Studying and confirming the scientific validity of intervention procedures is crucial to effectively change behavior. However, social validity is also an important factor in determining if and when to use an intervention. Unfortunately, scientific validity does not infer social validity.
In 1978, Montrose Wolf responded to criticism of behavioral methods for behavior change by proposing the idea that no matter how effective intervention procedures may be, they are not useful unless they are implemented correctly. Some of this criticism points to the lack of focus on socially relevant behaviors or socially acceptable procedures. This is the concept of social validity, which goes past the simple scientific evidence for the effectiveness of ABA techniques to include the social significance of goals, the social appropriateness of procedures, and the social importance of effects.
For this Assignment, you will consider the social validity of intervention procedures discussed in the Learning Resources by examining the influence of environmental factors on these procedures
To Prepare
- Review the Learning Resources for this week, including the required weekly media programs, to develop an understanding of the social validity of intervention procedures. Note: It is critical for you to review all media for this week prior to completing this Discussion.
- As you review the course text reading and the Volpe et al. (2005) article, consider how the procedures discussed can be influenced by environmental factors.
- Imagine situations in which interventions that may make sense scientifically would not be appropriate because of environmental factors.
- Also, think about how behavioral principles may be used inappropriately.
- Post three examples of situations in which interventions that may make sense scientifically would not be appropriate because of environmental factors. Explain why considering social validity of behaviors/interventions is important when selecting a target behavior and developing an intervention
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)
- 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.
- Wolf, M. M. (1978). Social validity: The case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart. Download The case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11 (2), 203–214. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1978.11-203[Seminal]
- Credit Line: Social validity: The case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart by Wolf, M.M., in Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Vol. 11/ Issue 2. Copyright 1978 by Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Reprinted by permission of Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior via the Copyright Clearance Center. Licensed in 2021.
- Document: Behavior Objectives Worksheet Download Behavior Objectives Worksheet
- (Word document) Week 1 Assignment Behavior Objectives Worksheet Instructions: Rewrite these objectives using your knowledge of operational definitions.
- 1. Mario will be able to discriminate between a few and a lot.
- 2.
Jade will be able to recall the major rivers of
New England.
3. Luke will be able to identify the parts of a flower. - 4. Madison will be able to understand the results of climate change.
- 5. Jake will know the 6 and 8 multiplication tables.
- 6. Tiffani will recognize the main characters of a story.
- 7. Marco will appreciate the differences among various cultures.
- 8. Nikki will be competent in telling time.
- 9. Joel will appreciate the works of Monet.
- 10. Kendra will learn to operate a calculator.
- Based on the Learning Resources video Observing Problem Behaviors, write a one-paragraph operational definition of the target behavior you identified in the video. (Note that this is a definition, NOT a behavioral objective as you worked on above.)