types of experiments Flashcards
What is internal validity?
When cause/effect is shown convincingly; the stronger the IV effects the DV
Internal validity refers to the degree to which a study accurately establishes a causal relationship between variables.
What does external validity assess?
The ability to generalize findings to other contexts, such as applying results from a study on dogs to humans
External validity deals with the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to and across settings, people, times, and measures.
What are the components of an experiment?
Independent Variable (IV) manipulated to see the control/effect on Dependent Variable (DV)
The independent variable is the factor that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test its effects on the dependent variable.
What does an AB case study indicate?
A denotes baseline and B denotes intervention; it is not an experiment
An AB case study does not control for other variables, making it less rigorous than true experimental designs.
What are the two types of changes observed during intervention?
- Level change
- Trend change
A level change indicates a drastic change in behavior, while a trend change shows a gradual shift over time.
Describe the ABAB replication-reversal experimental design.
Involves 4 phases: A (baseline), B (treatment), A(2) (return to baseline), and B(2) (replicate treatment phase)
This design allows researchers to observe the effects of an intervention by returning to the baseline condition.
What is a limitation of reversing to baseline in treatment?
Might not be a good idea if treatment is successful; may be impossible due to behavior trapping
Behavior trapping occurs when a behavior change is so significant that it cannot be reverted to the previous state.
What factors maximize confidence in the ABAB design?
- Few overlapping data points
- Effect observed soon after treatment
- Larger changes are more convincing
- Precise procedures specified
- Reliable response measures
- Findings consistent with existing data
These factors help ensure that the observed effects are a result of the treatment and not external influences.
What is the changing-criteria design?
Control is evaluated by introducing successive changes in the treatment’s application criterion
This design allows for gradual adjustments in treatment expectations, which can help in measuring progress.
What does the alternating-treatments/multi-element design involve?
Alteration of 2 or more treatment conditions with a single individual, comparing the effects of different treatments
This design is useful for assessing which treatment is more effective under similar conditions.
What is the purpose of multiple-baseline designs?
To gather data on multiple baseline behaviors across different conditions or individuals
This approach allows researchers to observe how different behaviors respond to treatment in various contexts.
What is a limitation of multiple-baseline designs?
- Behaviors may not be independent
- Not enough observers
These limitations can affect the validity of the findings and the ability to draw conclusions about the treatment’s effectiveness.
What does social validation ensure?
That the targeted behaviors are important for both the client and society
Social validation emphasizes the relevance of treatment goals to enhance the quality of life for individuals.
What distinguishes group designs from single-case designs?
Group designs use a control group (A) and a treatment group (B) rather than condition vs condition
This methodology is often used in larger studies to assess the effectiveness of interventions across a population.
