition, indicating a drift from the original observation standards.

Question 9

Why is it important to collect continuous rather than just pre- and post-test data on children's behavior?
A) it provides teachers with an estimate of students' intellectual functioning
B) it reduces the likelihood of a teacher prematurely terminating an effective intervention or unduly continuing an ineffective intervention
C) it increases the number of times a teacher must use duration or frequency recording techniques versus time sampling
D) it reduces the need for teachers to obtain records of students' scores on tests, quizzes, and assignments

Accepted Answer

Collecting continuous data allows for ongoing assessment of an intervention's effectiveness, helping teachers make informed decisions about whether to continue, modify, or terminate the intervention based on actual progress rather than assumptions or limited pre- and post-test comparisons.

Question 10

What type of recording technique is most appropriate for behaviors such as pencil tapping, thumb sucking, or rocking in a chair?
A) frequency
B) anecdotal
C) time sampling
D) duration

Accepted Answer

Duration recording is most appropriate for behaviors that have a clear beginning and end, such as pencil tapping, thumb sucking, or rocking in a chair.

Question 11

The fair pair refers to:
A) allowing the student to select his or her own reward.
B) punishing the student only when the student agrees that he or she deserves to be punished.
C) the process of selecting a behavior that will decrease in the presence of a reinforcer.
D) the assumption that if you are going to decrease an inappropriate behavior, an appropriate behavior should be taught in its place.

Accepted Answer

The fair pair refers to the educational and behavioral strategy where if an inappropriate behavior is to be decreased, an appropriate behavior should be taught to replace it. This ensures that the student not only stops the negative behavior but also learns a positive behavior in its place, promoting overall better conduct.

Question 12

It is important to count behavior because it allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention.

Accepted Answer

Counting behavior is a fundamental aspect of behavioral analysis, allowing for the objective measurement of behavior changes over time, which is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

Question 13

Selecting an appropriate method for calculating interobserver reliability will depend on the type of recording technique used to observe behavior.

Accepted Answer

Different recording techniques (e.g., event recording, duration recording, interval recording) capture different aspects of behavior, and the choice of interobserver reliability calculation method (e.g., percentage agreement, Cohen's kappa) should align with the nature of the data collected to ensure accuracy and relevance of the reliability assessment.

Question 14

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the definition of evaluation?
A) it entails the application of both formal and informal tests
B) it involves determining both structural and developmental deficits
C) it is based on the reduction formula that states that behavior can be measured in small components
D) it involves comparing performance to some standard and noting any discrepancies

Accepted Answer

Evaluation involves comparing performance to a standard and identifying discrepancies, which is a fundamental aspect of assessing outcomes or achievements in various fields.

Question 15

Observer drift can occur when two observers disagree on a behavior that has been simultaneously recorded.

Accepted Answer

Observer drift refers to the phenomenon where there is a gradual shift in the way an observer records or interprets a behavior over time, not necessarily due to disagreement between two observers.

Question 16

Which of the following statements best encapsulates a movement cycle?
A) A movement cycle exists when a child performs a behavior involving movement instead of behaving in a stationary fashion.
B) A movement cycle exists if a behavior has a specific beginning and ending point.
C) A movement cycle exists when teachers administer tests that have a specific number of questions on them.
D) A movement cycle exists when more than one adult observes a child's behavior.

Accepted Answer

A movement cycle is defined by a behavior that has a clear start and finish, which is what option B describes. This concept is often used in the context of physical activities or exercises, where each movement or action is initiated and then brought to a conclusion, marking one complete cycle.

Question 17

The stranger test ensures that a behavior:
A) is not punished unless a positive behavior is reinforced
B) is a danger to a child or others
C) is operationally defined
D) occurs across settings, teachers, and situations

Accepted Answer

The stranger test ensures that a behavior is operationally defined, meaning that it is described in such a way that anyone unfamiliar with the situation (a "stranger") can understand and identify the behavior.

Question 18

Which type of duration recording technique involves recording the length of time per episode that a child engages in a target behavior?
A) duration per distance or time span
B) total duration
C) duration per occurrence
D) average duration

Accepted Answer

Duration per occurrence involves recording the length of time for each instance that a child engages in a specific behavior, making it the correct technique for measuring the duration of behavior per episode.

Question 19

Mungo occasionally taps his pencil on his desk when working out the answers to division problems. Although this behavior does not interfere with his work or his peers, his teacher, Ms. Apple, wants to intervene on this behavior because it bothers her. Unfortunately, this behavior fails to pass the:
A) stranger test
B) dead man's test
C) operational definition test
D) so what test

Accepted Answer

The "so what test" is used to determine if a behavior needs to be changed based on whether it causes harm or significant interference with learning or social interaction. Since Mungo's behavior does not interfere with his work or peers, it fails the "so what test," indicating there may not be a justifiable reason to intervene.

Question 20

Recording behavior at the end of specified intervals is an example of:
A) anecdotal recording
B) time sampling
C) interval recording
D) frequency recording

Accepted Answer

Time sampling involves observing and recording behavior at predetermined times, such as at the end of specified intervals, rather than continuously. This method allows for the collection of data over a period without needing constant observation.

Quiz 5: Counting and Recording Behavior

Which of the following procedures is used to determine the degree to which two observers accurately record a target behavior?

Counting the number of pencils broken, paper airplanes thrown, or spelling words answered incorrectly is an example of which type of recording technique?

Which of the following terms refers to the process in which an individual's behavior changes as a result of believing he received a treatment when, in reality, he received something that lacked any intrinsic treatment value?

Time sampling is beneficial to the observer because it does not require their undivided attention.

Which of the following terms refers to the phenomenon of working harder and producing more because of a feeling of participating in something new and special even when the innovations have no corrective merit?

What is the purpose of the dead man's test?

A teacher is the only person who should make a behavior observation.

Ms. Knebworth is recording the number of times Edgar initiates a conversation. Although this behavior was operationally defined, she begins to record behaviors that were not part of the original definition. Which of the following terms describes this phenomenon?

Why is it important to collect continuous rather than just pre- and post-test data on children's behavior?

What type of recording technique is most appropriate for behaviors such as pencil tapping, thumb sucking, or rocking in a chair?

The fair pair refers to:

It is important to count behavior because it allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention.

Selecting an appropriate method for calculating interobserver reliability will depend on the type of recording technique used to observe behavior.

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the definition of evaluation?

Observer drift can occur when two observers disagree on a behavior that has been simultaneously recorded.

Which of the following statements best encapsulates a movement cycle?

The stranger test ensures that a behavior:

Which type of duration recording technique involves recording the length of time per episode that a child engages in a target behavior?

Mungo occasionally taps his pencil on his desk when working out the answers to division problems. Although this behavior does not interfere with his work or his peers, his teacher, Ms. Apple, wants to intervene on this behavior because it bothers her. Unfortunately, this behavior fails to pass the:

Recording behavior at the end of specified intervals is an example of: