Research Methods Small N designs

Classic studies in psychology history (single individuals or small N)

data was not summarized (each subject presented); Thorndike’s puzzle research, Dresslar’s facial vision study.

How grouping data from large numbers can lead to misleading results 

failure of individual subject validity (eg. discrimination learning research in children; group data suggested gradual learning while individual data saw quick conclusions once hypothesis found)

Practical reasons for small N research

practical or philosophical problems with large Ns, participants with attributes or species may be rare, costly, or require training

Case study designs and how it can be combined with other methods 

studying individual, group, or event; incorporates other methods (observation, psychometric tests for greater detail)

Pros/cons of case studies 

great detail and can serve falsification but limited control and external validation issues

Describe B. F. Skinner’s basic philosophy about how best to conduct research

operant conditioning (behavior conditioned in an environment by reinforcement/consequences)

ABA

contemplative vs technological model (Skinner used science for control); use of punishment to control behavior; have to use social validity (improve society, value perceived by subjects, actually used)

Essential components of single subject design

importance of operational definitions, baselines established, introduce treatment (simplest A-B but creates confounding)

A-B-A-B

treatment evaluated twice (ends w treatment) we’re not taking it away if it works

Explain the logic of a multiple baseline design and describe three different
multiple baseline procedures

Used to see if treatment is effective

1. same behaviors/intervention, different people

2. different behaviors, same person

3. same behavior, person, diff environments

Explain the logic of the changing criterion design and relate it to the operant
concept of shaping

for behaviors that must be changed gradually (uses reinforcement to shift); shaping increases/decreases target dimension (eg. duration) toward target goal

Describe how the alternating treatments design allows comparisons between two levels of an independent variable

compares relative effectiveness of 2 treatments (instead of withdraw, switch to a different treatment); see the level of effect on DV between the 2

criticisms of small N and advantages 

external validity issues, visual inspection instead of stats, hard to test interactive effects, over-reliance on rate of response as DV; good experimental control