Formats for visually displaying relationships among and between a series of measurements and relevant variables
Graphs
Data show no evidence of an upward or downward trend; all of the measures fall within a relatively small range of values
Stable Baseline
Three-phase experimental design consisting of an initial baseline phase until steady state responding (or counter therapeutic trend) is obtained, an intervention phase in which the treatment condition is implemented until the behavior has changed and steady state responding is obtained, and a return to baseline conditions by withdrawing the independent variable to see whether responding "reverses" to levels observed in the initial baseline phase
ABA Design
A multiple baseline design in which the treatment variable is applied to the same behavior of the same subject across two or more settings, situations, or time periods
Multiple Baseline Across Settings Design
The extent to which the independent variable is applied exactly as planned and described and no other unplanned variables are administered inadvertently along with the planned treatment
Treatment Integrity
Results of measurement, usually in quantifiable form
Data
A condition of an experiment in which the independent variable is not present
Baseline
An experimental design consisting of an initial baseline phase until steady state responding (or counter-therapeutic trend) is obtained, an initial intervention phase in which the treatment variable is implemented until the behavior has changed or steady state responding is obtained, a return to baseline conditions by withdrawing the independent variable, and a second intervention phase to see whether initial treatment effects are replicated
ABAB Design
a multiple baseline design in which the treatment variable is applied to two or more behaviors of the same subject in the same setting
Multiple Baseline Across Behaviors Design
Repeating conditions within an experiment to determine the reliability of effects and increase internal validity OR repeating whole experiments to determine generality of findings of previous experiments to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviors
Replication
the value on the vertical axis around which a series of behavioral measures converge
Level
the extent to which an experiment shows convincingly that changes in behavior are a function of the independent variable and not the result of uncontrolled or unknown variables
Internal Validity
Any experimental design that uses the experimental methods and logic of the reversal tactic to compare the effects of two or more experimental conditions to baseline and/or to one another
Multiple Treatment Reversal Design
A variation of the multiple baseline design that features intermittent measures, or probes, during baseline.
Multiple Probe Design
the extent to which all phases and conditions of an experiment, including baseline, are implemented correctly
Procedural Fidelity
the overall direction taken by a data path
Trend
Steady State Strategy
A situation that occurs when the level of responding observed in a previous phase cannot be reproduced even though the experimental conditions are the same as they were during the earlier phase
Irreversibility
A variation of the multiple baseline design in which an initial baseline, and perhaps intervention, begin for one behavior (or setting or subject) and subsequent baselines for additional behaviors begin in a staggered or delayed fashion
Delayed Multiple Baseline Design
The extent to which target behaviors are appropriate, interventions are acceptable, and important and significant changes in target and collateral behaviors are produced
Social Validity
the frequency and extent to which multiple measure of behavior yield different outcomes
Variability
a three-step form of reasoning that begins with a true antecedent-consequent (if a then b) statement and proceeds as follows: 1. if a is true then b is true. 2. b is found to be true. 3. therefore, a is true.
Affirmation of the Consequent
The effects of one treatment on a subject's behavior being confounding by the influence of another treatment administered in the same study
Multiple Treatment Interference
A variation of the changing criterion design in which each intervention sub-phase includes a lower and an upper criterion within the participant is expected to perform
Range-Bound Changing Criterion Design
An error that occurs when a researcher concludes that the independent variable had no effect on the dependent variable, when in truth it did (a false negative)
Type II Error