Mudford O C, Beale I L, Singh N N
Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
J Appl Behav Anal. 1990 Fall;23(3):323-31. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1990.23-323.
The representativeness of behavioral observation samples with durations of less than the whole time of interest was investigated. A real-time recording system was developed to quantify the behavior of 5 profoundly mentally retarded physically handicapped adult students in an institutional training setting. Behavior was observed using six mutually exclusive and exhaustive categories during 2.5-hr observation sessions. Sample observation sessions with durations ranging from 15 to 135 min were computer simulated from the whole-session (150-min) records. It was found that the representativeness of these samples, when compared to whole-session records, was a function of the relative duration of the behavioral categories and of sample duration. The occurrence of relatively high-duration behaviors (lasting for more than 50% of the session) was estimated to within 20% error by samples of less than 60 min, but low-duration behaviors (1 to 3% of the session) were inadequately quantified even from 135-min samples. Increasing irregularity of bouts of behavior in the low-duration behaviors is suggested as the cause of the functions obtained. Implications of the findings for applied behavior analysis are discussed, with the recommendation that the adequacy of observational session durations be empirically assessed routinely.
研究了持续时间短于整个感兴趣时间段的行为观察样本的代表性。开发了一种实时记录系统，以量化5名在机构培训环境中的重度智力迟钝且身体残疾的成年学生的行为。在2.5小时的观察期内，使用六个相互排斥且详尽无遗的类别对行为进行观察。从整个时段（150分钟）的记录中通过计算机模拟出持续时间从15分钟到135分钟不等的样本观察时段。结果发现，与整个时段记录相比，这些样本的代表性是行为类别相对持续时间和样本持续时间的函数。对于持续时间相对较长（持续时间超过时段的50%）的行为，通过少于60分钟的样本估计其发生率的误差在20%以内，但对于持续时间较短（时段的1%至3%）的行为，即使是135分钟的样本也无法充分量化。低持续时间行为中行为发作的不规则性增加被认为是所获得函数的原因。讨论了研究结果对应用行为分析的影响，并建议常规地通过实证评估观察时段持续时间的充分性。
