Question 1

Suppose you instruct a couple to have a typical conversation while you observe them in your office. This would be an example of​
A) ​unobtrusive observation.
B) research reactivity.​
C) obtrusive observation.​
D) interval recording.​

Accepted Answer

In this scenario, the couple is aware that they are being observed, which would classify it as obtrusive observation.

Question 2

Target problems can be quantified in terms of their​
A) ​frequency, only.
B) duration, only.​
C) magnitude, only.​
D) frequency, duration, and/or magnitude​

Accepted Answer

Target problems can be quantified in terms of their frequency (how often they occur), duration (how long they last), and/or magnitude (the intensity or severity of the problem). All of these factors contribute to the overall impact of the problem and help determine the best course of action for addressing it. Therefore, D is the best choice because it includes all three possible factors.

Question 3

B and B+ designs have value in the evidence-based practice process despite lacking a baseline phase.​

Accepted Answer

B and B+ designs can still provide useful information by allowing for the comparison of different interventions or conditions. However, their lack of a baseline phase makes it more difficult to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the intervention and any observed changes in behavior. Therefore, the evidence obtained from these designs must be interpreted with caution and may not be as strong as evidence obtained from designs that include a baseline phase.

Question 4

The length of the baseline in single-case designs should be​
A) ​as long as is practically and ethically possible.
B) shorter with a low frequency behavior than with a high frequency behavior.​
C) shortened if an unstable trend appears.​
D) as short as possible.​

Accepted Answer

The longer the baseline, the more reliable the data and the greater the confidence in the effectiveness of the intervention. However, the length should also be practical and ethical, meaning that it should not cause harm or inconvenience to the participant.

Question 5

Which of the following approaches would be least obtrusive in regard to measuring the impact of the above group work intervention on school performance?​
A) ​Obtain grade, attendance, and conduct data from school records.
B) Observe the student's in-class behavior yourself.​
C) With the client's permission, obtain videotapes of the child's in-class behavior.​
D) Interview the child.​

Accepted Answer

Obtaining grade, attendance, and conduct data from school records would be the least obtrusive approach as it does not require any additional actions or involvement from the students or teachers. It simply involves accessing existing data that is already being collected by the school. Observing the students in class or obtaining vide tapes may be obtrusive as it would require the students to be aware of being monitored, potentially affecting their behavior. Interviewing the child may also be obtrusive and could potentially influence their responses.

Question 6

In single-case experiments, increasing the number of measurement points:​
A) ​makes it more difficult to identify precipitating conditions during assessment.
B) ​makes it harder to change the intervention plan at the point at which no progress is occurring.
C) ​increases our ability to pinpoint unlikely coincidences and therefore infer what is causing changes in the dependent variable.
D) ​lessens internal validity.

Accepted Answer

Increasing the number of measurement points in single-case experiments allows for a more thorough analysis of the data, potentially identifying unlikely coincidences and aiding in inferring the cause of changes in the dependent variable. It does not necessarily make it more difficult to identify precipitating conditions during assessment or make it harder to change the intervention plan at the point of no progress. However, increasing measurement points may slightly lessen internal validity by increasing reactivity and demand characteristics.

Question 7

In single-case experiments, direct observation is always better than using self-report scales or available records.​

Accepted Answer

Direct observation is not always better; it depends on the context and the specific variables being measured. Self-report scales and available records can provide valuable information that direct observation might miss.

Question 8

Although AB designs offer the least control for history, they are often worth doing.​

Accepted Answer

AB designs may not offer much control for history, but they can still be valuable in certain situations, such as when you want to compare two different interventions or treatments. By randomly assigning participants to one of two groups, you can minimize the potential impact of confounding variables and get a more accurate estimate of the true treatment effect. Of course, it's important to be aware of the limitations of AB designs and use them appropriately based on the specific research question and context.

Question 9

Suppose you wish to measure progress in increasing the amount of time a child in institutional care spends studying as an indicator of the effectiveness of your group work intervention. Which of the following approaches most likely would be least vulnerable to reactivity problems?​
A) ​Have the child record the amount of time and report back to you.
B) Have cottage parents run spot checks in the cottage at different intervals.​
C) Interview the child each day about the time spent studying the previous day.​
D) Show up at the cottage and observe the child yourself for one hour during the same period each day.​

Accepted Answer

Option B, having cottage parents run spot checks at different intervals, is less likely to cause reactivity (changes in behavior due to awareness of being observed) because it integrates observation into the natural environment and routine, making it less obtrusive and less likely to influence the child's behavior compared to the other options.

