Chapter 2: Research Methods Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Behavioral Research • Begin by developing a hypothesis or by deciding on a specific area of interest • Employ a research method – naturalistic observation – case studies – control group designs – single-subject designs • Collect behavioral data Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Variables • characteristics of a person, place, or thing that can change (vary) over time or from one situation to another. – Examples: height, weight, marital status, age, hair color Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Independent Variable • systematically varies across different conditions in an experiment. • They are manipulated by the experimenter. • Example: – Research Question: Does the size of a reward affect the efficiency of learning? – Independent Variable: the number of food pellets the rats in each group receive when they reach the goal Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Dependent Variable • the aspect of an experiment that is allowed to vary freely to see if it is affected by changes in the independent variable. • They are measured by the experimenter. • Example: – Research Question: Does the size of a reward affect the efficiency of learning? – Dependent Variable: the total number of errors the rat makes while trying to find its way to the goal Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Functional Relationship • the relationship between changes in an independent variable and changes in a dependent variable. • It can also be thought of as a cause-andeffect relationship. • The behavioral researchers are interested in determining the functional relationship between stimulus and responses. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Stimulus • any event that can potentially influence behavior. • Examples: – red light – food • Events both outside the skin and inside the skin can influence our behavior. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Response • a particular instance of a behavior. • Examples: – press the brake – salivating • The response of one organism can act as a stimulus that influences the response of another organism. • Example: – when one rat bites another Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Overt Behavior • is behavior that has the potential for being directly observed by an individual other than the one performing the behavior. • Behaviorists traditionally have tended to emphasize the study of overt behavior. • Examples: – response of saying hello – a rat’s response of pressing a lever Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Covert Behavior • behavior that can be perceived only by the person performing the behavior. • Skinner maintained that internal events such as thoughts, feelings, and even sensory experiences should be classified as behaviors. • Examples: – Feeling anxiety – Visualizing how your date will go Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Appetitive Stimulus • an event that an organism will seek out. • Examples: – Food when we are hungry – Water when we are thirsty • These events are not always “pleasant”. • Examples: – Smokers seek out cigarettes even though they feel smoking is disgusting. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Aversive Stimulus • an event that an organism will avoid. • Examples: – Extreme heat – Electric shock • These events are not always “unpleasant”. • Example: – Some people avoid being loved even though they believe being loved is wonderful. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Establishing Operation • a procedure that affects the appetitiveness or aversiveness of a stimulus. • Appetitiveness or aversiveness of an event depends on a particular state or condition. • Deprivation and satiation are two types of establishing operations. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Deprivation • the prolonged absence of an event that tends to increase the appetitiveness of that event. • Examples: – Going without food, television, or social contact for a long period of time • There are exceptions. • Example: anorexia nervosa Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Satiation • the prolonged exposure to an event, which tends to decrease the appetitiveness of that event. • Examples: – Eating a large meal – Listening to the same music too many times • There are exceptions. • Example: anorexia nervosa Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Contiguity • means closeness or nearness. • Temporal contiguity is the extent to which events occur close together in time. – Example: tantrum, followed immediately by candy • Spatial contiguity is the extent to which events are situated close to each other in space. – Example: sound of the knock close to the door Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Contingency • a predictive relationship between two events. • The occurrence of one event predicts the probable occurrence of another. • Example: – a rat receives a food pellet whenever it presses a lever – a child receives a big balloon every time she goes to the dentist Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Behavioral Definitions • To study the effects of certain variables on a behavior, we must properly define the behavior. • The definition must refer to some observable aspect of the individual’s behavior and be clearly defined. • Examples: – Define yelling as a loud vocalization that continues for more than 5 seconds and can be heard outside a closed door – rather than defining angry behavior. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Rate of Response • the frequency with which a response occurs in a certain period of time. • This method of measurement is most appropriate when the response is of brief duration, with a well-defined start and finish. • Example: – number of cigarettes smoked per day • A cumulative recorder is a classic device that measures the total number of responses over time and provides a graphic depiction of the rate of behavior. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Cumulative Record Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Intensity • the force or magnitude of the behavior. • Example: Tone: Food → Salivation Tone → Salivation – measured as the amount (magnitude) of saliva produced whenever the tone was sounded by itself. