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APPLYING SIGNAL‐DETECTION THEORY TO THE STUDY OF OBSERVER ACCURACY AND BIAS IN BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT
Author(s) -
Lerman Dorothea C.,
Tetreault Allison,
Hovanetz Alyson,
Bellaci Emily,
Miller Jonathan,
Karp Hilary,
Mahmood Angela,
Strobel Maggie,
Mullen Shelley,
Keyl Alice,
Toupard Alexis
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.2010.43-195
Subject(s) - psychology , clarity , response bias , observer (physics) , aggression , cognitive psychology , outcome (game theory) , detection theory , social psychology , developmental psychology , computer science , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , mathematics , mathematical economics , quantum mechanics , telecommunications , detector
We evaluated the feasibility and utility of a laboratory model for examining observer accuracy within the framework of signal‐detection theory (SDT). Sixty‐one individuals collected data on aggression while viewing videotaped segments of simulated teacher—child interactions. The purpose of Experiment 1 was to determine if brief feedback and contingencies for scoring accurately would bias responding reliably. Experiment 2 focused on one variable (specificity of the operational definition) that we hypothesized might decrease the likelihood of bias. The effects of social consequences and information about expected behavior change were examined in Experiment 3. Results indicated that feedback and contingencies reliably biased responding and that the clarity of the definition only moderately affected this outcome.