Question 10

If the target problem improves at any point during the intervention phase, it is safe to infer that the intervention is effective.​

Accepted Answer

Just because the target problem improves at any point during the intervention phase does not necessarily mean that the intervention is effective. There may be other confounding factors that could be causing the improvement in the target problem. To confidently infer that the intervention is effective, a well-designed research study with appropriate control groups and statistical analysis should be conducted.

Question 11

In a single-case design with a student at high risk for dropping out of school, a good measurement plan to assess whether our intervention is effective would be to monitor whether or not he/she drops out of school.​

Accepted Answer

Monitoring whether or not a student drops out of school is a very extreme and binary outcome that doesn't capture the nuances of intervention effectiveness. A better measurement plan would involve more sensitive and continuous measures of engagement, academic performance, attendance, and attitudes towards school, which can indicate the intervention's impact long before the ultimate outcome of dropping out is reached.

Question 12

If a self-report scale has high reliability and validity in group research, we can assume it will have equally high reliability and validity in single-case experiments.​

Accepted Answer

While high reliability and validity in group research is a positive indicator for the quality of a self-report scale, it does not guarantee the same level of reliability and validity in single-case experiments, which require a different type of analysis and interpretation. Therefore, we cannot assume that the scale will perform equally well in both types of research designs.

Question 13

It is never appropriate to conduct single-case experiments with unstable baselines.​

Accepted Answer

Single-case experiments can be conducted with unstable baselines, but the instability must be accounted for in the analysis and interpretation of the results. Unstable baselines can provide valuable information about the variability of the behavior or condition being studied.

Question 14

The ability to construct a retrospective baseline is one of the advantages of using available records.​

Accepted Answer

Available records provide a historical account of past events and conditions, allowing researchers to establish a baseline against which to measure changes or trends over time. Thus, the ability to construct a retrospective baseline is one of the advantages of using available records.

Question 15

The term research reactivity means that​
A) ​at least some client improvement can be attributed to the impact of the research.
B) the research was effective in depicting desired results.​
C) there is a strong social-desirability bias in measurement.​
D) a generalization of effects occurred.​

Accepted Answer

Research reactivity refers to the possibility that the very act of conducting research might affect the behavior of participants in a study, leading to changes in their responses or actions that might not have occurred had the research not taken place. When research reactivity is present, it becomes difficult to attribute any observed changes or improvements solely to the intervention being tested, as some of these changes may be due to a placebo effect, social desirability bias, or other factors associated with the research process itself. Therefore, A is the best choice as it accurately reflects the concept of research reactivity.

Question 16

Most social work target problems or goals cannot be defined in operational terms.​

Accepted Answer

Social work target problems or goals can be defined in operational terms. Defining goals and determining the steps needed to achieve them is a fundamental aspect of social work practice. Without specific goals and strategies, it is difficult to measure progress or evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Therefore, social workers often use operational definitions to clarify target problems and goals, and to evaluate progress towards achieving them.

Question 17

Suppose you obtained the following results in a multiple baseline design assessing the impact of family therapy on tantrums, chores, and truancy in treating one child and his parents. Which interpretations is/are plausible?​ 
A) ​History could NOT have caused the change.
B) The intervention may have had generalizable effects.​
C) History is the only plausible cause of the change.​
D) Maturation caused the change.​

Accepted Answer

The multiple baseline design provides evidence that the intervention was associated with a decrease in tantrums, chores, and truancy. The design also controls for threats to internal validity, such as history and maturation, although it cannot eliminate these threats entirely. Additionally, the multiple baseline design is well-suited for demonstrating generalizable effects of the intervention. Therefore, interpretation B is plausible. Interpretations A, C, and D are not supported by the available evidence.

Question 18

​Suppose you obtained the following results in an ABAB design assessing the effectiveness of family therapy in reducing a child's temper tantrums. Which interpretations is/are plausible? 
A) ​History could NOT have caused the change.
B) The intervention may have been effective, but with irreversible effects.​
C) History is the only plausible cause of the change.​
D) Maturation caused the change.​

Accepted Answer

Since the results show a clear change from baseline to intervention periods and then back to baseline, it is unlikely that history or maturation are the sole causes of the change. Therefore, option A and D are ruled out. However, we cannot definitively conclude that the intervention was effective, as there may be other factors that contributed to the change in behavior during the intervention period. Additionally, the return to baseline during the second baseline period suggests that any effects of the intervention may have been temporary or reversible. Option C is also ruled out as it oversimplifies the potential causes of the change.

