Introduction to Single Case Experimental Design Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining experimental variables, validity types, single case designs, threats to internal validity, and experimental analyses based on Chapters 1 through 5.

Dependent Variable

The target behavior of interest being measured in an experiment, which is dependent on the manipulation of an independent variable.

Independent Variable

The particular aspect of the environment that is manipulated to assess its effects on the target behavior (treatment or intervention).

Internal Validity

The extent to which an experiment strongly shows changes in behavior are a direct result of the independent variable and not other uncontrolled or unknown variables.

External Validity

The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other settings, behaviors, or participants.

Extraneous Variables

Any aspect of the experimental environment other than the independent variable that must be held constant to prevent unplanned environmental variation.

Social Validity

The acceptability, relevance, and importance of goals, procedures, and outcomes to clients.

Measurement Validity

The degree to which measurement represents the behavior and dimension of interest.

Confounding Variables

Any uncontrolled factor known or suspected to exert an unexpected influence on the dependent variable.

Observer Drift

A measurement compound where observers collecting data unknowingly shift or drift in how they interpret operational definitions of target behaviors.

Reactivity

Changes in a client's behavior due to being observed, or changes in an observer's data collection due to being monitored and evaluated.

Observer Bias

An observer's expectation that data will change in a particular direction, which can overestimate or underestimate the true value of a measurement (also known as measurement bias).

Maturation

A subject confound involving changes in a participant over the course of a study that are the result of natural growth and development.

History

A subject confound involving changes in the environment over the course of a study that have an effect on the target behavior.

Attrition

A reduction or decrease in the number or size of a participant group (client turnover).

History, maturation, attrition

ALL threats to internal validity

Subject confounds - variables that impact study in unintended way

Bootleg Reinforcement

reinforcement that is not part of the treatment.

Experimental Design

The scientific arrangement of conditions in a study created to prepare the relevant relations and effects of presence, absence, or change in the values of the independent variable.

Experimental Control

A predicted change in behavior (dependent variable) reliably produced by systematically manipulating the environment.

Single Case Experimental Designs

Each individual participant serves as their own control, and treatment effects are compared to the participant's baseline data.

Group Experimental design

Helpful for large population trends

Can compare 2 or more interventions

Don’t take individual differences into account

Look at changes across extended periods of time

NOT ideal for analytic research

Prediction

The first part of baseline logic; the idea that behavior will continue at the sane rate if no intervention takes place.

Ex: measure the same behavior several times before any intervention takes place

Verification

The 2nd part of baseline logic; the idea that after intervention starts, if removed, the individual will return to baseline levels

Ex: reversal designs confirm effectiveness of intervention

Replication

The third part of baseline logic, idea that the intervention should work again in the second time it’s introduced to demonstrate reliability and believablity

Type I Error

A false positive error.

Type II Error

A false negative error.

4 Scd

Reversal

Multielement

Multiple baseline

Changing crierion

Reversal Design (ABAB)

1 behavior, 1 intervention

A single case design used to determine the effects of the independent variable by systematically introducing and withdrawing it and observing changes in target behavior (also known as withdrawal design).

ABA Design- baseline, intervention, baseline (,**removing intervention phase)

ABAB - baseline, I, baseline , intervention

Reintoducing intervention at end of study

BAB-Intervention intervention, baseline, intervention *time consuming

drops baseline, starts and ends w/ intervention

*important in crisis situations

Multielement Design

2-4 interventions, 1 behavior

Alternating treatment design

2 or more IV present, 1 DV present

• Not for slow behaviorchange

Multielement design variations

1. Single phase

2. Two phase

3. Three phase

4. Concurrent chain

Irreversibility

effects of treatment cannot be undone and behavior cannot return to baseline when the independent variable is removed.

NCR Reversal Technique

A reversal subtype that demonstrates reinforcement effects by using noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) as a control condition instead of a baseline condition without reinforcement.

Multiple Baseline Design

1 intervention, 2 or more behaviors

A single case design involving one independent variable and two or more dependent variables across behaviors, settings, or subjects.

Changing Criterion Design

1 intervention, 1 behavior

Criterion listed

A single case design involving one independent variable and one dependent variable, used primarily for shaping response topography or evaluating training methods.

Treatment Package

A behavioral package, also known as a multi-component behavior intervention plan.

Comparative Analysis

comparing two independent variables on one dependent variable to assess which independent variable is most effective.

Component Analysis

A comparison of the effects of every intervention to see if it can be enhanced to make it more effective

Parametric Analysis

comparing the effects of manipulating different values or dosages of one independent variable to compare effects on behavior

Nonparametric Analysis

A comparison of the effects of an independent variable to no independent variable on one dependent variable.

Functional Analysis

A comparison of the effect of different environmental variables on one behavior.