SPCE 609 Quiz 2
1. Behavior analysis goals: 1. Useful to accurately predict behavior (our
own and others)
2. Useful to understand behavior so well that we could positively
influence actions contributing to that solution.
Page 47
2. Independent variable: A publicly observable change, controlled by the
experi- menter, which is anticipated to influence behavior in a specific
way.
The thing the researcher believes will change behavior if it is
manipulated. Page 47
3. The "jury" in behavioral science: Composed of other scientists who
skeptically evaluate the researcher's claim that the independent
variable changed behavior.
,Page 48
4. Two approaches discussed by our book to conduct behavioral
experiments-
: Group design and single subject design
Page 48
5. Group design vs. single subject in behavior analysis: Group design is the
norm in social and behavioral sciences. However, they are less often
used by behavior analysts. Single subject designs keep the focus on the
behavior of the individual (the single subject) and they are transparent
about presenting all the data to the jury. Group design lumps all the
data together (individual data are rarely shown) and ask the computer
to decide if behavior changed. Single subject designs transparently
show what happened to the behavior of each individual. Makes it easier
,for jury to decide if they find the behavior change compelling or not.
Page 48
6. Group Experimental Designs: evaluate if the behavior of a treatment
group (independent variable ON) is statistically significantly different
from that of a control group (independent variable OFF). If so, then the
difference is attributed to the independent variable
Page 49
7. Example of group experimental design: Dallery et al. (2017)
evaluated the efficacy of an online stop-smoking program by
randomly assigning 94 cigarette smokers to either a treatment group
or a control group.
, At the end of the intervention phase, frequency of smoking in the
treatment group was lower than in the control group (40% of the
treatment group stopped smoking and only 13% of the control group
quit)
Page 49
8. Four weaknesses of group experimental designs: 1. When the
independent variable is therapeutic intervention, no one wants to be
assigned to the control group.
2. Focusing on the behavior of the group means we are not studying
the behavior of the individual.
3.The behavior of the treatment and control groups will differ simply
because the people (or nonhuman animals) assigned to the two
groups are different.
4.Their reliance on inferential statistics to evaluate the
independent variable changes behavior.
1. Behavior analysis goals: 1. Useful to accurately predict behavior (our
own and others)
2. Useful to understand behavior so well that we could positively
influence actions contributing to that solution.
Page 47
2. Independent variable: A publicly observable change, controlled by the
experi- menter, which is anticipated to influence behavior in a specific
way.
The thing the researcher believes will change behavior if it is
manipulated. Page 47
3. The "jury" in behavioral science: Composed of other scientists who
skeptically evaluate the researcher's claim that the independent
variable changed behavior.
,Page 48
4. Two approaches discussed by our book to conduct behavioral
experiments-
: Group design and single subject design
Page 48
5. Group design vs. single subject in behavior analysis: Group design is the
norm in social and behavioral sciences. However, they are less often
used by behavior analysts. Single subject designs keep the focus on the
behavior of the individual (the single subject) and they are transparent
about presenting all the data to the jury. Group design lumps all the
data together (individual data are rarely shown) and ask the computer
to decide if behavior changed. Single subject designs transparently
show what happened to the behavior of each individual. Makes it easier
,for jury to decide if they find the behavior change compelling or not.
Page 48
6. Group Experimental Designs: evaluate if the behavior of a treatment
group (independent variable ON) is statistically significantly different
from that of a control group (independent variable OFF). If so, then the
difference is attributed to the independent variable
Page 49
7. Example of group experimental design: Dallery et al. (2017)
evaluated the efficacy of an online stop-smoking program by
randomly assigning 94 cigarette smokers to either a treatment group
or a control group.
, At the end of the intervention phase, frequency of smoking in the
treatment group was lower than in the control group (40% of the
treatment group stopped smoking and only 13% of the control group
quit)
Page 49
8. Four weaknesses of group experimental designs: 1. When the
independent variable is therapeutic intervention, no one wants to be
assigned to the control group.
2. Focusing on the behavior of the group means we are not studying
the behavior of the individual.
3.The behavior of the treatment and control groups will differ simply
because the people (or nonhuman animals) assigned to the two
groups are different.
4.Their reliance on inferential statistics to evaluate the
independent variable changes behavior.
