TY - JOUR
T1 - Calculating contingencies innatural environments
T2 - Issues in the application of sequential analysis
AU - Mccomas, Jennifer J.
AU - Moore, Timothy
AU - Dahl, Norm
AU - Hartman, Elue
AU - Hoch, John
AU - Symons, Frank
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Analysis and interpretation of behavior-environment relations are increasingly being conducted with data that have been derived descriptively. This paper provides an overview of the logic that underlies a sequential analytic approach to the analysis of descriptive data. Several methods for quantifying sequential relations are reviewed along with their strengths and weaknesses. Data from descriptive analyses are used to illustrate key points. Issues germane to contingency analysis in natural environments are discussed briefly. It is concluded that the conceptual distinctions among contiguity, contingency, and dependency are critical if the logic of sequential analysis is to be extended successfully to a behavior-analytic account of reinforcement in natural environments.
AB - Analysis and interpretation of behavior-environment relations are increasingly being conducted with data that have been derived descriptively. This paper provides an overview of the logic that underlies a sequential analytic approach to the analysis of descriptive data. Several methods for quantifying sequential relations are reviewed along with their strengths and weaknesses. Data from descriptive analyses are used to illustrate key points. Issues germane to contingency analysis in natural environments are discussed briefly. It is concluded that the conceptual distinctions among contiguity, contingency, and dependency are critical if the logic of sequential analysis is to be extended successfully to a behavior-analytic account of reinforcement in natural environments.
KW - Descriptive analysis
KW - Quantitative analysis
KW - Sequential analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=75549085288&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=75549085288&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1901/jaba.2009.42-413
DO - 10.1901/jaba.2009.42-413
M3 - Article
C2 - 19949534
AN - SCOPUS:75549085288
SN - 0021-8855
VL - 42
SP - 413
EP - 423
JO - Journal of applied behavior analysis
JF - Journal of applied behavior analysis
IS - 2
ER -