Experimental Design Flashcards
When a PREDICTABLE CHANGE in behavior (dependent variable or DV) can be reliably produced by the SYSTEMATIC MANIPULATION of some aspect of the individual’s environment (independent variable or IV).
The ANALYSIS dimension of the 7 dimensions of ABA.
AKA: Functional Relations; Control; Analysis
Experimental Control
4 Important Elements of Behavior
- ) Behavior is INDIVIDUAL (one person’s interaction with the environment)
- ) Behavior is CONTINUOUS (changes overtime)
- ) Behavior is DETERMINED (by functional relations it holds to other events)
- ) Behavior variability is EXTRINSIC to the organism (i.e., behavior change is the result of the environment; the IV, other people and/or uncontrolled factors)
6 Components of Experiments in ABA
- ) At least one Subject
- ) At least one Behavior (DV)
- ) At least one Setting
- ) At least one Treatment (IV)
- ) A measurement system and ongoing analysis of Data
- ) An experimental Design
All well-planned experiments begin with this.
A brief but specific statement of what the researcher wants to earn from conducting the experiment.
Can be in question or statement form.
Experimental Question
In this design the subject acts as his or her own control; does not mean that there is only one subject.
AKA: Single-case designs; Within-Subject Designs, Intra-Subject designs
ABA uses:
Single-Subject Designs
In this design repeated measures of the subject’s behavior during each phase of the study provide the basis for comparing experimental variables as they are presented or withdrawn in subsequent conditions (the presence and absence of IV).
The individual is exposed to each condition several times over the course of the study.
At least one subject: (Single Subject Designs)
Collateral Effects
A phenomenon in which the IV effects behaviors other than the targeted behavior.
Provide data patterns that can serve as controls for evaluating and replicating the effects of an IV.
Assess if any collateral effects occur.
Determine whether changes in the behavior of a person other than the subject occur during the course of an experiment and if such changes can explain changes in the subject’s behavior.
At least one behavior: (AKA: Dependent Variable - DV)
Control 2 sets of environmental variables to demonstrate experimental control:
- ) IV (present, withdraw, or vary its value)
- ) Extraneous Variables (prevent unplanned environmental variation)
Better to control in labs but in applied settings (homes, schools etc., it is harder to control the environment).
At least one (1) Setting
The particular aspect of the environment that the experimenter manipulates to find out whether it affects the subject’s behavior.
AKA: Independent Variable (IV); Intervention; Experimental Variable
At least one (1) Treatment
Observation and recording procedures must be conducted in a standardized manner.
Standardization involves every aspect of the measurement system ( from the behavior definition to scheduling of observations).
Behaviorists must detect changes in level, trend, and variability.
A measurement system and Ongoing analysis of Data
The particular arrangement of conditions in a study so that meaningful comparisons of the effects of the presence, absence, or different values of the IV can be made.
Experimental Design
The value of the IV is manipulated. Seeks to discover the differential effects of a range of values.
Ex. Various doses of medication are given in a course of a study.
Parametric Analysis
Two types of Experimental Designs:
- Nonparametric Design
2. Parametric Design
IV either present or absent during study.
HINT: Has the word ON in it (IV is either ON or OFF)
Ex. Medication is either given and then taken away in the course of a study.
Nonparametric Design
- Change only one variable at a time.
- Do not get locked into textbook designs.
- Select and combine designs that best fit the research question.
Important Rules of Experimental Designs
AKA: Behavioral Package
When multiple IVs are bundled into one program such as a token economy with praise and time-out.
Treatment Package
Looks at the effect of each part of the treatment package.
Used to determine the effective components of an intervention package.
Component Analysis
AKA: Stable State Responding
A pattern of responding that exhibits very little variation in its measured dimensional quantities over a period of time.
Provides the basis for BASELINE LOGIC.
Steady State Responding
Refers to the experimental reasoning inherent in single-subject experimental designs.
Entails 3 elements:
- ) Prediction
- ) Verification
- ) Replication
Each of these elements depends on an overall experimental approach called steady state strategy.
Baseline Logic
REPEATED EXPOSURE of a given condition while trying to eliminate extraneous influences on behavior and obtaining a stable pattern of responding before introducing the next condition.
Steady State Strategy
FUNCTION of Baseline Data
Serves as a control condition.
Does NOT imply the absence of intervention. It can be the absence of a specific IV.
BENEFITS of Baseline Data
- To use the subject’s performance in the absence of the IV as an objective basis for detecting change.
- To obtain descriptions of ABC correlations for the planning of an effective treatment.
- To guide us in setting the initial criteria for reinforcement.
- To see if the behavior targeted for change really warrants intervention.
4 Patterns of Baseline Data:
Hint: DAVS
D- Descending Baseline
A- Ascending Baseline
V- Variable Baseline
S- Stable Baseline