week 7 Flashcards
(27 cards)
importance of the individual subject in behavior analysis research
behavior analysis research methods feature direct and repeated measures of the behavior of individual organisms
why use between-groups approach to experimental design to compare groups of subjects
the assumption that averaging the measures of many subjects’ performance controls for intersubject variability
- enables the belief that any changes in performance are broughth about by the independent variable
increasing the number of subjects increases the study’s external validity
- a treatmetn variable found effective with the subjets in the experimental group will also be effective with other subjects in the population
average performance of a group of subjects reveal ______ about the performance of individual subjects
nothing
group data mask variabiltiy
the mean performance of a grouop of subjects hides variability in the data
when repeated measurement reveals significant levels of variability, an experimental search of identifying and controlling the factors responsible for the variability is in order
group data do not represent real _______ ______
behavioral processes
component analysis
any experiment designed to identify the active elements of a treatment package, the relative contributions of different components in a treatment package, and/or the necessity and sufficiency of treatment components
any experiment designed to identify the active elements of a treatment package, the relative contributions of different components in a treatment package, and/or the necessity and sufficiency of treatment components
component analysis
two methods for conducting component analyses:
drop-out component analysis
- the investigator presents the treatment package and then systematically removes components
- if the treatment’s effectiveness wanes when a component is removed, the researcher has identified a necessary component
add-in component analysis assesses component individually or in combination before the complete treatment package is presented
- can identify sufficient components
internal validitiy
experiments that demonstrate a clear functional relation have a high degree of internal validity
an experimental design’s strength his determiend by the extent to which it
demonstrates a reliable effect
eliminates or reduces the likelihood that factors other than the independent variable produced the behavior change
experimental control is often used to…
signify a researcher’s ability to reliably produce a specified behavior change by manipulating an independent variable
the level of experimental control obtained by a researcher refers to the extent to which she…
controls all relevant in a given experiment
confounding variables
uncontrolled factors known or suspected to have exerted influence on the dependent variable are called confounding variables
uncontrolled factors known or suspected to have exerted influence on the dependent variable are called confounding variables
confounding variables
confounding variables can be viewed as related primarily to one of four elements of an experiment
subject
setting
measurement of the dependent variable
independent variable
subject confounds
maturation, subject’s behavior influenced by events outside the experiment, characteristics of one or more subjects may confound an experiment’s results (not an issue with single-case experiments)
setting confounds
most aba studies are conducted in NATURAL SETTINGS
more prone to confounding by uncontrolled events that are studies conducted in laboratories where extraneous variables can be eliminated or held consistent
“bootleg” reinforcement: when, unbeknownst to the experimenter, subjects have access to the same items or events to be used as putative reinforcers in the study
measurement confounds
numerous sources of confounding may exist within a well-planned measurement system
data might be confounded by:
- observer drift
- the influence of the experimenter’s behavior on observers
- observer bias
independent variable confounds
most independent variables are multifacted
- more to a treatmetn condition than the specific variable of interest
placebo control: separates effects that may be produced by a subject’s perceived expectations of improvement
when neither the subject(s) nor the observers know whetehr the independent variable is present or absent from session to session, this typs of contorl procedure is called a double-blind contorl
treatment integrity
refers to the extent to which the independent variable is implemented as planned
low treatment integrity invites a major source of confounding into an experiment, making it difficult, if not impossible, to interpret the results with confidence
______ ______ refers to the extent to which procedures in all conditions of an experiment, including baseline, are correctly implemented
procedural fidelity
threats to treatment integrity
experimenter bias
treatment drift
experimenter bias
influence the researcher to administer the independent variable in such a way that it enjoys an unfair advantage over baseline or comparative conditions
treatment drift
the application of the independent variable differs from the way it was applied at the study’s outset
