Observational Measurement of Behavior

An essential textbook for anyone preparing to be a researcher, this comprehensive volume introduces graduate students to key principles of observational measurement of behavior. Based on a course the highly respected authors taught at Vanderbilt University and the University of Minnesota, this text delves deeply into a highly effective approach to observational measurement: systematic observation.

Students will master both the theoretical principles of systematic observation and recommended research methods and techniques. They'll learn from practical examples that illustrate complex concepts, clear explanations of recommended research methods, definitions of key terms, and exercises and assignments that help them practice putting principles into action. Online companion materials include two free licenses for proprietary observational software that students can use to complete the exercises and assignments in this book.

Ideal for use in research methodology courses in diverse fields—including special education, communication sciences, psychology, and social work—this fundamental graduate text will prepare future researchers to skillfully collect, summarize, and communicate their observations of children's behavior.

STUDENTS WILL:

• Fully understand key methods of observational research and measurement
• Get comprehensive information on both foundational and advanced topics
• Learn from real-world examples based on the authors' extensive experience
• Apply specific recommendations for effective techniques and best practices

SELECTED TOPICS COVERED: validity and reliability * representativeness * measurement theory * behavior sampling and coding * observer training * metrics of observational variables * modifying and designing coding manuals * sequential analysis * generalizability theory

ONLINE COMPANION MATERIALS: To enhance their courses, instructors will get a full package of online materials, including two licenses for observational software, video clips students can use to practice coding behaviors, a suggested schedule for a semester-long course, exercises for students, and assignments with corresponding grading rubrics.

Paul J. Yoder, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Special Education, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Dr. Paul Yoder has been studying the transition from prelinguistic to linguistic communication in multiple populations with disabilities for over two decades. He is a co-designer of Milieu Communication Teaching and has contributed to several studies examining the efficacy of this treatment. He teaches methods and measurement at Vanderbilt University.

Primary research activities of Frank J. Symons, Ph.D., are supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and they focus on improving the assessment and treatment of severe self-injurious behavior among individuals with developmental disabilities and pervasive developmental disorders. Dr. Symons was a research scientist at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a postdoctoral fellow at the John F. Kennedy Center at the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the co-author of Behavioral Observation: Technology and Applications in Developmental Disabilities (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 2000).