View in EDS

Variations in Behavior Analysts' Operational Definitions

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Variations in Behavior Analysts' Operational Definitions
Language: English
Authors: Avner Fraidlin (ORCID 0000-0001-7458-6209), Madeline Halkowski, Jessica E. Van Stratton, Rick Kubina
Source: Education and Treatment of Children. 2025 48(4):375-388.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Applied Behavior Analysis, Definitions, Behavioral Science Research, Researchers, Individual Characteristics, Research Problems
DOI: 10.1007/s43494-025-00166-z
ISSN: 0748-8491
1934-8924
Abstract: The effectiveness of behavior analytic interventions and scientific investigations rests on the validity and accuracy with which practitioners and researchers define and measure behaviors. Experts widely recommend using operational definitions to define behaviors. However, researchers have yet to extensively document an empirical investigation on developing operational definitions. Instead, practitioners have relied on textbooks to provide a shared understanding of the commonly used general guidelines. The current study investigated how behavior analysts operationalize behaviors by having respondents develop operational definitions for two behaviors displayed in short video recordings. Statistically significant associations between respondent characteristics and definitional components use were limited, suggesting that various behavior analysts' characteristics that were analyzed (e.g., certification level, years of experience, client population) did not affect how behavior analysts generated different components of operational definitions. Implications, recommendations for future investigations, and limitations are discussed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500396
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1500396
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Variations in Behavior Analysts' Operational Definitions
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Avner+Fraidlin%22">Avner Fraidlin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7458-6209">0000-0001-7458-6209</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Madeline+Halkowski%22">Madeline Halkowski</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+E%2E+Van+Stratton%22">Jessica E. Van Stratton</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rick+Kubina%22">Rick Kubina</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Education+and+Treatment+of+Children%22"><i>Education and Treatment of Children</i></searchLink>. 2025 48(4):375-388.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 14
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Applied+Behavior+Analysis%22">Applied Behavior Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Definitions%22">Definitions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavioral+Science+Research%22">Behavioral Science Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Researchers%22">Researchers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Problems%22">Research Problems</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1007/s43494-025-00166-z
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0748-8491<br />1934-8924
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The effectiveness of behavior analytic interventions and scientific investigations rests on the validity and accuracy with which practitioners and researchers define and measure behaviors. Experts widely recommend using operational definitions to define behaviors. However, researchers have yet to extensively document an empirical investigation on developing operational definitions. Instead, practitioners have relied on textbooks to provide a shared understanding of the commonly used general guidelines. The current study investigated how behavior analysts operationalize behaviors by having respondents develop operational definitions for two behaviors displayed in short video recordings. Statistically significant associations between respondent characteristics and definitional components use were limited, suggesting that various behavior analysts' characteristics that were analyzed (e.g., certification level, years of experience, client population) did not affect how behavior analysts generated different components of operational definitions. Implications, recommendations for future investigations, and limitations are discussed.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1500396
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1500396
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s43494-025-00166-z
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 375
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Applied Behavior Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Definitions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Behavioral Science Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Researchers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Individual Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research Problems
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Variations in Behavior Analysts' Operational Definitions
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Avner Fraidlin
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Madeline Halkowski
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jessica E. Van Stratton
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rick Kubina
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0748-8491
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1934-8924
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 48
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Education and Treatment of Children
              Type: main
ResultId 1