05 Experimental Evaluation of Interventions / 05.02 Functional Relations and Single-Subject Logic

Question 1

A subject serving as his own control means that the basis for comparison is between
different experimental conditions.
different behaviors.
control and experimental groups.
different subjects.

Answer 1

different experimental conditions.

Repeated measures of the same individual’s behavior during different experimental conditions serve as a basis for comparison. (Bailey & Burch, 2002, p. 146; Coooper, Heron, & Heward., 1987, p. 147; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, p. 163; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, pp. 249-250, 267-268)

Question 2

Which may be an extraneous variable with respect to evaluating a reinforcement procedure to increase appropriate interactions?
the teacher beginning the procedure on a Monday
a different child in the classroom
the target child expressing his discontent with the procedure
the target child beginning to interact with peers as a result of the procedure

Answer 2

new child in the classroom could influence his interactions.

An extraneous (or confounding) variable is one that could confound your results. For example, if implementation of a classroom behavior management system coincides with a flu epidemic, you cannot determine whether any changes in behavior are due to the intervention or the epidemic. (Coooper, Heron, & Heward., 1987, p. 147; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, p. 159; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, pp. 241-244; Poling et al., 1995, pp. 18-20; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1991, p. 227)

Question 3

With which baseline data path would it be most appropriate to begin an intervention for tantrum behavior?
Chart B
Chart C
Chart D
Chart A

Answer 3

A

Question 4

With which baseline data path would it be most appropriate to begin an intervention for tantrum behavior?
Chart D
Chart C
Chart B
Chart A

Answer 4

Chart B

Question 5

Experimental control (demonstrating a functional relation) involves
measurement of the intervention (independent variable).
repeated presentation of a behavior.
controlling extraneous variables.
(all of the others)

Answer 5

control of extraneous variables.

Question 6

A subject serving as his own control means
that each intervention employed is measured repeatedly.
there is only one subject in the experiment.
that each participant’s behavior is measured repeatedly.
there is a single intervention used in the experiment.

Answer 6

that each participant’s behavior is measured repeatedly

Repeated measures of the same individual’s behavior during different experimental conditions serve as a basis for comparison. (Bailey & Burch, 2002, p. 146; Coooper, Heron, & Heward., 1987, p. 147; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, p. 163; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, pp. 249-250, 267-268)

Question 7

You should make a change in the independent variable
when the data indicate deterioration.
when the independent variable has attained a steady state.
according to a set schedule.
when the data indicate improvement.

Answer 7

when the data indicate deterioration.

You should make a change when the dependent variable has attained a steady state or the trend is worsening. If you make the change while the data are variable (i.e., large ups and downs) or if the behavior is improving, the influence of the independent variable will be obscured. (Bailey & Burch, 2002, pp. 44-45; Coooper, Heron, & Heward., 1987, p. 153; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, pp. 168-169; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, pp. 197-216; Poling et al., 1995, pp. 83-85)

Question 8

With which baseline data path would it be most appropriate to begin an intervention for tantrum behavior?
Chart A
Chart B
Chart C
Chart D

Answer 8

D

Question 9

With which baseline data path would it be most appropriate to begin an intervention for tantrum behavior?
Chart B
Chart D
Chart A
Chart C

Answer 9

C

You should make a change when the dependent variable has attained a level trend (steady state) or the trend is worsening; but preferably the former. If you make the change while the data are variable (i.e., large ups and downs) or if the behavior is improving, the influence of the independent variable will be obscured. (Bailey & Burch, 2002, pp. 44-45; Coooper, Heron, & Heward., 1987, p. 153; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, pp. 168-169; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, pp. 197-216; Poling et al., 1995, pp. 83-85)

Question 10

You should make a change in the independent variable
according to a set schedule.
according to the mean rate.
when the dependent variable indicates improvement.
when the dependent variable has attained a steady state.

Answer 10

when the dependent variable has attained a steady state.

Question 11

Which may be an extraneous variable with respect to evaluating a reinforcement procedure to increase appropriate peer interactions?
the teacher beginning the procedure on a Monday
the target child breaking his leg
a different school board member
the target child expressing his discontent with the procedure

Answer 11

child breaking a leg

An extraneous (or confounding) variable is one that could confound your results. For example, if implementation of a classroom behavior management system coincides with a flu epidemic, you cannot determine whether any changes in behavior are due to the intervention or the epidemic. (Coooper, Heron, & Heward., 1987, p. 147; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, p. 159; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, pp. 241-244; Poling et al., 1995, pp. 18-20; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1991, p. 227)

Question 12

Experimental control (demonstrating a functional relation) involves
 repeated presentation of an independent variable.
 controlling extraneous variables.
 measurement of a dependent variable.
 (all of the others)

Answer 12

all others

Question 13

Experimental control (demonstrating a functional relation) involves
repeated presentation of a behavior.
controlling for variability in responding.
measurement of the target behavior.
(all of the others)

Answer 13

measurement of the target behavior.

Question 14

Experimental control (demonstrating a functional relation) involves
 repeated presentation of an independent variable.
 controlling for variability in responding.
 measurement of an independent variable.
 (all of the others)

Answer 14

repeated presentation of an independent variable.

The analysis of behavior (i.e., experimental control) “requires a believable demonstration of the events that can be responsible for the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the behavior.” (Baer, Wolf, Risley, 1968). That is, the onset and offset of the intervention must correspond to a change in the behavior. Experimental control is demonstrated by the replication of this effect when all other possible explanations are controlled. (Bailey & Burch, 2002, pp. 13-14; Coooper, Heron, & Heward, 1987, p. 144; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, p. 159; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, p. 238-244; Poling et al., 1995, p. 2)

Question 15

Experimental control (demonstrating a functional relation) involves
 measurement of an intervention (independent variable)
 controlling for variability in responding.
 repeated presentation of an intervention (independent variable)
 (all of the others)

Answer 15

repeated presentation of an intervention (independent variable)

Question 16

An extraneous variable is
the measure of the behavior you are attempting to influence.
not controlled by you and may confound your results.
not controlled by you and may confound your subject.
one in which you manipulate.

Answer 16

not controlled by you and may confound your results.

An extraneous (or confounding) variable is one that could confound your results. For example, if implementation of a classroom behavior management system coincides with a flu epidemic, you cannot determine whether any changes in behavior are due to the intervention or the epidemic. (Coooper, Heron, & Heward., 1987, p. 147; Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, p. 159; Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993b, pp. 241-244; Poling et al., 1995, pp. 18-20; Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1991, p. 227)

Question 17

With which baseline data path would it be most appropriate to begin an intervention for tantrum behavior?
Chart B
Chart C
Chart A
Chart D

Answer 17

B