WHAT IS “A”? Tristram Jones, Ph.D. Tristram Jones, Ph.D. PS 512 Kaplan University, Unit I PS 512 Kaplan University, Unit I Ayn Rand famously asserted that.

WHAT IS “A”?WHAT IS “A”?

Tristram Jones, Ph.D. Tristram Jones, Ph.D. PS 512 Kaplan University, Unit I PS 512 Kaplan University, Unit I

Ayn Rand famously asserted that “A is A”and otherwise hasabsolutely nothing todo with this seminar!

What does “A” mean?What does “A” mean?The letter The letter AA in single subject designs in single subject designs ALMOST always represents a baseline ALMOST always represents a baseline

measurement.measurement.

Then comes “B”…the Then comes “B”…the interventionintervention, or the , or the

independent variable as independent variable as researchers call it!researchers call it!

New baseline behavior? This New baseline behavior? This would indicate CARRY OVER would indicate CARRY OVER

EFFECTEFFECT

Typically, A will mean a return Typically, A will mean a return to former baseline behavior—in to former baseline behavior—in the best of all worlds, anyhow! the best of all worlds, anyhow!

Well, which is the Y or X Well, which is the Y or X axis?axis?

This is a VERY simple line graph! Please This is a VERY simple line graph! Please note that Y goes up and down, and X note that Y goes up and down, and X goes across. (Y=vertical, X=horizontal)goes across. (Y=vertical, X=horizontal)

Why? Because Rene did it like that!Why? Because Rene did it like that!

The Y axis depicts the The Y axis depicts the DEPENDENT VARIABLE!DEPENDENT VARIABLE!

It shows the RESULT of what you are It shows the RESULT of what you are IMPOSING or REMOVING from the IMPOSING or REMOVING from the environment! environment! Y Y depicts thedepicts the levels levels of of the DEPENDENT VARIABLE! This is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE! This is ALWAYS the vertical line, actually ALWAYS the vertical line, actually because of Cartesian Algebra—because of Cartesian Algebra—whatever that is! whatever that is!

RENE DESCARTES DEVELOPED CARTESIANALGEBRA—which shouldbe called DESCARTEAN--But who could pronounce that?

What’s a What’s a dependentdependent variable variable again???again???

It’s the variable that is It’s the variable that is assumed to be assumed to be caused caused by, or depend onby, or depend on, the , the independentindependent variable! variable! In a way, it’s WHAT In a way, it’s WHAT HAPPENS when you HAPPENS when you monkey around!monkey around!

And the X line, what’s that for again??And the X line, what’s that for again??

The X Axis usually depicts the The X Axis usually depicts the passage of time. It is always passage of time. It is always horizontal! It also depicts phase horizontal! It also depicts phase changes!changes!

AS YOU APPLY THE AS YOU APPLY THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE you you

measure over time charted measure over time charted against the level of variance in the against the level of variance in the

dependent variable, IQ in this dependent variable, IQ in this case:case:

TIME IN WEEKS ELAPSED

IQ

ENHANCED

The IV is the ACME BRAIN STIMULATOR

HOW COULD WE TURN THIS INTO AN “ABAB” DESIGN?

WHAT ARE TICK WHAT ARE TICK MARKS?!?MARKS?!?

Really they’re just Really they’re just those little ticky those little ticky looking lines that you looking lines that you see along the X and Y see along the X and Y lines of the graph! lines of the graph! They mean whatever They mean whatever measurement of time measurement of time you say they mean on you say they mean on the X axis! The Y ticks the X axis! The Y ticks indicate levels of indicate levels of response in the DV response in the DV along that axis. DATA along that axis. DATA POINTS are where POINTS are where these plots intersect! these plots intersect!

What’s a data path?What’s a data path? It’s the journey your data takes when It’s the journey your data takes when

you calculate your intersecting data you calculate your intersecting data points!points!

Why is that vertical line Why is that vertical line solid?solid?

Phase change lines on a line graph, like in ABAB, are depicted as solid vertical lines! They simply depict each phase of a design’s progression!

OH YEAH? Well how come some of them aren’t solid? Well, that’s because they symbolize PARTIAL PHASE CHANGES!

Why would you use a partial Why would you use a partial phase change?phase change?

Pretty much for anything you want to! Pretty much for anything you want to! But it has to be a partial adjustment to But it has to be a partial adjustment to the delivery of the IV. Suppose you move the delivery of the IV. Suppose you move from praising your monkey for not from praising your monkey for not grabbing his banana every five minutes grabbing his banana every five minutes to every ten minutes? (A scheduling to every ten minutes? (A scheduling shift) but everything else is the same! shift) but everything else is the same! You might use a partial phase change You might use a partial phase change line!line!

What is this SHAPING stuff?What is this SHAPING stuff?Well, you have to know what a CRITEREON Well, you have to know what a CRITEREON

BEHAVIOR is too.BEHAVIOR is too.

A criterion is the target behavior we A criterion is the target behavior we wish to achieve in behavioral wish to achieve in behavioral conditioning! Maybe you would like conditioning! Maybe you would like to teach your pet bear to ride a to teach your pet bear to ride a bicycle? That’s your criterion!bicycle? That’s your criterion!

