BEHA 15- Test 3

Single-case designs or single-subject designs

experimental research designs that use the results from a single participant or subject to establish the existence of a cause-and-effect relationship. Also known as single-subject designs.

Phase

in a single-case research design, a series of observations of the same individual under the same conditions.

Baseline observations

in a single-case research study, observations or measurements made while no treatment is being administered.

Baseline phase

in a single-case research study, a series of baseline observations identified by the letter A.

Treatment observations

in a single-case research study, observations or measurements made while a treatment is being administered.

Treatment phase

in a single-case research study, a series of treatment observations identified by the letter B.

Level

in a single-case research study, the overall magnitude for a series of observations. A consistent level occurs when measurements in a series are all approximately the same magnitude.

Trend

in a single-case research study, a consistent difference in direction and magnitude from one measurement to the next in a series.

Stability

the degree to which a series of observations shows a consistent level or trend.

Phase change

in a single-case research study, a change in the conditions from one phase to another, usually involving administering or stopping a treatment.

Reversal design

a single-case experimental design consisting of a series of phases including a baseline phase followed by a treatment phase and at least one replication of a baseline followed by a treatment.

ABAB design

a single-case experimental design consisting of four phases

Multiple-baseline design

a single-case design that begins with two simultaneous baseline phases, then initiates a treatment for one baseline, and, at a later time, initiates the treatment for the second baseline.

Multiple-baseline across subject

a multiple-baseline design in which the initial baseline phases correspond to the same behavior for two separate participants.

Multiple-baseline across behaviors

a multiple-baseline design in which the initial baseline phases correspond to two separate behaviors for the same participants.

Multiple-baseline across situation

a multiple-baseline design in which the initial baseline phases correspond to the same behavior in two separate situations.

Component-analysis design

a single-case design consisting of a series of phases in which each phases adds or subtracts one component of a complex treatment.

Statistical significance

a determination of whether a result is unlikely to have occurred by chance, based on a predetermined probability level (often p < 0.5)

Practical significance, or clinical significance

the extent to which a result has real-world importance or meaningful impact on behavior, functioning, or quality of life

Statistically significant result

a result that meets the criteria for statistical significance, indicating that the observed effect is unlikely due to random chance

Descriptive research strategy

a general approach to research that involves measuring a variable or set or variables as they exist naturally to produce a description of individual variables as they exist within a specific group but does not attempts to describes or explain relationships between variables.

Observational research design

descriptive research in which the researcher observes and systematically records the behavior of individuals to describe the behavior.

Content analysis

using the techniques of behavioral observation to measure the occurrence of specific events in literature, movies, television programs, or similar media that present replicas of behaviors.

Archival research

looking at historical records (archives) to measure behaviors or events that occurred in the past.

Naturalistic observation, or nonparticipant observation

a type of observation in which a researcher observes behavior in a natural setting as unobtrusively as possible. Also known as nonparticipant observation.

Participant observation

a type of observation in which the researcher engages in the same activities as the people being observed in order to observe and record their behavior.

Contrived observation, or structured observation

observation in settings arranged specifically to facilitate the occurrence of specific behaviors. Also known as structured observation.

Survey research design

a research study that uses a survey to obtain a description of a particular group of individuals.

Case history

a case study that does not include a treatment or intervention.

Case study design

an in-depth research method that focuses on a single individual, group, or event to explore behavior and underlying causes in detail

Behavioral observation

a research method where behavior is systematically watched and recorded in natural or controlled settings

Habituation

a decrease in responsiveness to a repeated stimulus over time as it becomes familiar

Behavior categories

predefined groupings of behaviors used to organize and classify observed actions during research

Inter-rater reliability

the degree to which two or more observers consistently record and agree on the same observed behaviors

Frequency method

a measurement approach that counts how many times a behavior occurs within a specific period

Duration method

a measurement approach that records how long a behavior lasts

Interval method

a measurement technique where observation periods are divided into intervals, and researchers record whether the behavior occurs during each interval

Time sampling

observing and recording behavior during specific time intervals rather than continuously

Event sampling

recording specific behaviors only when they occur, regardless of when they happen

Individual sampling

observing one individual at a time for a set period before moving to another individual

Likert scale

a rating scale used in surveys that measures attitudes or opinions along a continuum (I.e., strongly agree to strongly disagree)

Anchors

the descriptive labels at each end (and sometimes middle points) of a scale that define what each point represents

Response set

a tendency for participants to respond in a particular way regardless of the actual content of the question (I.e., always agreeing)

Nonresponse bias

bias that occurs when individuals who do not respond to a survey differ in important ways from those who do respond

Interviewer bias

bias that occurs when the interviewer's behavior, tone, or expectations influence participant's responses.

Idiographic approach

an approach that focuses on understanding the unique aspects of an individual's behavior

Nomothetic approach

an approach that seeks general laws or principles that apply to large groups of people.

Correlational research strategy

a general approach to research that involves measuring two or more variables for each individual to describe the relationship between the variables. The measurements are reviewed to identify any patterns of relationship that exist between the variables and to measure the strength of the relationship. However, no attempt is made to explain the relationship.

Correlation, or correlation coefficient

a statistical value that measures and describes the direction and degree of relationship between two variables. The sign (½) indicates the direction of the relationship. The numerical value (0.0 to 1.0) indicates the strength or consistency of the relationship. The type (Pearson or spearman) indicates the form of the relationship. Also known as correlation coefficient.

Coefficient of determination

the squared value of a correlation that measures the percentage of variability in one variable, which is determined or predicted by its relationship with the other variables.

Predictor variable

in a correlational study, a researcher often is interested in the relationship between two variables to use knowledge about one variable to help predict to explain the second variable. In this situation, the first variable is called the predictor variable.

Criterion variable

in a correlational study, a researcher often is interested in the relationship between two variables to use knowledge about one variable to help predict or explain the second variable. In this situation, the second variable (being explained or predicted) is called the criterion variable.

Positive relationship

a relationship between two variables in which both variables move in the same direction (as one increases, the other also increases; as one decreases, the other decreases)

Negative relationship

a relationship between two variables in which the variables move in opposite directions (as one increases, the other decreases)

Scatter plot

a graph that displays individual data points representing the relationship between two variables, with one variable on each axis

Linear relationship

a relationship between two variables that can be represented by a straight line on a graph, showing a constant rate of change

Pearson correlation

a statistical measure "r" that assesses the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two continuous variables

Monotonic relationship

a relationship where variables consistently move in one direction (either always increasing or always decreasing), but not necessarily at a constant rate

Spearman correlation

a statistical measure "rho or rs" that assesses that strength and direction of a monotonic relationship using ranked data

Regression

a statistical technique used to predict the value or one variable (dependent variable) based on one or more other variables (independent variables)

Third-variable problem

the possibility that an unmeasured variable is influencing both variables being studied, creating a misleading association

Directionality problem

the issue of not knowing whether variable A causes variable B or variable B causes variable A

Multiple regression

a statistical method that uses two or more independent variables to predict a single dependent variable