Deck 14: Single-Subject Research Designs

Question 1

A stable level within a phase is defined as

A)a set of observations that cluster around a horizontal line when graphed.
B)a set of observations that cluster around a line sloping up to the right when graphed.
C)a set of observations that cluster around a line sloping down to the right when graphed.
D)a series of observations that all have exactly the same magnitude.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

If the observations in the initial baseline phase show a trend in the direction of improved behavior,then the researcher should

A)administer the treatment immediately without waiting for a clear and stable pattern.
B)obtain at least three baseline observations before administering the treatment.
C)increase the intensity of the treatment before it is administered.
D)do nothing.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A stable trend within a phase is defined as

A)a set of observations that cluster around a horizontal line when graphed.
B)a set of observations that cluster around a vertical line when graphed.
C)a set of observations that cluster around a line sloping up to the right or a line sloping down to the right when graphed.
D)a set of observations that all have exactly the same magnitude.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A treatment phase is defined as

A)a series of observations made when a treatment is being administered.
B)the first observation made after a treatment is administered.
C) the amount of change between the final observation before treatment and the first observation after treatment.
D)the boundary between pre-treatment observations and post-treatment observations.

Question 5

In single-subject research,what is the definition of a phase change?

A)The point at which the subject begins to show a response to the treatment.
B)The point at which the treatment begins to lose effectiveness.
C)The point at which the treatment is switched from one subject to another.
D)A change from baseline to treatment or from treatment to baseline.

Question 6

Like most other experimental designs,single-subject designs

A)provide data that can be evaluated with traditional tests for significance.
B)are capable of determining cause and effect relationships.
C)involve a series of observations over time.
D)summarize results by computing means and standard deviations.

Question 7

In single-subject research (specifically in phase-change designs),a phase consists of

A)a series of observations conducted over time.
B)a series of observations of the same individual.
C)a series of observations under the same conditions.
D)the other three choices are all components of a phase.

Question 8

In a single-subject phase change design,when does a researcher change phases?

A)after 3 observations
B)after 5 or 6 observations
C)when the data show a clear and stable pattern
D)at the beginning of each week

Question 9

In single-subject research,unstable data

A)make differences between treatment phases and baseline phases clear.
B)make it impossible to define a pattern within a phase.
C)make it impossible to determine whether a change in phases produces a change in pattern.
D)make it impossible to define a pattern within a phase and make it impossible to determine whether a change in phases produces a change in pattern.

Question 10

In a single-subject design when no treatment is being administered,the observations are called

A)no-treatment observations.
B)baseline observations.
C)treatment observations.
D)all of the other choices are correct.

Question 11

In the notation for single-case designs,

A)the letter A identifies the first treatment condition.
B)the letter B identifies the baseline phase.
C)the letter C identifies a second treatment phase.
D)all of the other choices are correct.

Question 12

The data obtained from a single-subject research study are

A)displayed in a graph.
B)statistically evaluated.
C)displayed in a graph and statistically evaluated.
D)displayed in a graph and visually inspected.

Question 13

Typically,the results from a single-subject research study are evaluated using

A)descriptive statistics such as the mean and standard deviation.
B)inferential statistics such as a hypothesis test.
C)visual inspection of a graph.
D)consensus among at least three researchers.

Question 14

In single-subject research,a group of observations of the same individual under the same conditions is known as

A)a time series.
B)a phase.
C)a sequence.
D)a data set.

Question 15

Averaging over two or three consecutive observations is one method for dealing with

A)trends in the data.
B)phase changes.
C)unstable data.
D)a treatment that has a relatively small effect.

Question 16

An advantage of single-subject designs is that

A)they can be used with one participant.
B)they are valuable in clinical settings.
C)they allow for an experiment to be conducted on a single individual.
D)the other three choices are all advantages of single-subject designs.

Question 17

The phase in a single-subject research design,during which the treatment is absent is called the _____ phase.

A)experimental
B)treatment
C)baseline
D)replication

Question 18

Which of the following are most similar to single-subject designs?

A)correlational designs
B)nonequivalent control group designs
C)time-series designs
D)between-subject experimental designs

Question 19

At what point is a phase change appropriate?

A)after 5 or 6 observations in the current phase
B)when the participant begins to show an unstable pattern of behavior
C)when the participant shows the first response to the treatment
D)when the participant shows a clear and stable pattern of behavior

Question 20

In a single-subject experimental design,if there is low variability from one observation to the next within a phase,the data are

A)stable.
B)unstable.
C)statistically significant.
D)visually significant.

