Measurement Application Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to apply the information from Chapters 3 and 4 to a behavior of your choosing. In this regard, you will need to select a behavior, operationally define the behavior, and choose an appropriate measurement system. You do not need to actually measure the behavior.

Assignment – Due by 8:30 pm on data indicated on syllabus – upload to eCourseware dropbox

Begin your paper by briefly describing the behavior of interest. Who is the person (pseudonyms are appropriate)? What is the behavior they engage in that needs to be changed? What are the circumstances under which the behavior tends to occur?

Following this introduction, you will need to

Identifying appropriate target behavior

Describe how the target behavior you selected for change adheres to the guidelines outlined in Chapter 3 (specifically, look at pages 56-61)

Operational definition

Develop an operational definition of the target behavior. Explain how your operational definition meets the criteria for a good definition. Identify whether your definition is a function-based or topography-based definition, and defend your choice.

Measurement selection

Describe how you will measure the behavior. What will be the length of your observation and why? What is the important measurable dimension of the target behavior (e.g., rate, latency, irt)? Explain why this measurable dimension is important relative to other possible dimensions.

Measurement procedure

Describe the specific observation and recording procedure you will use for the target behavior. For example, will you use event recording or interval recording. If interval, what type of procedure will you use (Whole? Partial? Momentary time sampling?)? Explain how you would use this procedure, and defend your choice of procedure. Will the procedure you select involve continuous or discontinuous measurement?

Data sheet

Develop and attach a data sheet that you might use for observation and recording. This data sheet should reflect the recording procedure you describe and should be designed for efficient recording. You may search online for examples, but the data sheet should be your own creation.

Grading Template

3 = information is clear, complete, and appropriate

2 = most, but not all, information is clearly and appropriately addressed in a way that is specific to the application

1 = addressed somewhat, but information is incompletely, unclearly, and/or only generally described to a large extent

0 = not addressed

Provides an overview of the person of interest, the target behavior, and the circumstances under which behavior tends to occur.

Score: 0 1 2 3

Comments:

Section 1 – TARGET BEHAVIOR

Score: 0 1 2 3

Comments:

Section 2 – OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

Score: 0 1 2 3

Comments:

Section 3 – MEASUREMENT SELECTION

Score: 0 1 2 3

Comments:

Section 4 – MEASUREMENT DESCRIPTION

Score: 0 1 2 3

Comments:

Section 5 – DATA SHEET

Score: 0 1 2 3

Comments:

Overall presentation:

2-Information is well organized, grammatically correct, and free of typos

1-Organization is somewhat difficult to follow, paper contains extraneous information (not relevant), and/or paper contains some errors

0-Confusing organization and/or numerous typographical, grammatical, or conceptual errors

Final Score _____/20

Measurement Application Assignment