ABA Glossary

By Dana Meller, M.A., BCBA
Edited by Tyra Sellers, J.D., Ph.D., BCBA-D
ABA Glossary by Dana Meller, M.A., BCBA, edited by Tyra Sellers, J.D., Ph.D., BCBA-D

Accuracy

Measurement is trustworthy when the degree to which what was quantitatively measured (observed value) is representative of what actually occurred (true value); in other words, the data collected accurately represents what occurred.

C-8  Evaluate the validity and reliability of measurement procedures.

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    Refers to the changes in an individual’s behavior due to the presence of an observer.
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    When an observer’s measurement is influenced by an expectation or belief they hold rather than what actually occurred.
  • Observer reactivity
    When an observer’s data collection or performance is influenced by the awareness that they are being monitored and evaluated.
  • ABA terms you need to know: Interobserver agreement.Interobserver agreement (IOA)
    A measurement of the degree to which two or more observers report the same values when observing and collecting data for the same behaviors/events.
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    Measurement is trustworthy when the measurement that produces data is applicable and specific to the target behavior of interest and the relevant dimension of that behavior; in other words, you …

    Accuracy Read More

  • Reliability
    Measurement is trustworthy when the degree to which repeating a measurement procedure under the same conditions produces the same result.
  • Measurement artifact
    Data that represents an unwarranted and misleading picture of behavior because of how it was measured, typically a product of time-sampling, limiting measurement scales, or poorly scheduled measurement periods.
  • Observer drift
    When observers collecting data have a shift/drift in how they interpret the operational definition of the target behavior that affects the validity of their data.
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