Question 21

During a one-hour session,a therapist switches back and forth between periods of personal comments aimed directly at the patient (You seem to be quite happy today.)and periods of impersonal comments (Happiness often is associated with sunny weather.).The therapist records how many self-revealing statements the patient makes during each period to see if there are any consistent differences.The researcher is using a(n)

A)ABAB design.
B)multiple-baseline design.
C)alternating-treatments design.
D)changing-criterion design.

Question 22

In a graph of single-subject research data,a clear indication of a treatment effect is

A)a continuation of the same average level from one phase to the next.
B)a continuation of a clear trend from one phase to the next.
C) a gradual change in behavior that becomes clear several observations after the treatment is initiated.
D) a clear and immediate change in either the level or trend when the treatment is initiated.

Question 23

In a dismantling design,the researcher

A)withdraws the treatment gradually by removing one component at a time.
B) changes the measurement from one behavior to another during the treatment phase to determine which behaviors are influenced by the treatment.
C) uses a series of different treatment phases to compare the effectiveness of several different treatments.
D) adds or subtracts one component of the treatment from one phase to the next to determine how the different components of a treatment contribute to its effectiveness.

Question 24

In an ABAB design the critical element for demonstrating that the treatment causes changes in behavior is

A)the change from the initial baseline to the initial treatment phase.
B)the return to baseline after the first treatment phase.
C)the second treatment phase that replicates the first.
D)the consistency of the pattern of scores obtained in the two baseline phases.

Question 25

A researcher begins an ABAB design but finds that the participant shows no change in behavior when the first treatment phase is administered.The research can

A)withdraw the treatment and return to baseline.
B)introduce a modified version of the treatment.
C)introduce a completely different treatment.
D)a variety of options are available including all of the other three choices.

Question 26

In a graph of the results from multiple-baseline design using two participants,which of the following features justifies a conclusion that the treatment causes changes in behavior?

A)the size of the change in behavior each time the treatment is introduced
B)the time delay between the introduction of the treatment and the first change in behavior for each participant
C)the return to baseline behavior when the treatment is withdrawn for both participants
D)demonstrating that the same change in behavior occurs when the treatment is introduced at different times for the two participants

Question 27

A stop-smoking program requires participants to monitor their smoking and to control the number of cigarettes they smoke.The program sets a target for the number of cigarettes a participant is allowed each day,and the target number is changed every three days.Although the target moves up and down,it gradually reduces toward a goal of zero smoking after six weeks.If this program were evaluated using a single-subject design,which design would be appropriate?

A)ABAB design
B)multiple-baseline design
C)alternating-treatments design
D)changing-criterion design

Question 28

Ms.Thompson,a third-grade teacher,is trying to reduce Joseph's "out of seat behavior" and "interrupting behavior." Which research design is she most likely to use?

A)ABAB
B)ABC
C)multiple-baseline across behaviors
D)multiple-baseline across situations

Question 29

A therapist has created a program for treating stuttering.Most people who complete the two-week program are permanently cured.If the therapist decided to evaluate the program with a single-subject design,which design would be appropriate?

A)ABAB design
B)multiple-baseline design
C)alternating-treatments design
D)changing-criterion design

Question 30

In a multiple-baseline design,two different baseline phases

A)are started simultaneously but ended at different times.
B)are started at different times but ended simultaneously.
C)are started at the same time and ended at the same time.
D)can be started and ended at completely different times.

Question 31

Which of the following is an ethical concern for the ABAB design?

A)continuing to administer the treatment after it has already been shown to be effective
B)administering the treatment immediately after the initial baseline phase
C)removing the treatment after it has already been shown to be effective
D)reintroducing the treatment after it has already been shown to be effective

Question 32

Dr.Moore is trying to reduce Evan's "talk out" behaviors,first at school and then at home.Which research design is she most likely to use?

A)ABAB
B)multiple-baseline across behaviors
C)multiple-baseline across situations
D)multiple-baseline across subjects

Question 33

Single-subjects research studies tend to have

A)practical significance even though they do not have statistical significance.
B)statistical significance even though they do not have practical significance.
C)both practical and statistical significance.
D)neither practical nor statistical significance.

Question 34

The ABAB design is inappropriate to use

A)for a treatment that has a permanent effect.
B)for a treatment that does not change behavior when it is withdrawn.
C)for a treatment that changes behavior gradually over time and has a long lasting effect.
D)the other three choices are all examples of inappropriate use of an ABAB design.

