Term
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Definition
The repeated and systematic presentation and
removal of an independent variable while measuring
the dependent variable and holding other factors
constant. |
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Term
| Goals of experimental design |
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Definition
- Demonstrate a functional relation between
the independent and dependent variables
• Evaluate interventions. |
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Term
|
Definition
“When changes in an antecedent or consequent
stimulus class consistently alter a dimension of a
response class.”
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Term
|
Definition
“The extent to which an analysis assures that
measured changes in behavior are due to the
manipulation and not due to uncontrolled
extraneous variables.” |
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Term
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Definition
“The extent to which a study’s results are
generalizable to other subjects, settings, or
behaviors.” |
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Term
| Threats to internal validity |
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Definition
|
• Maturation
• Testing
• Instrumentation
• Diffusion of treatment
• Regression towards the mean
• Selection bias
• Attrition |
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Term
| History (threat to internal validity) |
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Definition
“Introduction of the independent variable may
coincide with other events in the person’s life; those
other events could have produced the effects.” |
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Term
| Maturation (threat to internal validity) |
|
Definition
“Natural developmental events or learning
experiences may coincide with the introduction
of the independent variable to produce the
change.” |
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Term
| Testing (threat to internal validity) |
|
Definition
“Changes in the dependent variable may have come
about as a function of repeated exposure to the
experimental arrangements.” |
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Term
| Instrumentation (threat to internal validity) |
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Definition
“Changes may reflect modifications in the
measurement systems rather than effects of the
independent variables.” |
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Term
|
Definition
“Inadvertent, uncontrolled “seepage” of the
treatment to control conditions or control subjects.” |
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Term
| Regression towards the mean |
|
Definition
“Changes may have come about because baseline
measurements were not representative of the natural
state of events.” |
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Term
|
Definition
“The assignment of subjects to groups may have
biased the outcome even in the absence of any
intervention.” |
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Term
|
Definition
“The loss of subjects over time may influence the
effects, especially if the loss was systematic.” |
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Term
| Ruling out threats to internal validity |
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Definition
|
• Establishing stability of the target behavior
• Immediate effects of the independent variable
• Demonstration using multiple cases |
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Term
Single-case design
(single-subject design)
(within-subjects design)
(intrasubject design)
(small n design) |
|
Definition
“A variety of research designs that use a form of
experimental reasoning to demonstrate the effects of
independent variables on the behavior of individual
subjects.” |
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Term
| Advantages of single-case designs |
|
Definition
- Permit investigation of behavior change as a
dynamic process.
• Allows the examination of intrasubject
variability.
• Allows the examination of intrasubject
variability.
• Lends itself well to clinical investigation and
treatment accountability because participants
serve as their own controls. |
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Term
|
Definition
Assessment of the dependent variable prior to the
introduction or removal of the independent variable. |
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Term
|
Definition
Functions of baseline:
• Descriptive
• Predictive |
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Term
|
Definition
Phase changes are made when behavior reaches a
steady state (level, stability, and trend). |
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Term
|
Definition
“Concluding that the independent variable has
produced a change in the dependent variable
when in fact it has not.” |
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Term
|
Definition
“Concluding that the independent variable has not
produced a change in the dependent variable
when in fact it has.” |
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Term
| Advantages of visual inspection |
|
Definition
- More likely to identify dependent variables
that produce robust effects.
• Social significance of primary importance.
• Encourages the examination of variables
rather than just overall effects. |
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Term
Factors involved in making data decisions
based on visual analysis |
|
Definition
|
• Trend
• Latency to change
• Variability and overlap
• Phase duration
• Consistency of the effect in replication |
|
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Term
|
Definition
“How quickly does the behavior change once the
independent variable is manipulated.” |
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Term
| Social validity assessmen |
|
Definition
“Examination of the acceptability or viability of a
programmed intervention.” |
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|
Term
Factors to take into account during social
validity assessment |
|
Definition
- Social significance of goals or target behavior
• Appropriateness of the procedures
• Social importance of the results |
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Term
| Social validity assessment methods |
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Definition
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Term
| Subjective evaluations of social validity |
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Definition
“The client, those important in their life, or
sometimes experts in a given area, evaluate whether
distinct improvement have been achieved and
whether the cost is worth the change.” |
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Term
| Social comparison of social validity |
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Definition
Compare the effects of the intervention on behavior
to the behavior of peers. |
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Term
| Types of single-case designs |
|
Definition
1. Withdrawal (reversal) design
2. Multiple baseline design
3. Multi-element design
4. Changing criterion design
5. A-B design |
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Term
|
Definition
| “A baseline phase followed by a treatment phase.” |
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Term
| Withdrawal (reversal) design |
|
Definition
“Following baseline, the independent variable is
introduced, then withdrawn.” |
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Term
| Advantages of withdrawal (reversal) design |
|
Definition
- Most straightforward single-case arrangement
• Most powerful demonstration of functional
relations. |
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Term
| Disadvantages of withdrawal (reversal) design |
|
Definition
|
• The ethics of intervention reversal
• May require considerable time because
stability required in all phases.
