This section focuses on defining behavior, collecting meaningful data, interpreting graphs, and making decisions based on what the data show. It also covers tools used in single case research. Choose a topic to open an interactive module in a new tab.
A quick review of methods of data collection: count, duration, latency, inter-response time, whole interval recording, partial interval recording, and momentary time sampling.
How to write objective, clear, and complete definitions of behavior.
How to identify the parts of a graph: X-axis, Y-axis, data path, titles, labels, tick marks, and more!
What is external validity in research? Learn what it is and learn 8 common threats to external validity.
What is internal validity in research? Learn what it is and learn 6 common threats to internal validity.
Learn to describe graphed data, and changes in data, in terms of trend, level, variiability, overlap.
When you read a research study, how do you decide whether the intervention was effective? Instead of taking the author's word for it, analyze the graphs yourself. Here's how!
What is behavior and data collection?
How do you get set up to make sure data collection goes smoothly?
Sometimes we don't take data on the behavior itself, but on the result of the behavior. Here's how.
The most common types of measurement are called continuous measurement. This is when we measure something about every instance of the behavior.
How to collect count (sometimes called frequency) data.
How to collect duration data (track the length of time a behavior lasts).
How to take latency data, which involves tracking the delay from some trigger to a behavior.
Sometimes we don't measure every instance of the behavior, but estimate the behavior instead. Learn three common methods for doing this.
Partial interval data collection involves taking data on whether a behavior occurs at any point during a specified interval. Learn how to take it here.
Whole interval data collection involves tracking whether a behavior lasts for the entire duration of an interval. Learn how to take it here!
When you do momentary time sampling, you record whether a behavior is occurring at certain moments. Learn how!
We're usually not done after we've taken data. We often have to do some calculations with it, enter it into a computer, and/or graph it.
Learn to enter percentages, rates, trials to criterion, and other ways to summarize data.
Finally, learn to graph using a line graph.
These trainings are specifically designed to teach new behavior technicians to collect, enter and graph data. It's recommended that you complete these trainings in order from top to bottom!