Direct Observation And Indirect Observation

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The antecedent for Sam is being told “time to brush your teeth”. This functions of Sam’s desired behavior. When Sam is instructed he will come to the bathroom to brush his teeth. The material Sam needs is his Batman cup, toothbrush, and toothpaste. The setting is Sam’s bathroom and the environment is Sam’s house. One specific step that can be observed and measured is Sam brushing his teeth. His parents/grandparents set the timer for two minutes and are present observing Sam brush his teeth. Measurable Dimensions Measurable dimensions of Sam’s behavior consist of duration, frequency, and latency. The method of frequency is the number of time the behavior can be observed. It shows how often the behavior is observed during a session. Sam brushes …show more content…

Both methods could be used however, some require more time and some are more reliable. Indirect methods rely on others to collect the data. Indirect methods consist of surveys, questionnaires filled out by caregivers, parents, or teachers. By utilizing direct observation one can observe and collect data without effecting the client’s environment. Environmental factor are Sam’s behavior happens in his home bathroom. Direct observation the behavior analysts can see the behavior occurring. This also helps prevent any errors in recording. Direct observation can be viewed as simple as parsimony because it seems plain and simple. Furthermore, another way of using direct observations includes video recording. This method is dependable and testable. Method that will be used for Sam is the direct observation. Sam’s behavior will be observed by a train observer and videotaped. Sam will be observed for a period of one week. Sam’s target behavior is defined as (meltdown) cry, scream, and throws him-self on the floor. Furthermore, direct observations can ensure data is collected correctly. This enhances validity and the need for a functional task analysis to be

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