Deck 10: Single-Subject Research

Question 1

In single-subject research, the dependent variable is measured once before the treatment and once after the treatment.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A multiple-baseline design involves several returns to baseline.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Single-subject research can, in principle, be used from any theoretical perspective.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The field known as the experimental analysis of behavior was founded by B. F. Skinner.

Question 5

Single-subject research is another name for case studies.

Question 6

In single-subject research, conditions are typically changed on a fixed schedule.

Question 7

Single-subject and group researchers often disagree about the best way to conduct studies and analyze data.

Question 8

Single-subject research is considered a type of experimental research.

Question 9

Single-subject research emphasizes causal relationships between variables.

Question 10

The results of single-subject research cannot be generalized beyond the individuals actually studied.

Question 11

In a reversal design, the purpose of the reversal is to increase external validity.

Question 12

Single-subject researchers avoid graphing their data.

Question 13

Freud's description of Anna O. is a good example of single-subject research.

Question 14

The primary approach to data analysis in single-subject research is visual inspection.

Question 15

Single-subject research typically involves studying a single participant.

Question 16

In single-subject research, the dependent variable is measured many times at regular intervals.

Question 17

Single-subject researchers never use descriptive or inferential statistics.

Question 18

Single-subject research is a type of quantitative research.

Question 19

Single-subject research has only recently started to be used by psychologists.

Question 20

Testing large numbers of participants as in group research does not solve the problem of generalizing results to other individuals.

Question 21

What is another name for an ABAB design?

A) reversal design
B) applied behavior analysis design
C) alternation design
D) alphabetic design

Question 22

Group research has been criticized by single-subject researchers on which of the following grounds?

A) using small samples
B) failing to manipulate an independent variable
C) ignoring individual differences
D) using within-subjects designs

Question 23

Which of the following is true of case studies?

A) They are generally low in internal and external validity.
B) They involve the manipulation of an independent variable.
C) They support confident conclusions about causal relationships.
D) They are a type of quantitative research.

Question 24

What is one strength of single-subject research relative to group research?

Question 25

What is one strength of group research relative to single-subject research?

Question 26

Which of the following is another name for single-subject research?

A) case study research
B) qualitative research
C) small-N research
D) individual research

Question 27

Conducting a study with a large sample allows researchers to do which of the following?

A) generalize the results to other individuals with confidence
B) generalize the results to other situations with confidence
C) generalize the results to other samples with confidence
D) all of the above

Question 28

Which of the following famous researchers used single-subject research?

A) Wundt
B) Pavlov
C) Watson
D) all of the above

Question 29

Which of the following is true of single-subject research?

A) Single-subject research is a minority approach within psychology.
B) Many important psychological principles are based mainly on single-subject research.
C) Single-subject research has been successfully generalized across individuals and situations.
D) all of the above

Question 30

A reversal design seems least appropriate for which of the following?

A) a study designed to improve a high school tennis player's swing
B) a study designed to increase the amount of vegetables a child consumes
C) a study designed to increase worker productivity
D) a study designed to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

Question 31

What is usually the first phase of a single-subject research design?

A) establishing a baseline
B) implementing the strongest possible treatment
C) implementing the weakest possible treatment
D) administering a placebo

Question 32

If in a single-subject study, what does it mean if the percentage of nonoverlapping data (PND) is 50%?

A) The result is statistically significant.
B) Half the responses made by the participant are "good" responses and the other half are "bad" responses.
C) There is a 50% chance that the participant will exhibit the target behavior on any given observation.
D) Half the responses in the treatment condition are more extreme than the most extreme response in the baseline condition.

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT considered in the visual inspection of single-subject data?

A) latency
B) level
C) mode
D) trend

Question 34

Single-subject research has been criticized by group researchers on which of the following grounds?

A) confusing correlation with causation
B) the subjectivity of visual inspection
C) failing to control extraneous variables
D) using nonhuman animals as research subjects

Question 35

How might a single-subject study of a child who cries much of the day at school differ from a case study of that same child? Focus on the factors that most clearly distinguish these two approaches.

Question 36

Single-subject research is most strongly associated with which theoretical perspective?

A) physiological
B) behavioral
C) cognitive
D) socio-cultural

Question 37

Which of the following is a key feature of single-subject research designs?

A) using a between-subjects approach
B) measuring the dependent variable several times at regular intervals
C) changing from one condition to the next one on a preset schedule
D) drawing conclusions based on inferential statistics

Question 38

Explain why a reversal design (e.g., an ABA design) has greater internal validity than a simple AB design.

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT an assumption of single-subject research?

A) It is important to focus on causal relationships by manipulating an independent variable and controlling extraneous variables.
B) It is important to analyze data qualitatively in the form of a narrative.
C) It is important to study strong and consistent relationships.
D) It is important to study the behavior of individual participants in detail.

Question 40

A multiple-baseline design is most likely to be used in which of the following circumstances?

A) Only a single participant is available for study.
B) The treatment is likely to have a permanent effect on the participant's behavior.
C) There are several treatments to be compared to each other.
D) none of the above