Experimental Design
Experimental Design
Experimental Design
Experimental Design
100
In a study investigating the impact of visual prompts on task completion, the number of tasks completed is which type of variable?
A. Dependent variable
B. Independent variable
C. Controlled variable
D. Confounding variable
A. Dependent variable
100
Which intervention was most effective based on the data?
A. NCR.
B. All were equally effective.
C. FCT.
D. DRO.
C. FCT.
100
A BCBA is implementing a changing criterion design to increase the number of math problems completed by a student. After three successful increases, the student suddenly fails to meet the next criterion for several sessions. What is the BEST next step?
A. Introduce a reversal phase
B. Return to the previous criterion briefly
C. Increase the criterion further
D. Implement a multiple baseline design
B. Return to the previous criterion briefly
100
A BCBA is reviewing graphed data from a completed ABAB reversal design used to evaluate a response cost procedure for reducing disruptive classroom behavior. Baseline phases show high, variable behavior, and intervention phases show reduced behavior. However, the data paths in B1 and B2 show a slight downward trend even before each intervention was introduced, and the overall level of behavior has been declining across the entire study. What is the MOST accurate interpretation of these data regarding the demonstration of a functional relationship?
A. A functional relationship is clearly demonstrated because behavior consistently decreased during both intervention phases compared to both baseline phases.
B. The data suggest a functional relationship, but the pre-intervention trends in each phase represent a significant confound that weakens the demonstration of experimental control.
C. The demonstration of a functional relationship is strengthened because the declining trends in baseline phases confirm that the measurement system was sensitive enough to detect behavior change prior to intervention.
D. A functional relationship cannot be concluded because the overall declining trend across the study suggests maturation or history as plausible alternative explanations for the behavior change.
D. A functional relationship cannot be concluded because the overall declining trend across the study suggests maturation or history as plausible alternative explanations for the behavior change.
200
Functional analysis data are typically represented using which of the following:
A. An ABAB design
B. A changing criterion design
C. A multiple baseline design
D. A multi-element design
D. A multi-element design
200
Why is a single-subject design considered robust despite the small sample size?
A. The design easily identifies the average effect of an intervention across individuals.
B. The design utilizes large groups, enhancing statistical power.
C. The design allows for control of variables across different populations.
D. The design focuses on individual responses, highlighting the effectiveness of an intervention on an individual basis.
D. The design focuses on individual responses, highlighting the effectiveness of an intervention on an individual basis.
200
If a BCBA wishes to demonstrate generality to untreated similar behaviors, which design is most appropriate?
A. Multiple baseline across behaviors
B. ABAB reversal design
C. Changing criterion design
D. Component analysis
A. Multiple baseline across behaviors
200
A researcher is conducting a study on the effects of a self-monitoring intervention on homework completion in adolescents with ADHD. Three weeks into the intervention phase, the parents of one participant report that their child's psychiatrist has increased the dosage of the child's stimulant medication due to academic concerns unrelated to the study. The child's homework completion rate increases sharply in the following sessions. What represents the MOST significant threat to internal validity, and what is the BEST course of action?
A. This represents a history threat; the researcher should remove the participant from the study and replace them with a new participant to preserve the dataset's integrity
B. This represents an instrumentation threat; the researcher should recalibrate the measurement system to account for the medication change before continuing data collection
C. This represents a history threat that creates an uncontrolled confounding variable; the researcher should clearly document the medication change with its date, analyze the data separately for pre- and post-medication change phases, and consider whether the pattern across other participants still supports a functional relationship
D. This represents a maturation threat; since medication changes are expected in clinical populations, the researcher should note it as a limitation but continue interpreting the data as if the medication change did not occur
C. This represents a history threat that creates an uncontrolled confounding variable; the researcher should clearly document the medication change with its date, analyze the data separately for pre- and post-medication change phases, and consider whether the pattern across other participants still supports a functional relationship.
300
In a functional communication training (FCT) study, a researcher introduces an intervention phase, observes a decrease in challenging behavior, and then withdraws the intervention. The challenging behavior increases to its original levels. Finally, the intervention is reintroduced, and the challenging behavior decreases again. What is demonstrated by reintroducing the intervention?
A. Verification.
B. Replication.
C. Prediction.
D. Repeated measures.
B. Replication.
300
Which of the following describes sequence effects?
