A Component Analysis of an Electronic Data Collection Package

ABSTRACT

Data collection is essential to the practice of behavior analysis, but human error in collection can lead to inaccuracies. One variable demonstrated to increase inaccuracies in human collected data is timeliness of recording. Because inaccuracies in measurement may adversely affect treatment decisions, procedures to increase data collection fidelity and timeliness are necessary. Electronic data collection (EDC) systems are uniquely positioned to help address this need, but little research exists on the topic. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the individual components of an EDC system that included prompts and feedback on data collection timeliness of caregivers in a home setting in the absence of a supervisor. The results of the study indicated that each individual component that was assessed improved data collection timeliness over baseline with at least some participants by varying degrees and that automated specific interval feedback was the most effective individual intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• Data collection timeliness
• data collection fidelity
• data collection
• supervision
• technology

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Dr. Wayne Fuqua, Dr. Heather McGee, and Dr. Lloyd Peterson for providing feedback and suggestions throughout this project. Thanks to Kelsey Webster and Daphne Snyder for their assistance in completing the project.

Disclosure statement

This article is based on the dissertation completed by Morris (2019)