PSY491_Ch2_Glossary

An event that an organism will seek out.

An event that an organism will avoid.

The normal frequency of a behavior before some intervention.

A descriptive research approach that involves intensive examination of one or a few individuals.

A type of single-subject design in which the effect of the treatment is demonstrated by how closely the behavior matches a criterion that is systematically altered.

A type of control group design in which different species constitute one of the independent variables.

A predictive relationship between two events such that the occurrence of one event predicts the probable occurrence of the other.

A type of experiment in which, at its simplest, subjects are randomly assigned to either an experimental (or treatment) group or a control group; subjects assigned to the experimental group are exposed to a certain manipulation or treatment, while those assigned to the control group are not.

Behavior that can be subjectively perceived only by the person performing the behavior. Thoughts and feelings are these types of behaviors.

A device that measures total number of responses over time and provides a graphic depiction of the rate of behavior.

That aspect of an experiment that is allowed to freely vary to determine if it is affected by changes in the independent variable.

The prolonged absence of an event that tends to increase the appetitiveness of that event.

Research that focuses on describing the behavior and the situation within which it occurs.

The length of time that an individual repeatedly or continuously performs a certain behavior.

A procedure that affects the appetitveness or aversiveness of a stimulus.

The relationship between changes in an independent variable and changes in a dependent variable; a cause-and-effect relationship.

That aspect of an experiment that is made to systematically vary across the different conditions in an experiment.

The force or magnitude of a behavior.

The measurement of whether or not a behavior occurs within a series of continuous intervals. (The number of times that it occurs within each interval is irrelevant.)

The length of time required for a behavior to begin.

A type of single-subject design in which a treatment is instituted at successive points in time for two or more persons, settings, or behaviors.

A descriptive research approach that involves the systematic observation and recording of behavior in its natural environment.

Behavior that has the potential for being directly observed by an individual other than the one performing the behavior.

The frequency with which a response occurs in a certain period of time.

A particular instance of a behavior.

A type of single-subject design that involves repeated alternations between a baseline period and a treatment period.

The prolonged exposure to (or consumption of) an event that tends to decrease the appetitiveness of that event.

A type of single-subject design in which behavior in a baseline condition is compared to behavior in a treatment condition.

A research design that requires only one or a few subjects in order to conduct an entire experiment.

The extent to which events are situated close to each other in space.

A measure of how quickly or slow a behavior occurs, or the rapidity with which one progresses through some type of distance, e.g. the length of time it takes for a rat to run through a maze.

Any events that can potentially influence behavior. (The plural for this ends with an -i)

The extent to which events occur close together in time.

The measurement of whether or not a behavior occurs within a series of discontinuous intervals. (The number of times that it occurs within each interval is irrelevant.)

The physical form of a behavior.

A characteristic of a person, place, or thing that can change (vary) over time or from one situation to another.