SCD Chapters 1-5 Flashcards
(56 cards)
Single subject line
A wide variety of research designs that use a form of experimental reasoning called baseline logic to demonstrate the effects of the independent variable on the behavior of individual subjects.
Problems with Group Experiments
- Data does not Representative of Individual Performance.
- Group Data Masks Variability
- Absence of Intrasubject Replication (replicating effects with individuals is lost).
Group Data Masks Variability
a) Hides variability that occurs within and between subjects.
b) Statistical control should not be a substitute for experimental control
c) To control effects of any variable, must either hold it constant or manipulate it as an independent variable.
Analysis of Behavior
Defining features:
- Behavior is an INDIVIDUAL phenomenon.
- Behavior is a CONTINUOUS phenomenon.
Assumptions:
- All is Behavior is DETERMINED
2) Behavioral VARIABILITY is EXTRINSIC to the organism
Baseline
Data collected in the absence of the treatment (independent) variable.
Purpose of Baseline
- Comparison to the treatment condition.
- Establish stability before treatment- controlling confounds.
- Examining variability for possible interventions (look at conditions on high/low days).
- Establish criterion for reinforcement.
- Establish need for intervention
Priori theory vs. SCD
A. Traditional Psychology -> Theory-driven, Top-down, or Deductive.
B. Behavior Analytical approach -> Grounded theory, bottom-up theorizing, or Inductive research.
Functional Relation
a specific change in one event (the dependent variable) can reliably be produced by specific manipulations of another event (the independent variable), and that the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be the result of other extraneous factors (confounding variables).
Baseline Logic
Baseline logic: Refers to the REASONING in SINGLE-CASE design.
- ) PREDICTION : The ANTICIPATED OUTCOME of an unknown measurement. Where you think the measurement will go.
- ) VERIFICATION : Demonstrating that the PRIOR level of BASELINE would CONTINUE if the IV is REMOVED .
- ) REPLICATION : Demonstrating that REPEATING the presentation of the IV results in SIMILAR RESPONDING as before.
Dependent Variable
- The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested.
- The level of the behavior being measured is dependent on the presence or absence of the other variable.
Often, it is synonymous with the measurement system being used to record behavior.
Independent Variable
A) a variable whose variation does not depend on that of another.
B) The experimental factor that is MANIPULATED; the variable WHOSE EFFECT is being studied.
Extraneous Variables
ANY VARIABLES other THAN the INDEPENDENT variable that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in a specific study.
Any variables other than those being studied.
Confounding Variables
Variables that have UNCONTROLLED INFLUENCE on the DATA PATTERN and make interpretation of the data path difficult if not impossible. - e.g. time of day, different teachers.
Internal Validity
- confidence that changes to the DV were the RESULT of the IV and NOT extraneous variables.
- Experiments that demonstrate clear functional relationship.
- Eliminates or reduces the possibility that factors other than the independent variable produced the behavior change (i.e., controls for confounding variables).
Threats to Internal Validity
1) HISTORY Effects - sleep deprivation, health problems.
2) MATURATION Effects - normal developmental processes.
3) TESTING Effects - bx change due to being exposed to testing/material.
4) INSTRUMENTATION Effects - software glitch/poorly trained observers.
5) REGRESSION towards the mean - data “outliers” conform when retested.
6) PARTICIPANT SELECTION BIAS - issue in group designs.
7) SELECTIVE ATTRITION of PARTICIPANTS - participant dropping out.
8) INTERACTION AMONG SELECTIVE ATTRITION - above confounds effect participation in study
History Effects (threat to Internal Validity)
Extraneous EVENTS occurring OUTSIDE of the RESEARCH SETTING have an EFFECT on participant’s RESPONSES. (e.g. Sleep deprivation, out of school tutoring, substitute teachers)
Maturation Effects (threat to Internal Validity)
1) maturing over time, normal developmental processes.
2) the possibility that ANY NATURALLY OCCURRING CHANGE within the individual is RESPONSIBLE for the RESULTS ( particularly in long experiments).
Testing Effects (threat to Internal Validity)
CHANGES in BEHAVIOR that occur WHEN EXPOSED to a TESTING situation. When the test alerts a subject in a way that affects their response to the experimental treatments.
Instrumentation Effects (threat to Internal Validity)
Two Forms:
1) MALFUNCTIONS in SOFTWARE/HARDWARE being USED to RECORD behavior.
2) Behavior being recorded by observers can result in inaccurate representations of responding (i.e., Observer drift).
Regression towards the mean (threat to Internal Validity)
UNLIKELY OUTCOMES (outliers) occurring with a normal distribution tend NOT to REOCCUR when RESAMPLED.
**In ABA there is no such thing as an outlier– all behavior occurs for a reason.
Participant Selection bias (threat to Internal Validity)
UNINTENDED differences BETWEEN the PARTICPANTS in DIFFERENT groups. (found in group comparisons not SCD)
Selective Attrition of Participants (threat to Internal Validity)
refers to INDIVIDUALS DROPPING OUT, or being removed from, a study for some systematic reason that is unrecognized by the researcher. (more common in group designs).
Uncontrolled Baselines and Two Concerns
Adopt EXISTING ENVIRONMENT as the context for establishing baselines. (e.g. walk into a classroom and begin observing).
Two Concerns: Floor and Ceiling effects:
- Occurring at zero levels or near zero.
- Occurring at very high rates.
Controlled baseline
Hold events constant except the variable that is the focus of comparison between baseline and intervention.
Disadvantage: not natural, low ecological value