Behavioral Observation Research

James M. HarperSeptember 26, 2014

Family Studies Center

Why would I want to do Behavioral Observation Research?

Actual behavior often predicts differently than self-report

May give leverage to get into better journalsMay be a better fit to your research question

Decision Tree(Wampler & Harper, 2014)

Types of Coding SystemsMicro (time, thought phrases, talk turns)Macro (watch entire taped segment and then

rate)Mutually Exclusive?Sequential behavior or simultaneous behavior

VerbalNon-verbal

Types of TasksHigh ConflictActivity (tinker toy, build something, cook

recipe together)Discussion basedEvent based

Flourishing Families Tasks1st Wave

Marital 25 min. discussionParent-child 15 min. discussionFamily (parents and target child) 15 min. problem

solving 2nd Wave

Marital: 3 min. discussion of what to teach child5 min. Teach child something he/she doesn’t know Parent-child 9 min. discussion 15 min. family problem solving

Wave 3Marital 10 min. discussion of how economic

downturn affected themMarital 9 minute discussion about target childParent-child 9 min. discussion5 min. family problem

Wave 45 min. family problem solving

Wave 55 min. family problem solving

Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scales (IFIRS)

Macro Coding System

Coder watches segment twice for each target person

Gives 1-9 score for each type of behavior

Individual Characteristic Codes

PA HU SD AX WC EX PM RR

Physically Attractive (1-7) Humor/Laugh Sadness Anxiety Whine/Complain Externalized Negative Positive Mood Rater Response (1-7)

Dyadic Interaction ScalesHS VA AT CT AC EH RH DO LM IT DE WM ED AF EW RW AR LR CO PR AN AV

Hostility Verbal Attack Physical Attack Contempt Angry Coercion Escalate Hostility Reciprocate Hostility Dominance Lecture/Moralize Interrogate Denial Warmth Endearment Physical Affection Escalate Warmth Reciprocate Warmth Assertiveness Listener Responsiveness Communication Prosocial Antisocial Avoidant

Parenting ScalesND IP QT PI CM CD ID HD PO EI IR EC

Neglecting/Distancing Indulgent/Permissive Quality Time Parental Influence Child Monitoring Consistent Discipline Inconsistent Discipline Harsh Discipline Positive Reinforcement Encourages Independent Inductive Reasoning Easily Coerced

Problem Solving ScalesIndividual Problem-Solving Scales (5)

SN SQ EF DS NC

Solution Quantity Solution Quality Effective Process Disruptive Process Negotiation/Compromise

Group Problem-Solving Scales (5) FE AP AS IC PD

Family Enjoyment Agreement on Problem Description Agreement on Solution Implementation Commitment Problem Difficulty

Group Interaction Scales

SP Silence/PauseRQ Relationship QualityGE Group Enjoyment

Creating Latent Variables from Observational Codes—Examples using Flourishing Families data

Time 1NegativeMarital

Interaction

HusbandAngry

Coercion

e11

Contempte21

HusbandReciprocate

Hostilitye3

1

HusbandEscalateHostility

e41

HusbandDeniale5

1

HusbandHostilitye6

1

WifeAntisociale7

1

WifeContempt

e91

WifeReciprocate

Hostilitye10

1

WifeHostilitye11

1

HusbandAntisocial

e12

1

1

Time 2 SchoolEngagement

Mother's viewSchool Engagement

e13

Father's viewSchool Engagement

e14

Child's viewSchool Engagement

e151

e16Wife

Deniale8

Time 2 ChildSelf Regulation

Mother's viewChild's Self Reg e17

1

Father's viewChild's Self Reg e18

1

Child's viewSelf Reg e191 1

1

1

1

e25

Time 2 FatherChild Attachment

Ttime 2 MotherChild Attachment

Father's View of Attachment

e261

Child's Viewof Attachment

e27

1

1

Mom's Viewof Attachment

e28

1

child's Viewof Attachment

e29

1

1

1

1

1

Family ImplicitProcess Rules

M-Make surefamily members

know your friends.e3

1

M-Play; havefun together.

e21

M-Share your feelings/encourage others toshare their feelings.

e1

1

1

Child EmotionalResponsiveness

to Mother

Child EmotionalResponsiveness

to Father

Warmth e71

Affection e81

EscalateWarmth e9

1

EscalateWarmth e13

1

Affection e121

Warmth e111

e19

e20

Endearment e101

Endearment e141

ChildSelf Regulation

M-ChildSelf Regulation

e15

1

1

C-SelfRegulation

e161

e18 1

F-Share your feelings/ encourage others toshare their feelings.

e41

F-Play; havefun together.e5

1

F-Make sure family members

know your friends.e6

1Child's Gender

e17

1

1

1

1

1

Micro CodingFrequencies & RatiosTemporal CountsSequential

AntecedentBehaviors

Consequent Behaviors

W W W H H H

Initiation

W

W

W

H

H

H

Terminate

ConditionalProbabilities

Conditional Probability Matrix

Training CodersManualsBehavioral SpotsCriterion Coded TaskInter-rater reliabilitiesCoder Drift