Experimental Design
What is a multiple baseline design across behaviors?
A design where the same intervention is applied to different behaviors at different times to demonstrate control.
What is a mand?
A verbal operant in which the speaker asks for or demands something they want or need.
What is stimulus generalization?
When a learned response occurs in the presence of stimuli similar to the original SD (discriminative stimulus).
In a reversal design, what is the purpose of the B phase?
To apply the independent variable (treatment) and observe its effect on behavior.
How does tact differ from intraverbal?
A tact is labeling something in the environment (stimulus control), while an intraverbal is a response to another verbal behavior without the presence of the item.
Describe response maintenance and give an example.
Continued performance of a behavior after reinforcement has stopped (e.g., continuing to brush teeth even without rewards).
Name one advantage and one disadvantage of an alternating treatments design.
Advantage: Rapid comparison of treatments. Disadvantage: Potential for multiple-treatment interference.
Give an example of autoclitic behavior.
Saying “I think it’s raining” — "I think" modifies the strength of the statement about rain.
What is the matching law?
The rate of response matches the rate of reinforcement received for each choice.
Describe a changing criterion design and provide an example.
A design where behavior is shaped by systematically changing criteria for reinforcement (e.g., gradually increasing the number of math problems completed).
What is the distinction between a textual and a transcription?
Textual: Reading written words aloud; Transcription: Writing or typing spoken words.
Differentiate between rule-governed and contingency-shaped behavior.
Rule-governed: behavior controlled by verbal rules; Contingency-shaped: behavior shaped by direct experiences with consequences.
How can you increase the internal validity of a withdrawal design?
By showing repeated reversals with predictable behavior changes each time the independent variable is introduced or removed.
Explain the role of motivating operations in the occurrence of mands.
MOs increase or decrease the value of a reinforcer and the likelihood of behavior that has historically accessed that reinforcer (e.g., thirst makes asking for water more likely).
Define and give an example of adjunctive behavior.
Excessive behavior that emerges during reinforcement schedules (e.g., pacing while waiting for food).