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

Measurement bias

When an observer’s measurement is influenced by an expectation or belief they hold rather than what actually occurred.

5th Edition Task List

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

6th Edition TCO

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

Related Content

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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…
  • Reliability
    Measurement is trustworthy when the degree to which repeating a measurement procedure under the same conditions produces the same result.
  • 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.
  • Observer reactivity
    When an observer’s data collection or performance is influenced by the awareness that they are being monitored and evaluated.
  • 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.
  • ABA terms you need to know: Interobserver agreement.Interobserver agreement (IOA)
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  • Reactivity
    Refers to the changes in an individual’s behavior due to the presence of an observer.
  • Accuracy
    The degree to which what was measured (observed value) is representative of what actually occurred (true value); in other words, the data was measured correctly.
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  • IOA Mini Quiz
    Math can be daunting, but practice can help. You don’t have to be a math whiz to master the Interobserver Agreement formulas. Get more practice and gain confidence with the PTB IOA Mini Quiz. Updated for the 6th Edition Test Content Outline, the PTB IOA Mini Quiz features a new interactive format that simulates the test experience. Thirty fill-in-the-blank questions cover all 9 IOA formulas. Optional hints included with each quiz question assist you with the correct formula along the way. Check your work and collect data on your performance with the detailed score report. 
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    Test your knowledge with PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she explains the specific indicator of trustworthy measurement that corresponds with repeated measurement yielding the same result. Included is a description of all three indicators of trustworthy measurement validity, accuracy, and reliability. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section C-8: Evaluate the validity and reliability of measurement procedures.
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