But bears don’t learn to ride But bears don’t learn to ride bikes all at once! bikes all at once!

Bear is rewarded for Bear is rewarded for approaching bikeapproaching bike

Sniffing at bikeSniffing at bike Picking bike upPicking bike up Getting on bikeGetting on bike Balancing on bikeBalancing on bike Trying to coast on bike—Trying to coast on bike— Etc!Etc! SHAPING!SHAPING! GET IT? GET IT?

But I still don’t know But I still don’t know what what T T TOPOGRAPHYTOPOGRAPHY means! means!

That’s okay—That’s okay—TOPOGRAPHYTOPOGRAPHY is is different from FUNCTIONAL analysis! different from FUNCTIONAL analysis! Topography describes outward Topography describes outward appearances in 3D that conform to appearances in 3D that conform to the criterion behavior’s appearance. the criterion behavior’s appearance.

FUNCTIONFUNCTION describes the hidden describes the hidden springs of an exhibited behavior! Can springs of an exhibited behavior! Can it be???? it be????

Yes! It is a search for Yes! It is a search for INTERNAL motivationINTERNAL motivation! ! (Behaviorism has its (Behaviorism has its

limitations!) limitations!)

And TOPOGRAPHY? And TOPOGRAPHY? Evidence Evidence for the perfect pitch!for the perfect pitch!

Not so much!Not so much!

Remember the value of Remember the value of REAL WORLDREAL WORLD

ANALYSIS! ANALYSIS!

MAGNITUDEMAGNITUDE is the INTENSITY is the INTENSITY of a behavior! of a behavior!

Obviously thisObviously this

adds the concernadds the concern

of measurementsof measurements

of power or force.of power or force.

This is one stepThis is one step

beyond measuringbeyond measuring

simple behavior!simple behavior!

What’s the difference What’s the difference between rate and between rate and

frequency?frequency? FREQUENCYFREQUENCY = = Number of responses Number of responses

that occur during a given period of that occur during a given period of recording.recording.

RATERATE= = When observation periods differ When observation periods differ in length, rate must be used. It is in length, rate must be used. It is determined by dividing number of determined by dividing number of responses by length of session!responses by length of session!

Whaaat?Whaaat?

It’s not that hard, really!It’s not that hard, really!

Number ResponsesNumber Responses

__________________ = __________________ = RATERATE

Length of ObservationLength of Observation

So, 25 responses in 30 minutes = .83 r/minutesSo, 25 responses in 30 minutes = .83 r/minutes

Or 12 responses in 15 minutes = .80 r/minutesOr 12 responses in 15 minutes = .80 r/minutes

That’s how you can compare rates!That’s how you can compare rates!

Join us again Join us again NEXT WEEKNEXT WEEK for another for another action-packed episode of action-packed episode of

RESEARCH DESIGN IN RESEARCH DESIGN IN ABA!ABA!

AS SCIENCE MARCHES ON!

TIPS for surviving APA:TIPS for surviving APA: Never call your reader “you” as in “You really Never call your reader “you” as in “You really

have to be careful diagnosing clients.” You have to be careful diagnosing clients.” You shouldn’t do it!shouldn’t do it!

Never use a plural pronoun with a single Never use a plural pronoun with a single antecedent, like “The client may ask to see antecedent, like “The client may ask to see theirtheir charts.” Say charts.” Say his or herhis or her, or he or she, or him and , or he or she, or him and her, as the case may require—or change the her, as the case may require—or change the subject to a plural, as in “Clients may ask to see subject to a plural, as in “Clients may ask to see their charts,” which is fine.their charts,” which is fine.

Avoid slang, dude! Avoid slang, dude! Never use an exclamation mark unless you are Never use an exclamation mark unless you are

quoting!!!!quoting!!!! Never use contractions because you Never use contractions because you shouldn’tshouldn’t

unless unless you’reyou’re quoting! quoting! Ever begin a sentence with an acronym.Ever begin a sentence with an acronym.

And now for And now for somethingsomething completely completely different...different...

And…And… Avoid familiar clichéd phrases or expressions. In fact, Avoid familiar clichéd phrases or expressions. In fact,

avoid them “like the plague.” avoid them “like the plague.” Never ask rhetorical questions—what’s the point?Never ask rhetorical questions—what’s the point? Do not make speeches/wax didactic/moralize.Do not make speeches/wax didactic/moralize. Never make assertions you didn’t document.Never make assertions you didn’t document. Never begin a sentence with a number unless you Never begin a sentence with a number unless you

spell it out. spell it out. Always double space! Always double space! Please do not include a citation that is not covered in Please do not include a citation that is not covered in

your reference list, or a reference item you did not your reference list, or a reference item you did not cite!cite!

Refer to “Webster’s Dictionary” or use Refer to “Webster’s Dictionary” or use any any dictionary dictionary as a citation, unless it is remarkably pertinentas a citation, unless it is remarkably pertinent

Use first names in a citations or referenceUse first names in a citations or reference Avoid padding, such as “There are many problems in Avoid padding, such as “There are many problems in

the Human Services that stem from many sources.”the Human Services that stem from many sources.” Repeatedly place a title in your references because Repeatedly place a title in your references because

you cite it more than once! you cite it more than once!