Chapter 12

Question 1

Small N Designs

Answer 1

also known as a single-subject design hence the data for each subject is considered independently.

Question 2

Larger N Designs

Answer 2

might lack individual subject validity with the data of individual subjects getting lost when the data is averaged over subjects.
Therefore the data for S is concealed.

Question 3

Studies with Larger N can

Answer 3

obscure effectiveness

Question 4

Operant Conditioning (B.F Skinner)

Answer 4

A type of learning where the frequency of the behavior is affected by its consequence.

Question 5

If behavior is reinforced,

Answer 5

the behavior will increase in frequency

Question 6

If the behavior is punished,

Answer 6

The behavior will decrease in frequency.

Question 7

Rate of Response

Answer 7

It is measured to determine whether reinforcement is effective.

Question 8

Applied Behavior Analysis

Answer 8

Is when we apply operant conditioning principles to solve real-life problems.

Question 9

B.F Skinner advocated for small N Designs hence

Answer 9

He believed that it was more beneficial to study one rate for 1000 hours rather than 1000 rats for 1 hour.

Question 10

Is there a control group in Small N Designs?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

Due to the lack of a control group,

Answer 11

behavior must be shown to change as a result of the treatment used.

Question 12

Three Required Elements for Small N Designs:

Answer 12

1. Operationally define the target behavior
2. Establish a baseline of responding before the treatment is used.
3. Introduce the treatment and monitor the behavior.

Question 13

Simplest Single-Subject Design

Answer 13

-Is an AB Design with A being the baseline and B being the treatment.
-It is a weak design because change might be due to a confounding variable such as history, maturation, etc.

Question 14

Withdrawal (Reversal) Design

Answer 14

-ABA Design with A being the baseline, B being the treatment, and A being the withdrawal of treatment.
-Reduces the chances that confounding variables are responsible for any observed behavioral change.
-If the behavior change correlates with the introduction AND the withdrawal of treatment, then it is likely that the treatment is producing the change.

Question 15

ABAB Design

Answer 15

• A being baseline, B being the treatment, A being withdrawal of treatment, and B being the treatment again.
  -Ends with the treatment rather than the withdrawal of treatment.
  -Also allows for multiple testing of the treatment.

Question 16

Problems with the designs that contain the withdrawal of treatment:

Answer 16

-withdrawal can be unethical if we are removing an effective treatment.
-Withdrawal may not be feasible (Behavior will not return to baseline after the withdrawal).

Question 17

The solution to the problems is:

Answer 17

To use a multiple-baseline design

Question 18

Multiple-Baseline Design

Answer 18

-Baseline measures are established and the treatment is introduced at different times.
-Treatment isn’t withdrawn.

Question 19

In a Multiple-Baseline Design, the baseline can be established for:

Answer 19

-the same behavior in two or more subjects
-two or more different behaviors in the same subjects
-the same behavior in the same subjects but in two or more different settings.

Question 20

Common Characteristics of Multiple-Baseline Design

Answer 20

1. we establish a baseline for each behavior
2. the treatment for each behavior begins at different times
3. we can usually identify this design by several graphs stacked on top of one another with a dotted line moving down from one graph to another.

Question 21

As treatment is introduced at different times,

Answer 21

the behavior responds only to that.

Question 22

Interpretation Problems

Answer 22

Sometimes change in a behavior that was treated in one setting can generalize to other settings. If that happens, we don’t know whether the treatment was effective or some other external factors were responsible for the unexpected change.

Question 23

A-A1-B-A1-B Design

Answer 23

-A: normal baseline
-A1: second baseline where the S receives a placebo
-B: A real drug is being tested

Question 24

Changing Criterion Design

Answer 24

-The criterion for getting a +Sr (positive reinforcer) begins at a modest level and progressively becomes more difficult as the study progresses.
-The baseline is established and the +Sr treatment is begun until some criterion is reached. Then the criterion becomes increasingly more difficult until the target behavior has been attained.
-Usually used for study programs, diets, and exercise programs.

Question 25

Criticisms against Single-Subject Designs:

Answer 25

1- Cannot adequately test for interaction effects.
2- The study might lack external validity.
3- The dependent variable is almost always “frequency” or “rate of response”.
4- The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the visual inspection of the graphed data.
5- Interaction problems may ensue if the baseline data is unstable or if certain trends occur in the baseline data before the introduction of the treatment.