02 Definition and Characteristics / 02.08 Internal Validity

Question 1

Data are characterized by cycles (highs and lows). This is a threat due to
	history.
	excessive experimental control.
	instability.
	natural (or lawful) variation.

Answer 1

instability.

MATURATION: changes within the individual that occur during the experiment
SETTING CONFOUNDS: uncontrolled aspects of the natural environment
TESTING: repeated testing
PROCEDURAL (TREATMENT) INTEGRITY: treatment not being implemented as planned; including procedural drift, which occurs when implementation of a procedure deteriorates over time
LOSS OF SUBJECTS: participants drop out (attrition)
MULTIPLE INTERVENTION INTERFERENCE: interaction of multiple treatments
INSTABILITY: variability in behavior
INTERVENING WHEN BEHAVIOR CHANGES: coincidence
INSTRUMENTATION: inaccurate measurement by devices or human observers
HISTORY: what goes on during an experiment that could affect the outcome.
(Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, pp. 232-237; Tawney & Gast, 1984, pp. 91-93)

Question 2

Treatment integrity refers to
the extent to which the treatment is implemented as planned.
human observers recording accurately.
employing the intervention with the most empirical support.
the extent to which the data reflect behavior of importance.

Answer 2

the extent to which the treatment is implemented as planned.

PROCEDURAL (TREATMENT) INTEGRITY: treatment not being implemented as planned; including procedural drift, which occurs when implementation of a procedure deteriorates over time

Question 3

Attrition as a threat to internal validity refers to
participants not accepting the purpose of the experiment.
(none of the others)
loss of participants.
participant data being discarded due to unacceptable behavior.

Answer 3

LOSS OF SUBJECTS: participants drop out (attrition)

Question 4

A token procedure is initially implemented properly, but after a while, the teacher implements the procedure inconsistently. This exemplifies
	procedural drift.
	setting confound.
	(none of the others)
	instrumentation error.

Answer 4

procedural drift

Procedural (or treatment) drift occurs when treatment integrity gradually deteriorates. (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007, p. 235; Tawney & Gast, 1984, pp. 91-93)

Question 5

An intervention for acting out behavior is implemented just as a new student joins the class. This is a threat due to
	history.
	multiple intervention interference.
	instrumentation.
	(all of the others)

Answer 5

history

MATURATION: changes within the individual that occur during the experiment
SETTING CONFOUNDS: uncontrolled aspects of the natural environment
TESTING: repeated testing
PROCEDURAL (TREATMENT) INTEGRITY: treatment not being implemented as planned; including procedural drift, which occurs when implementation of a procedure deteriorates over time
LOSS OF SUBJECTS: participants drop out (attrition)
MULTIPLE INTERVENTION INTERFERENCE: interaction of multiple treatments
INSTABILITY: variability in behavior
INTERVENING WHEN BEHAVIOR CHANGES: coincidence
INSTRUMENTATION: inaccurate measurement by devices or human observers
HISTORY: what goes on during an experiment that could affect the outcome.

Question 6

Multiple intervention (i.e., multiple treatment) interference is a threat to internal validity due to
	participant interactions.
	multiple baseline design across interventions.
	repeated testing.
	interactive effects.

Answer 6

interactive effects.

MULTIPLE INTERVENTION INTERFERENCE: interaction of multiple treatments

Question 7

An inaccurate clock exemplifies which threat to validity?
	instrumentation
	history
	reliability
	maturation

Answer 7

instrumentation

INSTRUMENTATION: inaccurate measurement by devices or human observers

Question 8

An experiment has 3 participants. One drops out. This is a threat to internal validity due to
	loss of data.
	loss of interest.
	attrition.
	instability.

Answer 8

LOSS OF SUBJECTS: participants drop out (attrition)

Question 9

Changing the teacher in the middle of a skills acquisition experiment threatens internal validity due to
	testing.
	maturation.
	multiple intervention interference.
	history.

Answer 9

History

History has to do with what goes on during an experiment that could affect the outcome. (Tawney & Gast, 1984, pp. 91-93)

Question 10

Testing as a threat to internal validity refers to
(none of the others)
the influence of training on test results.
results from standardized tests being of little value.
the influence of repeated testing.

Answer 10

TESTING: repeated testing

Question 11

Data recorders becoming bored and inaccurate exemplifies which threat to validity?
	history
	instrumentation
	testing
	instability

Answer 11

instrumentation

Question 12

Intervention B follows A. Results in B are different than what they would be if they didn't follow A. This is due to
	instability.
	limitations of the ABA design.
	multiple treatment interference.
	testing.

Answer 12

MULTIPLE INTERVENTION INTERFERENCE: interaction of multiple treatments

Question 13

With each successive hand washing probe, the participant learns more steps. This threat to validity is referred to as
	testing.
	history.
	maturation.
	instrumentation.

Answer 13

testing

TESTING: repeated testing

Question 14

Instability as a threat to internal validity refers to
(none of the others)
mental status of participant.
variability of the data.
the influence of one intervention on another.

Answer 14

Variability of the data

INSTABILITY: variability in behavior

Question 15

Instrumentation as a threat to internal validity refers to
apparatuses only not recording accurately.
apparatuses or human observers not recording accurately.
(none of the others)
human observers only not recording accurately.

Answer 15

apparatuses or human observers not recording accurately.

Question 16

Maturation as a threat to internal validity refers to
natural maturing that occurs with the passage of time.
development of new cognitive processes.
physical development of the participant.
changes that occur within the participant.

Answer 16

changes that occur within the participant.