Chapter 13 RP
quasi-experiment
A study similar to an experiment except that the researchers do not have full experimental control (e.g., they may not be able to randomly assign participants to the independent variable conditions).
quasi-independent variable
A variable that resembles an independent variable, but the researcher does not have true control over it (e.g., cannot randomly assign participants to its levels or cannot control its timing). See also independent variable.
nonequivalent control group pretest/posttest design
A quasi-experiment that has at least one treatment group and one comparison group, in which participants have not been randomly assigned to the two groups, and in which at least one pretest and one posttest are administered.
interrupted time-series design
A quasi-experiment in which participants are measured repeatedly on a dependent variable before, during, and after the “interruption” caused by some event.
nonequivalent control group interrupted time-series design
A quasi-experiment with two or more groups in which participants have not been randomly assigned to groups; participants are measured repeatedly on a dependent variable before, during, and after the “interruption” caused by some event, and the presence or timing of the interrupting event differs among the groups.
wait-list design
An experimental design for studying a therapeutic treatment, in which researchers randomly assign some participants to receive the therapy under investigation immediately, and others to receive it after a time delay.
stable-baseline design
A small-N design in which a researcher observes behavior for an extended baseline period before beginning a treatment or other intervention, and continues observing behavior after the intervention.
multiple-baseline design
A small-N design in which researchers stagger their introduction of an intervention across a variety of contexts, times, or situations.
reversal design
A small-N design in which a researcher observes a problem behavior both before and during treatment, and then discontinues the treatment for a while to see if the problem behavior returns.
nonequivalent control group pretest/posttest design
A quasi-experiment that has at least one treatment group and one comparison group, in which participants have not been randomly assigned to the two groups, and in which at least one pretest and one posttest are administered.
small-N design
A study in which researchers gather information from just a few cases.
small-N design
A study in which researchers gather information from only one animal or one person.