Question 19

Self-monitoring is an example of obtrusive observation.​

Accepted Answer

Self-monitoring involves the conscious and intentional observation of one's own behavior, making it an example of obtrusive observation.

Question 20

For most clinical social work situations there are multiple ways to operationally define target problems or objectives for research purposes.​

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Clinical social work involves working with complex, multifaceted issues and there can be multiple ways to define and approach a problem or objective for research purposes.

Quiz 13: Single-Case Evaluation Designs

Suppose you instruct a couple to have a typical conversation while you observe them in your office. This would be an example of​

Target problems can be quantified in terms of their​

B and B+ designs have value in the evidence-based practice process despite lacking a baseline phase.​

The length of the baseline in single-case designs should be​

Which of the following approaches would be least obtrusive in regard to measuring the impact of the above group work intervention on school performance?​

In single-case experiments, increasing the number of measurement points:​

In single-case experiments, direct observation is always better than using self-report scales or available records.​

Although AB designs offer the least control for history, they are often worth doing.​

Suppose you wish to measure progress in increasing the amount of time a child in institutional care spends studying as an indicator of the effectiveness of your group work intervention. Which of the following approaches most likely would be least vulnerable to reactivity problems?​

If the target problem improves at any point during the intervention phase, it is safe to infer that the intervention is effective.​

In a single-case design with a student at high risk for dropping out of school, a good measurement plan to assess whether our intervention is effective would be to monitor whether or not he/she drops out of school.​

If a self-report scale has high reliability and validity in group research, we can assume it will have equally high reliability and validity in single-case experiments.​

It is never appropriate to conduct single-case experiments with unstable baselines.​

The ability to construct a retrospective baseline is one of the advantages of using available records.​

The term research reactivity means that​

Most social work target problems or goals cannot be defined in operational terms.​

Suppose you obtained the following results in a multiple baseline design assessing the impact of family therapy on tantrums, chores, and truancy in treating one child and his parents. Which interpretations is/are plausible?​

​Suppose you obtained the following results in an ABAB design assessing the effectiveness of family therapy in reducing a child's temper tantrums. Which interpretations is/are plausible?

Self-monitoring is an example of obtrusive observation.​

For most clinical social work situations there are multiple ways to operationally define target problems or objectives for research purposes.​

Suppose you instruct a couple to have a typical conversation while you observe them in your office. This would be an example of

Target problems can be quantified in terms of their

B and B+ designs have value in the evidence-based practice process despite lacking a baseline phase.

The length of the baseline in single-case designs should be

Which of the following approaches would be least obtrusive in regard to measuring the impact of the above group work intervention on school performance?

In single-case experiments, increasing the number of measurement points:

In single-case experiments, direct observation is always better than using self-report scales or available records.

Although AB designs offer the least control for history, they are often worth doing.

Suppose you wish to measure progress in increasing the amount of time a child in institutional care spends studying as an indicator of the effectiveness of your group work intervention. Which of the following approaches most likely would be least vulnerable to reactivity problems?

If the target problem improves at any point during the intervention phase, it is safe to infer that the intervention is effective.

In a single-case design with a student at high risk for dropping out of school, a good measurement plan to assess whether our intervention is effective would be to monitor whether or not he/she drops out of school.

If a self-report scale has high reliability and validity in group research, we can assume it will have equally high reliability and validity in single-case experiments.

It is never appropriate to conduct single-case experiments with unstable baselines.

The ability to construct a retrospective baseline is one of the advantages of using available records.

The term research reactivity means that

Most social work target problems or goals cannot be defined in operational terms.

Suppose you obtained the following results in a multiple baseline design assessing the impact of family therapy on tantrums, chores, and truancy in treating one child and his parents. Which interpretations is/are plausible?

Suppose you obtained the following results in an ABAB design assessing the effectiveness of family therapy in reducing a child's temper tantrums. Which interpretations is/are plausible?

Self-monitoring is an example of obtrusive observation.

For most clinical social work situations there are multiple ways to operationally define target problems or objectives for research purposes.