• Dangers in the comparison of multiple
treatments due to sequence effects. |
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Term
| Uses of withdrawal (reversal) design |
|
Definition
- If the target behavior is reversible
• If the withdrawal of the intervention is not a
concern.
• If stability/order/time not a concern. |
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Term
|
Definition
“Two or more independent baselines are
established. The independent variable is then
separately introduced in a staggered fashion to each
baseline. When behavior is stable for the first
baseline, the independent variable is introduced on
the second baseline, and so on.” |
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Term
| Types of multiple baseline designs |
|
Definition
- Multiple baseline across subjects
• Multiple baseline across behaviors
• Multiple baseline across settings |
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Term
| Advantages of multiple baseline design |
|
Definition
- Useful when behavior change is not
reversible.
• Does not require counter therapeutic
behavior change to demonstrate experimental
control.
• Experimenter can “test” methods and
interventions before applying on a larger scale. |
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|
Term
Procedural guidelines for multiple baseline
design |
|
Definition
- Select independent but functionally similar
baselines.
• Select concurrent and plausibly related
baselines.
• Intervene on the most stable baseline first.
• Vary the length of the multiple baselines
significantly. |
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Term
| Changing criterion design |
|
Definition
“The treatment phase is divided into sub phases, each
involving a different behavior criterion. Each sub
phase more closely resembles the terminal behavior
or goal.” |
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Term
| Advantages of changing criterion design |
|
Definition
- Treatments do not have to be withdrawn.
• Does not require multiple behaviors, subjects,
or settings.
• All subjects can receive treatment after the
same length of baseline. |
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Term
| Disadvantages of changing criterion design |
|
Definition
- Difficult to interpret when behavior does not
closely match criteria.
• Useful only when it is meaningful to measure
behavior change in stepwise
increments/decrements.
• Requires considerable time and effort in
planning. |
|
|
Term
Multi-element design
(Alternating treatments design)
(Simultaneous treatment design)
(Concurrent schedule design)
(Multiple schedule design) |
|
Definition
“Rapid, sequential application and removal of
one or more independent variables. Repeated
measurement of behavior while the two
conditions alternate rapidly.” |
|
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Term
| Advantages of multi-element design |
|
Definition
- Ideal for comparisons of treatments.
• Can compare treatments while minimizing
sequence effects.
• Useful for highly variable behavior that
fluctuates as a function of non-experimental
variables.
• Can be more efficient (number of sessions)
than other designs. |
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Term
| Disadvantages of multi-element design |
|
Definition
- Subject to multiple treatment interference.
• Unsuitable for individuals that have problems
forming discriminations.
• Unsuitable for interventions that produce
change slowly or require continuous
implementation to produce effects.
• Limited to situations in which behavior is
reversible or at least pliable.
• May require counterbalancing. |
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Term
How to enhance discriminability while using
multi-element designs |
|
Definition
- Provide instructions before each session
• Reduce the number of conditions
• Use additional stimuli o facilitate
discrimination |
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Term
|
Definition
“The inclusion of features from two or more designs
within the same experiment.” |
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Term
| Advantages of design combinations |
|
Definition
Enhances the clarity of the results if it meets
the requirements of more than one design. |
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Term
| Disadvantages of design combinations |
|
Definition
Not usually planned, rather used to make
judgments about experimental control as the
date evolve. |
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Term
|
Definition
“Gradually withdrawing treatment components to
see if behavior is maintained.” |
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Term
| Uses of component analysis |
|
Definition
Evaluate maintenance of treatment effects in
the absence of the intervention. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
“The systematic examination of the differential
effects of a range of values of the independent
variable (a single independent variable)." |
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Term
| Uses of parametric analysis |
|
Definition
Determine effective parametric values of
consequences, such as duration or magnitude. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
“The assessment of behavior on occasions when no
contingencies are in effect for the behavior.” |
|
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Term
|
Definition
- Evaluate whether treatment effects are
evident before treatment occurs.
• Evaluate whether further training is necessary. |
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Term
| Confounding designs interactions |
|
Definition
“Differential effects produced by a combination of
independent variables and their influence on each
other.” |
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Term
| Types of confounding designs interactions |
|
Definition
- Multiple-treatment interference
• Sequence effects
• Carry-over effects |
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Term
| Multiple-treatment interference |
|
Definition
“When subjects are exposed to multiple treatments,
the conclusions reached about a particular treatment
may be restricted to that specific context.” |
|
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Term
|
Definition
“The effects on a person’s behavior in one condition
can be influenced by the subject’s experience in a
prior condition.” |
|
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Term
|
Definition
“Patterns of behavior established in one session may
inadvertently extend into a second session, even if
the independent variables are very different.” |
|
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Term
|
Definition
“The extent to which the independent variables are
implemented as dictated by the research plan.” |
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Term
| Procedural integrity assessment |
|
Definition
“A measure of the extent to which the actual
application of the independent variable over the
course of an experiment matches the planned
description.” |
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|
Term
| Overcoming threats to procedural integrity |
|
Definition
- Simplifying the independent variable.
• Adequate training and practice for those
implementing treatment.
• Direct contingencies on treatment fidelity. |
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