Using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 to Conduct Generalized Matching Analyses

Overview

Journal J Appl Behav Anal

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2010 Jun 2

PMID 20514196

Citations 5

Authors

Derek D Reed

Affiliations

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Abstract

The generalized matching equation is a robust and empirically supported means of analyzing relations between reinforcement and behavior. Unfortunately, no simple task analysis is available to behavior analysts interested in using the matching equation to evaluate data in clinical or applied settings. This technical article presents a task analysis for the use of Microsoft Excel to analyze and plot the generalized matching equation. Using a data-based case example and a step-by-step guide for completing the analysis, these instructions are intended to promote the use of quantitative analyses by researchers with little to no experience in quantitative analyses or the matching law.

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