Deck 4: Issues in Single Subject Research

Question 1

Compare and contrast social validity and empirical validity. What do these concepts have in common? How are they different?

Answer 1

Suggested answer points:Social validity refers to the degree to which other people think that the targeted changes in behavior are important and that the methods used to encourage behavior change are acceptable, whereas empirical validity refers to the measurements that actually demonstrate that the proposed behavioral changes will indeed positively affect the individual's life.

Question 2

The passage of time as well as both unforeseen and foreseen events that arise is known as __________________.

A)maturation
B)attrition
C)development
D)history

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Assume a researcher uses positive reinforcement via praise in an initial intervention phase, followed by positive reinforcement via tokens and praise, and response cost for inappropriate behaviors. The target behavior increases slightly during the praise only reinforcement phase but then improves much more so during the praise, tokens, and response cost phase. Explain whether this circumstance best represents a threat to reliability or validity.

Answer 3

Suggested answer points:The circumstance best represents a threat to validity. This represents multiple treatment interference making it very difficult for the researcher to determine which of the procedures (praise, tokens, response cost, and/or the combination)actually influenced the changes in the target behavior. The dependent variable could be very reliably recorded but this would not eliminate the threat to validity.

Question 4

Treatment interference might occur when more than one ___________________ is used.

A)dependent variable
B)independent variable
C)extraneous variable
D)confounding variable

Question 5

_____________ is important to establishing the believability of a functional relationship which, therefore, establishes confidence in the results that are obtained.

A)External validity
B)Interobserver reliability
C)Internal validity
D)Existential reliability

Question 6

Outline the considerations that Walker and Shea (1991)discuss as especially critical when conducting single subject research using children as participants. Which three to five considerations are most important, and why?

Question 7

Single subject studies:

A)may incorporate elements of qualitative and quantitative procedures.
B)are rigid and do not allow for the use of a variety of data collection techniques.
C)may incorporate robust and powerful methods for influencing an individual's behavior.
D)may incorporate elements of qualitative and quantitative procedures and may incorporate robust and powerful methods for influencing an individual's behavior.

Question 8

How do reactivity and observer drift differ? How are they similar?

Question 9

What term is used when a subject becomes unavailable during the course of a study?

A)treatment drift
B)cancellation
C)attenuation
D)attrition

Question 10

An individual being observed and altering his or her behavior as a response to being observed is known as ______________.

A)consciousness
B)presence
C)reactivity
D)observer drift

Question 11

Empirical validity refers to:

A)the degree to which other people think the targeted changes in behavior are important and that the methods used to encourage behavior change are acceptable.
B)the measurements that actually demonstrate that the proposed behavioral changes will indeed positively affect the individual's life.
C)the degree to which the researcher may have confidence that other researchers will obtain the same results if the same procedures are used
D)varying the conditions from an earlier study but obtaining similar results.

Question 12

Why is replication so important to a single subject research study? How many replications are needed?

Question 13

Verification is:

A)the confirmation that the dependent variable is changing in a predictable direction as the independent variable is systematically applied.
B)the repetition of the observed predictions within the same study.
C)the idea that if there is no effect attributable to the independent variable, the dependent variable's data path will remain unchanged.
D)a way to predict a change in the desired direction in a data path as a result of the implementation of a dependent variable.

Question 14

Examples of guidelines offered to address philosophical and ethical issues in single subject research include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)explore alternative interventions before selecting aversives.
B)participants should approve of the interventions before their use.
C)determine whether the individual understands the treatment program.
D)the planned intervention should be carefully monitored.

Question 15

The threat to reliability known as observer drift refers to:

A)the individual being observed altering his or her behavior as a response to being observed.
B)the degree to which the researcher has adequately controlled extraneous variables.
C)a researcher using his/her own personal judgment regarding the performance of a participant in a study.
D)the passage of time and both foreseen and unforeseen events that arise.

Question 16

____________________ involves varying the conditions from an earlier study, but still obtaining similar results.

A)Systematic replication
B)Interactive replication
C)Intrapositive replication
D)Direct replication

Question 17

When a researcher engages in the process of repeating the observed predictions and verifications within the same study, he/she is practicing what?

A)replication
B)reinforcement
C)reliability
D)observation

Question 18

The notion that if there is no effect attributable to the independent variable, then the dependent variable's data path will remain unchanged is called:

A)verification.
B)stability.
C)prediction.
D)reliability.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a question Walker & Shea (1991)raise regarding ethical and humane treatment of participants in general?

A)Who shall decide who will manage behavior?
B)What type of interventions will be used?
C)What are the outcomes sought?
D)What rewards are appropriate?

Question 20

______________ refers to anything that may affect the demonstration of the functional relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

A)Intrinsic variables
B)Extraneous variables
C)Compound variables
D)Intervening variables