Exam 9: Behavioral Variability

The phrase ______ refers to how researchers arrange comparisons between control and experimental conditions so as to permit inferences about any effects independent variables may have on responding.

Controlling extraneous factors to reduce behavioral variability is necessary in order to be sure that any change in responding during a particular phase is due only to the ______.

List the four basic components of the argument for why behavioral researchers should be sure that their data represent only behavior.

What is the problem for the study of behavior with using data from groups of subjects who are exposed to either the control condition or the experimental/treatment condition alone?

Why might it be useful for a researcher or practitioner to increase variability?

______ is a method of arranging comparisons between control and experimental (or treatment) conditions in which different groups of subjects are exposed to control and experimental conditions so that the data represent the combined performance of individual participants who have experienced only one of the conditions.

What are the two general tactics for handling extraneous factors? What are the pros and cons of each?

Describe what this statement means "In a general sense, variability is the subject matter of all sciences."

What is the problem for the study of behavior with using data from groups of subjects who are exposed to either the control or experimental condition alone?

While eliminating extraneous variables to help manage behavioral variability has many advantages, it can also be problematic. All of the following are disadvantages associated with this tactic, except:

A(n) ______ is an effect of a participant's behavior resulting from exposure to a prior condition.

Describe how a response class definition can affect behavioral variability.

What are the three levels of summarization in behavioral variability?

What is behavioral variability? Describe how variability can occur with a clinical example.

What are the methodological consequences of assuming that behavioral variability is extrinsic?

What is one way to separate sequence effects from treatment effects?

Why do individuals tend to attribute the causes of behavior to events inside the organism?

Distinguish between independent and extraneous variables.

One tactic for dealing with variability is to reduce variability by isolating and controlling extraneous factors in the environment. What is the second?

What is a sequence effect? Provide an original example of one.