It is often said that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” While there is no debating the fundamental importance of words to the field of psychology, sometimes images can help visualize important trends in data. These images—in the form of graphs and plots such as histograms or pie charts—can help researchers represent data visually and identify and understand such things as changes in measured behaviors among individuals or populations.
For this Assignment, you will examine how data can be presented graphically. Specifically, you will use MS Excel to graphically represent a given data set.
To Prepare
- The following table (below) represents the percent of correct behavior on a daily spelling test for a period of 1 week.
- Review the Excel tutorial found in this week’s Learning Resources to guide you through the basics of using Excel spreadsheet and charting and graphing for this Assignment.
- Create a new Excel spreadsheet, and then use the data provided above to graph the baseline data on the four students in the table. Note: Your spreadsheet should include the data and a chart of a line graph with appropriate labeling.
- Save your Excel spreadsheet as “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial”
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob | 85 | 70 | 65 | 80 | 80 |
| Carol | 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 85 |
| Ted | 45 | 60 | 35 | 70 | 45 |
| Alice | 95 | 100 | 100 | 90 | 100 |
Assignment (1 page):
- Graph, chart (line graph), and appropriately label the data in the table.
Be sure to support your Assignment with specific references to behavior-analytic theory and research. In addition to the Learning Resources, search the Walden Library and/or the internet for peer-reviewed articles to support your Assignment. Use proper APA format and citations, including those in the Learning Resources.
Resources
- Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.
- Chapter 3, “Selecting and Defining Target Behaviors” (pp. 48–72)
- Chapter 4, “Measuring Behavior” (pp. 73–100)
- Chapter 6, “Constructing and Interpreting Graphic Displays” (pp. 124–154)
- Bakeman, R., & Quera, V. (2012). Behavioral observationLinks to an external site.. In H. Cooper, P. M. Camic, D. L. Long, A. T. Panter, D. Rindskopf, & K. J. Sher, (Eds), APA handbook of research methods in psychology, Vol 1: Foundations, planning, measures, and psychometrics (pp. 207-225). Washington: American Psychological Association.
- Volpe, R. J., DiPerna, J. C., Hintze, J. M., & Shapiro, E. S. (2005). Observing students in classroom settings: A review of seven coding schemesLinks to an external site.. School Psychology Review, 34 , 454–474.