D. Experimental Design Flashcards
Experimental Designs
Single Subject: Reversal, Multiple Baseline, Multielement/Alternating Treatment, Changing Criterion Design
Single-Subject Designs
Reversal (A-B-A-B) Design, Multiple Baseline Design, Multielement/Alternating Treatment Design, Changing Criterion Design
Dependent Variable
The target behavior which the intervention is designed to change.
Independent Variable
The intervention designed to have an effect on the dependent variable.
Steady State Responding
data is showing very little variability.
4 Patterns of Baseline Data
stable, ascending, descending, and variable
Prediction
is looking at the data we have and making an informed guess about where it would go if we kept all variables the same
Verification
is demonstrating that baseline levels of behavior would have remained without introducing the independent variable (intervention)
Replication
is strengthening the case that the independent variable is responsible for changes in behavior by demonstrating it multiple times
Affirmation of the Consequent
A three step form of reasoning that begins with a true antecedent-consequent (if- A-then-B) statement and proceeds as follows: (1)If A is true, then B is true; (2) B is found to be true; (3) therefore; A is true. Although other factors could be responsible for the truthfulness of A, a sound experiment affirms several if- A-then-B possibilities, each one reducing the likelihood of factors other than the independent variable being responsible for the observed changes in behavior.
Multiple Baseline Design
An experimental design where implementation of the intervention is staggered in a stepwise fashion across behaviors, settings, and subjects
Multiple Probe Design
A variation of the multiple baseline design that features intermittent measures, or probes, during baseline. It is used to evaluate the effects of instruction on skill sequences in which it is unlikely that the subject can improve performance on later steps in the sequence before learning prior steps.
Delayed Multiple Baseline Design
A variation of the multiple baseline design in which an initial baseline, and perhaps intervention, begin for one behavior (or setting, or subject), and subsequent baselines for additional behaviors begin in a staggered or delayed fashion.
Nonconcurrent Multiple Baseline Design Across Participants Design
An experimental design that consists of a related series of A-B (baseline-intervention) sequences conducted across participants at different points in time; often used to assess treatment effects when concurrent measurement of participants’ behavior is not possible.
Changing Criterion Design
An experimental design in which an initial baseline phase is followed by a series of treatment phases consisting of successive and gradually changing criteria for reinforcement or punishment. Experimental control is evidenced by the extent the level of responding changes to conform to each new criterion.
Reversal Design
An experimental design where baseline conditions (A) and an intervention conditions (B) are reversed with the goal of strengthening experimental control (i.e. demonstrating that the change in the dependent variable is due to the change in the independent variable).
ABAB
Multiple Treatment Design
An experimental design where two or more conditions are presented in rapidly alternating succession independent of the level of responding and the effects on the target behavior.
Noncontingent Reinforcement Reversal Technique
An experimental control technique that demonstrates the effects of reinforcement by using noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition. During the NCR condition, the stimulus change used as reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented on a fixed or variable time schedule independent of the subject’s behavior. A higher level of responding during the reinforcement condition than during the NCR condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are the result of contingent reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event. (Compare to DRI/DRA reversal technique and DRO reversal technique.)
DRO/DRI/DRA Reversal Technique
An experimental technique that demonstrates the effects of reinforcement; it uses differential reinforcement of an incompatible or alternative behavior (DRI/DRA) as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition. During the DRI/DRA condition, the stimulus change used as reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on occurrences of a specified behavior that is either incompatible with the target behavior or an alternative to the target behavior. A higher level of responding during the reinforcement condition than during the DRI/DRA condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are the result of contingent reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
An experimental technique for demonstrating the effects of reinforcement by using differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline)condition. During the DRO condition, the stimulus change used as reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on the absence of the target behavior for a specified time period. A higher level of responding during the reinforcement condition than during the DRO condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are the result of contingent reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
Sequence Effects
This is when the effects of an intervention from one condition carry over into the next condition.
Irreversibility
A situation that occurs when the level of responding observed in a previous phase cannot be reproduced even though the experimental conditions are the same as they were during the earlier phase.
Multielement Design
An experimental design in which two or more conditions (one of which may be a no-treatment control condition) are presented in rapidly alternating succession (e.g., on alternating sessions or days) independent of the level of responding; differences in responding between or among conditions are attributed to the effects of the conditions. (Also called alternating treatments design, concurrent schedule design, and multiple schedule design.)
Group Design
Most people are familiar with research that involves two big groups of people. Researchers do something to group 1, and not group 2, and then they compare how both groups are doing (often by looking at an average of both groups) to see if the treatment made a difference. This is between subject research because the comparison is done (you guessed it) between different research subjects
Nonparametric Analysis
This is when we look at the effect on behavior when the independent variable (intervention) is present or absent.
