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Chapter 2

Observing and Recording Behavior

Behavioral Assessment

Measuring the behavior targeted for change

A Behavioral Assessment will:

Behavioral Assessment Example

Types of Behavioral Assessments

•Interviews

•Questions

•Rating Scale

Indirect Assessment

•Direct

Observation

•Live Recording

Direct Assessment

Recording Behavior

1. Define the target behavior2. Identify who, when, and where to

record (the logistics of recording)3. Choose a recording method (what to

record)4. Choose a recording instrument (how

to record)5. Reliability assessment6. Consider reactivity of recording

Recording

Behavior Recording Behavior

Defining the target behavior

Sometimes referred to as operationally defining the

target behavior

Sometimes referred to as a behavioral

definition

Whatever you call it, it specifies

exactly what behavior is to be observed

Defining the Target Behavior

1 Describe what the person does and says – AVOID LABELS

Defining the Target Behavior

2 Use active verbs that are objective and unambiguous

Defining the Target Behavior

3 Do not use inferences about internal states or motivation

Teacher may define bad attitude as being rude.

Rolls eyes

Doesn’t use please and thank you

Turns away when spoken to

How can you define rude more behaviorally?

Defining the Target Behavior

4 Defined so that two people agree

When the behavior is defined

behaviorally two people can observe the

same behavior and agree the behavior

occurred. It is called

interobserver reliability (IOR)

or interobserver agreement

Logistics of Recording

Identify WhoWhen

Where

Logistics of RecordingWHO

Logistics of RecordingWHEN

Must get permission especially if it occurs without the clients knowledge

Observational periods must be defined

Dependent on:

when the behavior is likely to occur

availability of observers

constraints imposed by activities of the client

Logistics of RecordingWHERE

Record in contrived settings

Record in natural settings

Structured vs unstructured

Recording Method

Frequency = the number of times the behavior occurs in an observation period

Continuous Recording

Real time recording = exact time of the onset and offset of the target behavior is recorded

Duration = total amount of time occupied by the behavior

Intensity = amount of force, energy, or exertion involved in the behavior

Latency = the time from some stimulus event to the onset of the behavior

Recording MethodProduct Recording

Record the tangible outcome or permanent product of the occurrence of the behavior

Recording MethodInterval Recording

Record the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the behavior in consecutive intervals of time during an observation period.

Recording MethodTime Sample Recording

Record the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the behavior in discontinuous intervals of time (time samples) during an observation period.

Recording InstrumentThe data sheet is the most commonly used instrument in behavioral research

Recording must be immediate and practical

Recording Instrument

Other methods of observation:

Record surreptitiously

through observation

windows or with participant observers

Wait until the person being

observed becomes accustomed to the observer or to self-

monitoring

Dealing with Reactivity

Calculating Interobserver Reliability IOR

The end of slide show. Don’t forget to read the chapter.