Ch14: Single-subject research designs

Question 1

Are single-subjects designs nonexperimental, experimental, or quasi-exerimental?

Answer 1

-experimental. Looking for cause/effect relationships

Question 2

T/F: case studies are single-subjects designs

Answer 2

FASLE. Case studies are descriptive. No control or manipulation

Question 3

Pros and cons of single-subjects designs

Answer 3

PROS:
-clinicians can conduct research
-small sample
-flexible
CONS:
-single subject makes it hard to generalize results
-time-consuming

Question 4

Phases in single-subject designs

Answer 4

BASELINE PHASE (A)
-Participant is their own control
TREATMENT PHASE (B, Cc etc.)
-Measurement of manipulation

Question 5

In the baseline phase, researchers are looking for ____ in levels of behaviour

Answer 5

In the baseline phase, researchers are looking for STABILITY (or CONSISTENCY) in levels of behaviour.
ie. consistent “amount” of behaviour

Question 6

Sometimes observations are unstable. What can researchers do?

Answer 6

1. wait until it baseline stabilizes or:

2. average across observations (eg., consistent high or low observations)

Question 7

How many baseline measurements are usually acquired prior to entering treatment phase?

Answer 7

at least 3 baseline measurements. Once you have a stable level and/or trend.

Question 8

There needs to be some sort of ___ before introducing treatment

Answer 8

stability

Question 9

If the baseline shows improvement on its own, perhaps treatment…

Answer 9

is not necessary

Question 10

Why is treatment sometimes administered prior to measuring several baseline phases?

Answer 10

sometimes treatment is needed ASAP.

It could be unethical to delay longer than necessary.

Question 11

How do researchers analyze data in single-subject designs?

Answer 11

• track behaviour and look for change
• describe observed changes in behaviour
• can’t use traditional methods of statistical analysis

Question 12

What is an ABAB design? What is the advantage of using this design?

Answer 12

• builds a stronger case than a simple single-subjects design (with baseline followed by treatment)
• sometimes called “reversal design”
• REPEATING TREATMENT AND NO TREATMENT PHASES
• treatment is taken away to see if behaviour returns to baseline. this increases INTERNAL VALIDITY because change is due to treatment, not on its own.

Question 13

What is an ABAC design?

Answer 13

• baseline, treatment, baseline, new manipulation

- adjustment/changing treatments

Question 14

Multiple baseline design

Answer 14

• doesn’t require reversal (ABAB)

- can be ACROSS SUBJECTS, ACROSS BEHAVIOURS, or ACROSS SITUATIONS

Question 15

example of multiple baseline designs across subjects, behaviours, and situations

Answer 15

• across subjects: 1 person stays in baseine phase while another starts treatment
• across behaviours: using two behaviours for a single participant (eg., heartrate and time spent outside)
• across situations: different treatment for different contexts. eg., diff treatment at home than at school for bad behaviour

Question 16

When behaviour is quantifiable and “goal” levels are set, this is called a ___ ___ design

Answer 16

changing criterion design

Question 17

What is an alternating treatments design?

Answer 17

• 2+ treatments alternate at every observation

- look for differences in patters between the two treatments

Question 18

What is the dismantling design?

Answer 18

-removing parts of treatment to determine its necessity/effectiveness

Question 19

Drawbacks of ABAB design

Answer 19

• may have corrected behaviour with the first treatment, so baseline won’t be reestablished
• withdrawal is unethical (eg., taking away depression meds)

Question 20

Drawbacks of multiple baseline design

Answer 20

• difficult to separate behaviours or contexts

- individual differences between subjects leading to different baseline/changes in behaviour

Question 21

Drawbacks of changing criterion design

Answer 21

-change in behaviour may have been occurring naturally, regardless of set goals

Question 22

drawbacks of alternating treatment design

Answer 22

• only possible if different treatments can be alternated (same with dismantling design)
• not possible for behaviour learned in stages

Question 23

Why can’t the alternating treatment design be used when training a dog to roll over?

Answer 23

-the dog cant learn because it cannot build on changed behaviour if treatment is changed

Question 24

in summary, what are the different single-subjects designs?

Answer 24

• ABA
• multiple baseline
• changing criterion
• alternating treatment
• dismantling