Transcript 281 Lecture 2

Principles of Behavior Change
Research Methodology
Stimulus - Response
Overt and Covert Behavior
Appetitive, Aversive Stimuli
Establishing Operation
A procedure that affects the
appetitiveness or aversiveness of
a stimulus
Satiation, Deprivation
Contiguity and Contingency
Properties of Behavior
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Rate
Intensity
Duration
Latency
Number of Errors
Topography
Research Designs
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Descriptive
Naturalistic
Case Studies
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Experimental
Control Group
Single Subject
Descriptive
Naturalistic Observation
• Watch others
• Advantage
• can record
spontaneous behavior
• Disadvantage
• Observer bias
Participant Observation
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The observer interacts with the individuals
being observed.
Observer tries not to alter situation.
Archival Analysis
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Examine the documents of a culture
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Diaries, novels, newspapers
Inter-judge agreement important
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Control for bias, missing information
Case Study
Aileen Wournos
Life and Death a Serial Killer
(Broomfield & Churchill, 2002)
Aileen (2002)
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Jan 9, 1991 – arrested in Florida
paranoid, borderline personality disorder
admits that she lied on the stand about self defense
did it to “come clean”
killed because of robbery and to eliminate a witness
plan murders, selected the men
“there was no self-defense”
Aileen (2002)
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“the world is full of evil”
made 200-300 a day as prostitute
met Tyria in bar, lesbian relationship
Tyria made a state’s witness
Tyria not charged in the murders
participated with police
sorry about her actions
Aileen
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“doing lying biz to beat the system”
her report of Richard Mallory was convincing
Mallory spent 5 years in jail for sex crimes
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“you have to kill Aileen Wournos because she will kill again”
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talked about conspiracies in early 1990s
tended to sabotage own defense
Aileen
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oral sex for cigarettes at age of 9
incestuous relationship with brother Keith
Aileen’s grandfather beat her with black belt
rumored that he was her biological father
Biological mother abandoned her at 6 months
“father” sent to jail for sodomizing a boy
later he committed suicide
Aileen
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Had baby boy at age 13
two years living in the woods
survived by hooking
treated poorly by neighbourhood kids
Chief, thought to be father of Aileen’s child
Was local pedophile
Aileen
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Left Michigan at age 16
Doing drugs at time (LSD)
know for violent temper
knocked a man out with beer bottle
and another with billiard ball
Aileen
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Married Lewis Fell age 76
restraining charges, beat Lewis with walking stick
starting dating women in late 20s
Tyria described Aileen as –fantasist, jealous and possessive
who could be violent and frightening
had fantasies of being raped
Aileen
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believed police had
known about the first
murder but allowed her
to continue
mind is being controlled
by radio waves, poisoned
food, threatened of rape
while in prison
Aileen
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I am so burning f..in mad about how I am being…
I’ve got to wait for my execution
I want to get in the f..ing chamber tomorrow and leave
And then they play, since I waived off I have nothing but
Psychological and physical f… problems, playin with it
because I am on hold with my execution.
I’m so f..in mad I can’t see straight
And they’re just daring me to kill again
They got me pissed…United States Supreme court you f…in
I’m telling you man, you motherf….
Keep f..ing with my goddamn execution and there’s going to
be blood shed.
I’m sick of this, get that f..ing warrant signed.
Aileen
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They were using sonic pressure on my head since 1997 (this was
stated on Oct 8th, 2002).
Believes had eye in cell, believes that the TV or mirrors were rigged.
Crushing my head, using sonic pressure. Believes that the pressure
was increased as a form of torture. They tried to make me look
crazy.
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Had to wash food off, almost died.
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Believes that police had surveillance, before she killed. It was the
cops that made her do it.
executed Oct 9th, 2002
Case Studies
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advantages
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observations are recorded
behavior is described
disadvantages
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sometimes you record what you want to see
there are no associations
there is no cause and effect established
Experiments
Experiments
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Advantage
Establish causality
X causes change in Y
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Disadvantage
May be artificial
Can drugs increase IQ?
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How would you establish this?
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You need at least 2 groups
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Control
Experimental
Control Group
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IQ tested before intervention
This group receives a placebo
IQ tested after receiving placebo
Experimental Group
IQ test prior to administering drug
This group then gets the drug
IQ tested again
140
120
100
80
Time 1
Time 2
60
40
20
0
Experimental IQ
Control IQ
Single Subject Designs
Internal Validity
the degree to which X causes
a change in Y
External Validity
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the degree to which results can be generalized
1) to other people
2 to other situations
established by replications
generalizability across cultures is powerful
why? a law may be universal
some effects are culture bound
Ethics
What does it mean to be ethical?
“do the right thing”
Ethics
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ethics are standards regarding the treatment of others
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these standards apply to both research and clinical practice
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many disciplines have ethical codes
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we adhere to the CPA (Canadian Psychological Association)
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APA (American Psychological Association) ethical codes
CPA Ethical Code
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Principle 1: respect for the dignity of persons
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Principle 2: responsible caring
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Principle 3: integrity in relationships
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Principle 4: responsibility to society
Principle 1
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respect for the dignity of persons
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confidentiality, informed consent
minimize harm, freedom to withdraw
debriefing
Principle 2
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responsible caring
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being competent
Principle 3
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integrity in relationships
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being honest
avoidance of conflict of interest
Principle 4
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responsibility to society
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pro bono work
public service