Designs for Special Circumstances in Psychology 2920

A set of flashcards covering concepts from Special Circumstances in Psychological Research including single case designs, quasi-experimental designs, and threats to internal validity.

What are Single Case Designs in research?

Research designs that study only one or a few subjects to observe dependent variable changes under baseline and treatment conditions.

What is the AB design?

A Single Case Design that measures a dependent variable during a baseline (A) period and a treatment (B) period.

What is a history effect in Single Case Designs?

An extraneous event that coincides with treatment, making it unclear if the treatment or the event caused a change.

What does the Single Case Reversal Design aim to demonstrate?

It aims to show that the removal of treatment reverses the effect it had produced.

What is an ABAB design?

A Single Case Reversal Design that reintroduces treatment to show its effects more convincingly and ethically.

What are Multiple Baseline Designs used for?

To demonstrate that effects occur only after treatment across different subjects, times, or situations.

What characterizes Quasi-experimental designs?

They resemble true experiments but may lack critical control groups and have questionable internal validity.

What is a One-Group Posttest-Only Design?

A design that measures individuals after experiencing an independent variable without a baseline comparison.

What is the advantage of a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design?

It shows changes before and after experiencing an independent variable, though it doesn’t eliminate alternative explanations for change.

List one threat to internal validity.

History Effect.

What does 'maturation' refer to in the context of internal validity threats?

Changes in participants over time that could affect the dependent variable unrelated to the independent variable.

What is the Testing Effect?

Change in a participant's responses on a posttest due to taking a pretest.

How can Instrument Decay threaten internal validity?

If the measurement of the dependent variable changes (e.g., different wording or speakers), it can affect results.

What is Regression toward the Mean?

When an extreme measurement reverts to the average level over time, providing an alternative explanation for observed changes.

What do better quasi-experimental designs aim to control for?

They aim to control for threats to internal validity such as history, testing, maturation, and instrument decay.

What is the Non-equivalent Control Group Pretest-Posttest Design?

A design that lacks random assignment and uses a control group that does not receive treatment.

What does the Interrupted Time Series Design measure?

It measures a dependent variable over an extended period before and after the independent variable is introduced.

What are the limitations of the Control Series Design?

While it adds a non-equivalent control group, it still relies on non-equivalent groups which may limit conclusions.

What is the purpose of Developmental Research Designs?

To study changes in behavior as a function of age.

What is a Longitudinal Method?

A research method that studies the same individuals over time, though it can be expensive and suffer from mortality (attrition).

What is a Cross Sectional Design?

A method that compares people of different ages at the same point in time for efficiency but may have cohort effects.

What signifies cohort effects in research?

Differences in scores arising from generational differences rather than age-related changes.

Define the Sequential Method in developmental research.

A method that spans across different ages while studying the same individuals.

In Single Case Designs, what’s the primary concern with small sample sizes?

It limits generalizability and increases the likelihood of extraneous factors affecting results.

What is the purpose of a baseline measure in Single Case Designs?

To establish a point of comparison for assessing the effects of an independent variable during treatment.

Why might researchers choose quasi-experimental designs?

When true experimental methods are not ethical or practical, yet they still aim to understand causal relationships.

What is one major drawback of the One-Group Posttest-Only Design?

The absence of a baseline makes it almost worthless for assessing the impact of the independent variable.

How do history effects complicate the interpretation of results?

They create ambiguity regarding the causes of change by introducing confounding variables.

What threat does maturation primarily present?

Effects on the dependent variable due to natural changes in participants over time.

Name one advantage of the One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design over the Posttest-Only Design.

It provides evidence of change due to the independent variable by comparing pretest and posttest results.