Association for Behavior Analysis International

A crucial skill for behavior analysts is making data-based decisions using visual inspection to interpret single-case data. Although widely taught and used in the field of behavior analysis, research has yielded variable results on the reliability of visual inspection. To increase the reliability of visual inspection, many researchers have examined the utility of structured criteria for visual inspection of data. In this symposium, we discuss recent applications of structured visual inspection in the field of behavior analysis. This symposium will consist of four presentations, followed by comments from Dr. Valdeep Saini. Dowdy presents an evaluation of strategies to supplement visual inspection of single-case research designs. Sunde and colleagues present an examination of the reliability and validity of using structured visual inspection criteria to interpret latency-based functional analysis outcomes. Sodawasser and colleagues present a comparison of response-repetition and latency measures in functional analysis data. Last, Saini and colleagues present a clinical application of ongoing visual inspection to interpret functional analyses of inappropriate mealtime behavior.

Visual analysis of single case research design (SCD) generally includes several fundamental components; namely, level, trend, and variability. Despite the widespread agreement of using these components when interpreting SCD behavioral data, research shows there is often disagreement of behavioral outcomes between interpreters who display a range of experience. Implications of this discrepancy could result in suboptimal interpretation and decision-making thus affecting treatment outcomes. Using a SCD data set, additional tools and strategies will be explored with the goal of promoting transparency and enhancing clarity for when interpreting SCD behavioral data. This exploration will be discussed with respect to research, treatment outcomes, and optimal decision making.

Functional analysis is the primary assessment used to determine the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior in children with feeding disorders. Using a retrospective consecutive controlled case series, this study evaluated the correspondence between 78 single-pair and full functional analyses of inappropriate mealtime behavior for children who received outpatient services for pediatric feeding disorders. One limitation of prior studies comparing abbreviated and extended functional analyses is that experimenters have relied on individual evaluators to visually inspect functional analysis data. A more objective method would be to employ structured visual inspection criteria which eliminate subjective interpretation of functional analysis results. In the present study we used structured visual-inspection criteria and obtained a moderate exact agreement between the two functional analysis types (69.2%). The conditions under which single-pair functional analyses of inappropriate mealtime behavior are useful are discussed, as well as the extent to which structured visual analysis criteria can be used to objectively validate a new assessment strategy.