Question 35

A researcher has developed a device to prevent snoring.The device works immediately when it is put on but it has no lasting effect when it is removed.If a researcher decided to evaluate this device with a single-subject design,which design would be appropriate?

A)ABAB design
B)multiple-baseline design
C)alternating treatments design
D)changing criterion design

Question 36

What name is given to a single-subject design consisting of the following 4 phases in the order given: baseline,treatment,baseline,treatment?

A)BABA design
B)ABA design
C)ABAB design
D)multiple-baseline design

Question 37

In a graph of the results from an ABAB reversal design,which of the following features justifies a conclusion that the treatment causes changes in behavior?

A)the size of the change in behavior when the treatment is first introduced
B)the time delay between the introduction of the treatment and the first change in behavior
C)a permanent change in behavior that continues even after the treatment is withdrawn
D)repeatedly demonstrating that behavior changes consistently when the treatment is introduced,withdrawn,and introduced again

Question 38

The advantage of an ABAB design versus a simple AB phase?change design is

A)the ABAB design can be used when a treatment has a permanent or long-lasting effect.
B)the ABAB design does not require a stable baseline phase.
C) the ABAB design reduces the probability that the result is just chance or coincidence.
D)the ABAB design can be used even if the treatment effect is temporary.

Question 39

The second AB in the sequence of an ABAB design provides evidence of

A)external validity.
B)internal validity.
C)reactivity.
D)experimenter bias.

Question 40

A multiple-baseline across subjects design consists of ____ baseline phase(s)and ___ treatment phase(s)for each participant.

A)1,1
B)1,2
C)2,1
D)2,2

Question 41

If a clinician wanted to determine whether a specific treatment causes a change in a client's behavior,a single-subject design could be used.

Question 42

The success of a single-subject experiment depends on demonstrating that behavior changes when the treatment is implemented and then repeating the demonstration at least one more time.

Question 43

If a researcher is planning an ABAB design but the participant does not respond to the treatment,the researcher can simply switch to a new treatment and begin a more complex phase-change design.

Question 44

To be successful,a single-subject experiment must have stable data in each phase before moving to the next phase.

Question 45

The optimal length of a phase is three observations.

Question 46

An ABAB design is preferred to a multiple-baseline design if the treatment is expected to have a permanent or long-lasting effect.

Question 47

The alternating-treatments design does not consist of phases or phase changes.

Question 48

In the notation for single-subject designs (e.g.ABAB),the letter A represents the baseline phase.

Question 49

The changing-criterion design would be appropriate for gradually increasing the number of pages read per week by an 8th-grade child.

Question 50

In the notation for single-subject designs (e.g.ABAB),the letter B represents the baseline phase.

Question 51

Single-subject designs provide data that can be evaluated with traditional tests of significance.

Question 52

The goal of single-subject designs is to demonstrate that the manipulation of a treatment is responsible for causing changes in behavior.

Question 53

A baseline phase consists of a series of observations made immediately after a treatment is introduced.

Question 54

In a multiple-baseline design,there is only one phase change,from baseline to treatment.

Question 55

Stability within a phase can be either a consistent level or a consistent trend.

Question 56

Behavior that shows a consistent increase from one observation to the next during a baseline phase is an example of unstable behavior.

Question 57

A clear indication of a treatment effect is a gradual change in behavior after the treatment is initiated.

Question 58

A multiple-baseline design requires two groups of participants.

Question 59

In a single-subject phase change study,it does not matter how long it takes for behavior to change after a phase change as long as there eventually is a large change in behavior.

Question 60

A multiple-baseline design requires that the targeted behavior return to baseline levels when the treatment is removed.

Question 61

Describe the goal of a single-subject research study.

Question 62

The most commonly used single-subject designs are the ABAB design and the multiple-baseline design.Describe the different circumstances for which each of these designs is appropriate.

Question 63

Describe the purpose of a phase within a single-case experiment and the ways to define a pattern within a phase.

Question 64

Describe how single-case designs are similar to descriptive case studies and quasi-experimental time-series designs.

Question 65

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using visual inspection of graphs rather than statistics to evaluate the significance of the results.

Question 66

In most research studies,statistical techniques are used to rule out chance as a plausible explanation for the results.In single-subject research,how is chance (or coincidence)ruled out as a plausible explanation for the observed treatment effects?

Question 67

Discuss the general advantages and disadvantages of single-subject research compared to traditional group designs.