Deck 15: Group Research Design and Statistical Analyses

Question 1

Behavior analytic researchers often focus on questions about relations between _______ variables and responses under control and experimental conditions.

A) extraneous
B) dependent
C) environmental
D) detrimental

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Other disciplines outside behavior analysis often address research questions concerning:

A) socially significant impacts on daily living
B) comparisons of groups of people
C) statistically significant skill acquisition
D) behavioral phenomenon

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Brian is a behavior analyst practitioner. Why does he need to understand group research designs?

A) Many payers rely on group designs for policy decisions
B) He may need to explain group design research to clients
C) He needs to be an informed consumer
D) It's the primary design he will use in his practice

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following research questions would be best addressed with a group-design?

A) What are the effects of a token economy on disruptive behavior of 3ʳᵈ graders in Ms. Jones classroom?
B) How do increases in density of reinforcement affect vocalizations of children with autism?
C) Does an intensive ABA therapy treatment package alleviate symptoms of autism?
D) What are the effects of a time-out procedure on tantrums in 3-year-olds?

Question 5

All of the following are examples of group research designs, except:

A) randomized clinical trial
B) pretest-posttest design
C) nonrandomized clinical trial
D) non-pretest design

Question 6

Group-designs are also referred to as ______ designs.

A) small-n
B) randomized-n
C) large-n
D) RCT

Question 7

In randomized controlled trials, the experimental group is compared to a comparison group who receives _______.

A) no treatment
B) a placebo
C) "treatment as usual"
D) all of the above

Question 8

In RCTs, the random assignment is assumed to __________.

A) validate the study
B) validate the participants
C) maximize internal validity
D) maximize external validity

Question 9

What does "statistical significance" refer to?

A) The significance of random assignment
B) How significant the number of participants is
C) The significance of experimental control
D) How significant differences in measures are

Question 10

In which design does a researcher take steps to ensure treatment and control groups are matched on key variables?

A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Randomized matched trial
C) Non-randomized matched trial
D) Non-randomized controlled trial

Question 11

________ is when participants drop out of a study.

A) Assessment bias
B) Attrition
C) Performance bias
D) Blinding

Question 12

__________ occurs when participants in one group are treated differently by researchers than participants in the other group.

A) Assessment bias
B) Attrition
C) Performance bias
D) Blinding

Question 13

Keeping individuals unaware of the condition that a participant has been assigned is called:

A) assessment bias
B) attrition
C) performance bias
D) blinding

Question 14

In single group pretest-posttest design, the dependent measure is administered to all in the group when the study begins and after they have ______________.

A) finished assessment tests
B) been exposed to a treatment
C) finished pre-test assessments
D) entered follow up phase

Question 15

Cohort studies are concerned with:

A) Case studies of individuals in a group
B) Following groups of people over time
C) Administering pre- and posttest measures to groups of people
D) Comparing medical interventions

Question 16

Each of the following is a type of descriptive statistic measure, except:

A) mean
B) range
C) ANOVA
D) standard deviation

Question 17

The basic purpose of inferential statistics is to make statements about a ______ based on data from a _________.

A) sample; population
B) population; sample
C) confidence interval; standard error
D) standard error; confidence interval

Question 18

In hypothesis testing, researchers aim to ______ the null hypothesis.

A) reject
B) accept
C) validate
D) replicate

Question 19

In hypothesis testing, if there is a difference between groups, the p statistic will ______ the preset region of rejection.

A) fall outside
B) reject
C) accept
D) fall within

Question 20

Measures of clinical or practical significance are referred to as _______.

A) standard deviations
B) effect sizes
C) P-values
D) hypotheses

Question 21

Why do behavior analysts need to be informed consumers of research using group-designs?

Question 22

In order to be an informed consumer of group-designs and statistical analyses, what does a behavior analyst need to know?

Question 23

What kinds of questions would be more appropriate to address with a group-design rather than a single-subject design?

Question 24

Why are RCTs considered a "gold standard"?

Question 25

Why does random assignment not guarantee that groups in a study will be equivalent?

Question 26

Describe the steps of a single-group pretest-posttest design.

Question 27

Describe the key features of a prospective cohort study and a retrospective cohort study. How do the two differ?

Question 28

Describe the case control study design.

Question 29

Describe the three most common measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode.

Question 30

How do measures of central tendency obscure individual data?

Question 31

Describe the two most common measures of variability: range and standard deviation.

Question 32

When evaluating associations between variables, what do correlation coefficient values mean as they approach -1 to +1?

Question 33

What is the basic purpose of inferential statistics?

Question 34

What are the two basic assumptions that must be satisfied for the inferential process to be considered valid?

Question 35

What is the underlying logical structure for hypothesis testing?

Question 36

Describe the main steps that a researcher would take when doing hypothesis testing.

Question 37

A researcher is interested in comparing the effects of ABA therapy and speech therapy in young children with autism. Describe what the null and alternative hypotheses would be with this research question.

Question 38

What has been criticized about hypothesis testing in recent years?

Question 39

What does an ANOVA test evaluate?

Question 40

What is a meta-analysis? What are the benefits of this type of research design?