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Data Collection Assignment

Directions: For each scenario below, identify one target behavior for increase OR
decrease, provide an operational definition (please make sure you use the criteria
from your operational definition assignment), and identify a data collection method
for the selected behavior. In addition, provide a short justification for the data
collection method of your choice (i.e., why this method is appropriate) for each
scenario. Remember not every response can be appropriately quantified using
frequency.

1. Anna is a 12-year-old girl with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and

Target Behavior for Decrease: Tantrums

Operational Definition:
1. Tantrums Definition: Anna engages in a loud-pitched scream that could be
heard from an adjacent room for longer than 2 seconds and/or engages in
self-injurious behavior indicated by her taking a closed or open fist and
hitting it against her head. This hit against her head occurs with enough force
that an audible noise can be heard.
a. Example: Anna engages in a loud-pitched scream that can be heard
from the next aisle for 7 seconds while also taking a closed fist to her
head and hitting it 8 times. The head hits are hard enough that an
audible noise can be heard.
b. Non-Example: When down the opposite side of the aisle, her mother
asks Anna if she would like “Fruit Loops or Lucky Charms” and Anna
responds in loud-pitched response that could be heard from an
adjacent room of “Fruit Loops!” in response to her mother’s question.
2. Data Collection Method: Time Sampling every 5 minutes at the store.
3. Justification: The reason that I chose this method is it will likely be difficult
for the mother to record how frequently Anna’s tantrums are occurring since
she will also be at the store trying to buy items and managing Anna’s
tantrums. It will likely be most realistic and practical for the mother to
record if they are occurring at the end of pre-set intervals, such as at the end
of 5-minute intervals. I also chose this method because based on the
description, her tantrums are occurring at a moderate frequency, however
they are described as multiple, quick tantrums. Since the behaviors are so
quick, it might be difficult for the mother to indicate when a tantrum begins
and ends, so tracking on a time sampling method might be easier for her to
indicate if one was or wasn’t occurring at the interval.
 2. Rupert is a 30-year-old man with a diagnosis of Williams’s Syndrome that
works at a local department store stocking shelves. The store manager
reports that Rupert sometimes stops stocking shelves and has a hard time
getting back on track, even when prompted, resulting in other stock people
having to do double the amount of work. The manager reports that he would
like Rupert to be better at stocking shelves in a timely manner to avoid other
employee outrage.

Target Behavior for Decrease: The latency of stocking shelves

Operational Definition:
1. Stocking Shelves: When asked to complete the task of stocking shelves by his
manager, Rupert will initiate the task demonstrated by him placing his hand
on an item, picking it up, and putting it on the shelf of which it belongs.
a. Example: Rupert will grab a can of green beans and place it on the
shelf next to the other canned green beans.
b. Non-Example: Rupert will grab a can of green beans and place it on
the shelf next to the canned corn, where it does not belong.
c. Non-Example: Rupert will grab a can of green beans and engage in
talking with another co-worker, holding the can of green beans in his
hand for 10 minutes while engaged in conversation.
2. Data Collection Method: Latency Recording
3. Justification: In this scenario, we are going to want to record the latency of
which it takes for Rupert to engage in the behavior of stocking shelves when
asked by his manager so that we have a baseline of how long it takes him to
complete the demands that are being asked of him. This will allow us to
determine an average amount of time it takes him to initiate the demand, so
that we can then work on decreasing the amount of time it takes to initiate
the demand and know that our intervention is effective by seeing this
decrease. This method will require the manager to stop by and place this
demand of stocking shelves each day, throughout the day. However, based
on the phrasing of the example above, it sounds like Rupert is being
prompted to get back on track throughout the day currently already. The
reason that I also chose this method is because it is the manager’s ultimate
goal for Rupert to be able to initiate this task in a timely manner and by
showing the data to Rupert on how long it takes him to initiate a task,
hopefully he will want to work on decreasing this amount of time.
 3. Manny is a 6-year-old boy with a traumatic brain injury which resulted in an
intellectual disability. In his preschool class, he often refuses to engage with
other children. The teacher reports his outbursts include swiping items off of
his desk and/or throwing them around the classroom. His teacher would like
to help Manny interact with other children more, in hopes to reduce his
outbursts.

Target Behavior for Increase: Interactions with other children

Operational Definition:
1. Interaction with Children Definition: Manny will engage with peer(s)
demonstrated by him sitting within 5 feet or closer next to a peer and either
taking a turn in a game that they are playing or indicated by him engaging in
conversation with the peer by him responding back to the peer when
questions are asked.
a. Example: Manny sits next to 1 friend and engages in conversation
with the peer indicated by him responding back when the peer asks
him “what’s your favorite color” and him stating “blue”. They
continued to have conversation in a back-and-forth manner for 5
minutes.
b. Example: Manny sits next to 3 friends while playing hot potato. They
each take turns by passing the hot potato around in the circle and
Manny takes his turn each time the hot potato is passed around to
him. He participates in this game with his friends for 10 minutes.
c. Non-Example: Manny sits next to his peers but when asked a question,
he does not respond back to the peer’(s) bids for interaction.
d. Non-Example: Manny sits 6 feet away from his peers and is on the
edge of the group. When it is his turn to participate in the game, he
verbally refuses to play the game by stating “I don’t want to play!” and
does not take an active turn.
2. Data Collection Method: Duration Recording
3. Justification: In this situation, the goal that the teacher is trying to achieve is
increasing Manny’s interaction with children, so that it reduces his outbursts.
To achieve this, we will want to see an increase in his interactions with other
children, demonstrated by him engaging with the children for longer
durations of time, which is why I chose duration recording. This would allow
us to see how long he is engaging with other children and then target for
increased durations. For example, we could begin by targeting out a goal of
30 seconds of interactions with other children as our first goal, increasing
this to 45 seconds, then to 1 minute and so on.