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Duration • the length of time that an individual repeatedly or continuously performs a certain behavior. • This measure is appropriate when either increasing or decreasing the length of time the behavior occurs. • Example: – Length of time a student studies • This measure is problematic because it doesn’t indicate the quality of the behavior. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Speed • a measure of how quickly or slowly a behavior occurs, or the rapidity with which one progresses through some type of distance. • Example: – length of time for a rat to run through a maze Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Latency • the length of time required for the behavior to begin. • Examples: – how soon the dog begins salivating after it hears the tone – how soon the children make their bed after being told to Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Interval Recording • the measurement of whether or not a behavior occurs within a series of continuous intervals. • The researcher does not have to record every single response. • Example: – measure the percentage of intervals during which at least one aggressive incident occurred – to do this, record whether or not an incident occurred within each successive 10-minute interval Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Time-Sample Recording • measures whether or not a behavior occurs within a series of discontinuous intervals • Example: – record whether at least one aggressive incident occurred during a 10-minute interval at the start of each half-hour Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Topography • measure the physical form of the behavior. • Examples: – how the rat presses the lever – how the child gets dressed Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Number of Errors • measures any behavior in which responses can be categorized as right or wrong. • Examples: – the number of errors a student makes on an exam – the number of wrong turns a rat takes before it finds its way through a maze Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Descriptive Research • involves simply describing the behavior and the situation within which it occurs. • This research does not involve the manipulation of any variables. • Naturalistic observation involves the systematic observation and recording of behavior in its natural environment. – Example: Jane Goodall’s systematic study of chimpanzee behavior in the wild • The naturalistic approach is excellent for gaining rich, detailed information. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Descriptive Research, continued • The case study approach involves the intensive examination of one or a few individuals. • These can be done in natural settings or more structured settings. • Example: – studying individuals who have suffered neurological damage or relatively rare psychological disorders Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Experimental Research • experiments to discover cause-and-effect relationships between environmental events and behavior. • One or more independent variables are systematically varied to determine their effect on a dependent variable. • The two main types are control group designs and single-subject designs. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Control Group Designs • individuals are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group • individuals assigned to the experimental group are exposed to a certain manipulation or treatment • those assigned to the control group are not exposed to it • Example: – the experimental rats receive food, while the control rats do not Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Factorial Design • control group designs that examine the interaction of more than one independent variable. • Example: – We might rerun the experiment (free food versus no food) with groups of old rats, middle-aged rats, and young rats. – This is a 2 × 3 factorial design. – Interaction effects give us a much finer understanding of the variables. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Example Factorial Design Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Comparative Design • control group design in which different species are independent variables. • It is used to test an evolutionary hypothesis. • Comparative designs can be simple or factorial. • Example: – Research Question: Do rats deal with small, enclosed environments better than dogs? – Examine: how quickly dogs and rats learn to find a target in a complex maze versus a large open area Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Benefits of Control Group Designs • You can assess the general effects of certain variables. • You can determine cause-and-effects. • You can be fairly confident that differences between groups in performance are the result of differences in the independent variable. • Various characteristics of the subjects in each group are likely to be evenly distributed. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Limitations of Control Group Designs • They require a large number of subjects. • They are not well suited for investigating the effect of a certain treatment on a particular individual. • They focus on the average performance of all subjects in each group. • Results are often analyzed and interpreted only at the end of the experiment. • Species can differ in more ways than just their learning capacity or style (comparative designs). Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Single-Subject Designs • require only one or a few subjects to conduct an entire experiment. • The problem of generalizability is typically solved by running the study with more than one subject. • If we find the same pattern of results for all of the subjects submitted to these procedures, the findings are likely to have good generality. • There are several types. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Simple-Comparison Design • Behavior in a baseline condition is compared to behavior in a treatment condition. • The baseline is the normal frequency of the behavior that occurs before some intervention. – The baseline period is often called the A phase. – The treatment period is called the B phase. • This design does not control for the possibility that some other event that occurred at the same time as the treatment could have caused the change in the behavior. