503 Experimental Evaluation, Intervention, and Behavior Change Considerations

Credit Validation for Optimus Education Participants Only

This course covers the following certifications: QBA and IBA.

• QBA603 – The third course of six, 45-hour classes required for certification by the QABA®
• IBA703 – The third course of six, 45-hour classes required for certification by the IBAO®

In this course, students learn to select appropriate experimental designs for intervention evaluation, choose relevant measurement methods, display and analyze data, and determine intervention effectiveness. They will compare single-subject designs with group research approaches and identify the best evaluation methods based on behavior, setting, and intervention type. The course applies behavior analysis principles, including the Keller Method, online activities, frequent assessments, and feedback through “probes.”

Key Topic Areas:

• Data Collection & Measurement – Define operational definitions, reliability, validity, and measurable behavior; identify onset and offset of behaviors for accurate measurement
• Measurement Procedures – Explain frequency/event recording, duration, time sampling, interval recording, latency, and planned activity checks, along with their benefits and limitations
• Data Analysis & Graphing – Select and analyze different graph types (line, bar, cumulative, scatterplots, single-subject designs); assess trends, stability, and variability in data
• Inter-Observer Agreement (IOA) & Reliability – Define inter-rater reliability, threats to reliability, and IOA design types (e.g., trial-by-trial, total count); calculate IOA using different data sets
• Ensuring Accuracy in Data Analysis – Identify treatment drift, observer bias, and threats to reliability while maintaining consistency in experimental evaluation