Creating Operational DefinitionsDefining behavior is essential to effective instruction. Being able to define behavior helps make the learning process more likely to be successful. Show
Behavior is generally considered what someone does. Behavior includes what the person does that is observable and measurable. It is common to define behavior by identifying what actions the person has displayed or what actions the teacher decides that the individual should begin to display. Behavior is typically not defined by talking about the reason behind the behavior. Behavior is not defined by identifying a person’s motivation, thoughts, or feelings for doing something. On a side note, there is some room in a therapeutic or educational setting to address what can be referred to as “private events” which are related to what happens within a person’s body or mind. However, for the purposes of defining behavior, we want to be careful about how we discuss private events and how we define this part of the human experience, as well. Importance of Defining BehaviorsAccording to Bicard, Bicard, and the IRIS Center, defining behavior is important for many reasons including the following:
Parts of a Behavioral DefinitionTo define behavior, an objective and measurable phrase is developed. When defining behaviors, it is important to make sure that you define the behavior in observable terms. For instance, a parent who is trying to help their child “be more respectful” should not define the target behavior as “My child will be more respectful,” because the term respectful is not observable (until you further define what respectful means). A better definition would be “My child will say ‘yes mom’ and begin completing the task within 30 seconds of being asked when I ask him to clean up his room.” An operational definition is improved when measurable terms are used. This refers to identifying how the behavior should be measured. For instance, are you measuring how often a behavior happens in the course of a day? Measurable terms include the dimension of the behavior to be evaluated. Examples include:
It is highly recommended that when you identify and define a behavior that you (or another significant individual) would like to see less of in the learner, that you also identify and define a replacement behavior. A behavior that is appropriately defined should be clear and concise. It should be observable and measurable. Multiple people should be able to observe and measure the same thing. Try to make your definition as specific as you can. This allows you to help the learner make progress more easily. When goals are too large or too broad, it can be more difficult for you (or someone else) to monitor the behavior and also makes it more challenging for the learner to make consistent progress.
The behavior should also be defined in positive terms. This means that the behavior should be defined by stating what should happen rather than simply stating what should NOT happen. Example of Defining BehaviorHere is an example of one approach to defining behaviors given by Bicard, Bicard, and the IRIS Center:
More Tips for Defining Behaviors and Creating Operational DefinitionsThere are a few different approaches to defining behaviors. The above example is just one possible way of defining behaviors. Another way of defining behaviors could be to identify what the product is of the target behavior. For instance, instead of actually observing the behavior, a permanent product of the behavior refers to what happens as a result of the behavior. An example of this is that “a child will complete one full math worksheet” or “the child will complete the chore of taking care of the clean dishes.”
When you are defining a behavior or creating an operational definition, you should visualize what the behavior looks like. Do not insert your opinion or use subjective words such as “the student is rude” or “the student is being defiant.” Creating Operational Definitions: Defining Behaviors to Help Learners SucceedDefining behaviors can be a complex task, but if you take the tips described in this article you can become more familiar with the benefits of defining behaviors as well as how to create operational definitions that will ultimately help the teacher teach and help the learner learn. Bicard, S. C, Bicard, D. F.,& the IRIS Center. (2012). Defining behavior. Retrieved on [month day, year,] from http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/case_studies/ ICS-015.pdf Why is it important to operationally define behavior?Operational definitions of behavior are vital to defining a target behavior for both a Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA) and a Behavior Intervention Program (BIP). While operational definitions of behavior can be used to describe personal behaviors, they can also be used to describe academic behaviors.
Why is important to operationally define the behavior skill you are measuring prior to starting data collection?Before a behavior can be assessed and analyzed it is important to operationally define the behavior. An operational definition of behavior describes what the behavior or behaviors of interest look like in a way that is observable, measurable, and repeatable.
Why is it important to define a behavior in observable and measurable terms?b) Define the behavior in measurable terms
Behavior must be measurable. A clearly defined behavior is important so that accurate data can be collected throughout the intervention process and the intervention's effectiveness can be monitored (Sigafoos et al., 2007).
Why is an operational definition important quizlet?An operational definition defines the variable in very specific terms as to how it will be measured, manipulated or changed. They are important because many of the concepts that psychologists investigate-- such as memory, happiness, or stress-- can be measured in more than one way.
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