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Example • Cory wonders if he might be able to cut down on smoking by punishing himself. • He needs to take a baseline measure of the number of cigarettes he typically smokes each day. • Cory should continue the baseline period until the behavior stabilizes. • He should then institute the self-punishment procedure for several days. • He should measure the number of cigarettes he smokes during the intervention period. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Cory’s Simple-Comparison Design Results Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Reversal Design • a type of single-subject design that involves repeated alternations between a baseline period and a treatment period. • If the behavior changes each time the treatment is instituted and later withdrawn, then a functional relationship has been demonstrated. • It is ideal for determining the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention for one person. • Statistical tests are not needed. • Example: – Cory would repeat the baseline period and then the treatment period. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Cory’s Reversal Design Results Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. More Than One Treatment • A reversal design can be used to assess the effectiveness of more than one treatment. • Example: – Cory can use punishment and reinforcement as two different treatments to reduce his smoking. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Cory’s Results With Two Treatments Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Limitations of Reversal Designs • The behavior must revert to its original baseline frequency when the treatment is withdrawn. • Some treatments are intended to produce long-lasting effects. • It may be ethically inappropriate to remove a treatment once some improvement has been obtained. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Multiple Baseline Design • a treatment is instituted at successive points in time for two or more persons, settings, or behaviors. • Multiple-Baseline-Across-Persons – measure the behavior of each person at baseline – measure the behavior of each person at treatment • Multiple-Baseline-Across-Settings – measure the behavior in each setting at baseline – measure the behavior in each setting at treatment • Multiple-Baseline-Across-Behaviors – measure each behavior at baseline – measure each behavior at treatment Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Benefits & Limitations of Multiple Baseline Designs • This design is appropriate when the treatment is likely to produce a permanent change in behavior, or when it may be unethical to withdraw the treatment. • You need more than one person, setting, or behavior to which the treatment can be applied. • The treatment effect might generalize across the different settings or behaviors occurring before the intervention is instituted. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Criterion-Changing Design • The effect of the treatment is demonstrated by how closely the behavior matches a criterion that is systematically altered. • It is appropriate for situations in which the behavior is intended to change gradually. • It can be greatly strengthened by including periods in which the criterion suddenly changes in the opposite direction. • Example: – Cory decides to gradually reduce his smoking behavior and sets a certain criterion for an allowable number of cigarettes. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Cory’s Changing Criterion Design Results Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Advantages of Using Animals in Research • Researchers have the ability to control their genetic makeup. • Researchers have the ability to control their learning history. • Researchers have the ability to control their experimental environment. • Some research cannot ethically be conducted with humans. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Arguments Against Using Animals in Research • The findings from animal research necessarily have limited applicability to humans. • It is morally wrong. • Animals should have rights similar to humans. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Summary • Behavioral research involves the manipulation and measurement of variables. • Independent variable vs. dependent variable • Appetitive stimuli vs. aversive stimuli • Establishing operations are conditions that affect the appetitiveness or aversiveness of an event. • Deprivation vs. satiation • Contingency is when the occurrence of one event predicts the likely occurrence of another. Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Summary, continued • Researchers need to determine the most appropriate way to measure changes in behavior: – – – – – – – – – Rate of response Intensity Duration Speed Latency Interval recording Time-sample recording Topography Number of Errors Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Summary, continued • Researchers need to determine the most appropriate method for conducting research. • Two descriptive methods are naturalistic observation and the case study approach. • They do not demonstrate causality. • Experimental methods demonstrate causal relationships. – Control group designs - simple, factorial, comparative – Single-subject designs - simple-comparison, reversal, multiple-baseline, and changing-criterion Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Summary, continued • Advantages of using animals as subjects in behavioral research include: – – – – enhanced control over learning history enhanced control over genetic background enhanced control over experimental environment animals can be used in ethically questionable studies • Disadvantages of using animals are: – the possibility that findings may be limited – animals have the same rights as humans Introduction to Learning and Behavior, 3e by Russell A. Powell, Diane G. Symbaluk, and P. Lynne Honey Copyright © 2009 Wadsworth Publishing, a division of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.