A. External events occurring during the study influence results.
B. Changes in behavior due to aging or natural development.
C. The order of conditions or treatments impacts the subject’s behavior.
D. Unplanned rewards affect the dependent variable.
C. The order of conditions or treatments impacts the subject’s behavior.
300
A BCBA is evaluating two interventions for reducing escape-maintained problem behavior in a 7-year-old: noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) and a functional communication training (FCT) procedure. The child's schedule is highly variable across days, and the BCBA needs to compare the relative effectiveness of both procedures efficiently while minimizing exposure to ineffective treatment. Both behaviors are operationally defined and reliably measured. Which experimental design is MOST appropriate?
A. A multiple baseline design across behaviors, because it allows sequential introduction of each intervention while controlling for confounding variables across time.
B. A reversal design with an NCR phase followed by an FCT phase, because it provides the clearest demonstration of experimental control through repeated measurement.
C. An alternating treatments design, because it allows rapid comparison of the two interventions within the same participant while minimizing prolonged exposure to a less effective treatment.
D. A changing criterion design, because it allows the BCBA to gradually shift behavior from one intervention to the other while maintaining experimental control throughout the process.
C. An alternating treatments design, because it allows rapid comparison of the two interventions within the same participant while minimizing prolonged exposure to a less effective treatment.
300
A BCBA wants to compare two intensities (10 min vs. 30 min) of a daily reading intervention. Which type of analysis is this?
A. Component analysis
B. Parametric analysis
C. Changing criterion design
D. Multiple baseline design
B. Parametric analysis
400
Tilly is currently collecting baseline data in an ABAB withdrawal design to determine whether there is a functional relation between the use of a DRA procedure and rates of yelling behavior. Within baseline, she has collected five data points on the rate per hour of yelling behavior. The rates, in order, are 5 per hour, 7 per hour, 10 per hour, 8 per hour, and 12 per hour. How should she proceed?
A. Continue collecting baseline data
B. Begin implementing the DRA procedure
C. Continue implementing the DRA procedure
D. Move to the "A" condition
B. Begin implementing the DRA procedure
400
What is the ability to generalize the results of a study to other populations, settings, and conditions called?
A. Maintenance
B. Internal validity
C. External validity
D. Train and hope
C. External validity
400
A BCBA is evaluating the effect of two different prompting systems (vocal and gestural) on independent transitions between activities. Which single-case design would allow the most rapid comparison between the two systems?
A. Multiple Baseline
B. Changing Criterion
C. Alternating Treatments
D. Nonconcurrent Multiple Baseline
C. Alternating Treatments
400
A BCBA is evaluating an intervention to increase the time a student spends reading independently. She implements the intervention only after the student meets a specific duration in baseline. Which type of experimental design BEST describes this requirement?
A. Withdrawal design
B. Changing criterion design
C. AB design
D.Multiple probe design
D. Multiple probe design
500
What is a Type 1 error, also known as a false positive, in the context of research?
A. Rejecting a true null hypothesis
B. Failing to reject a false null hypothesis
C. Generalizing findings to a population that it doesn't apply to
D. Implementing an ineffective intervention based on positive results
A. Rejecting a true null hypothesis
500
During a single-case study, a researcher collects baseline data showing frequent hand-raising in a classroom. The researcher predicts that providing praise for hand-raising will increase its frequency. After introducing praise, the data show a significant increase in hand-raising. What feature of single-case designs is being used to anticipate this behavior change?
A. Prediction.
B. Verification.
C. Replication.
D. Repeated measures.
A. Prediction.
500
Which scenario BEST illustrates the use of a changing criterion design?
A. Assessing whether behavior changes only after introducing intervention
B. Comparing two treatments’ effects on the same behavior
C. Progressively increasing the number of math problems a student must complete for reinforcement
D. Teaching three students sequentially, beginning intervention at different times
C. Progressively increasing the number of math problems a student must complete for reinforcement
500
Midway through a withdrawal design study examining the effects of a differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) procedure on self-injurious behavior, a participant's psychiatrist changes the participant's antipsychotic medication dosage. The researcher notices a marked decrease in SIB that coincides with both the intervention phase and the medication change. The study is currently in the B phase with two more planned phases. What is the PRIMARY threat to internal validity the researcher must address?
A. Attrition, because the medication change may cause side effects that lead to participant dropout before the study is completed.
B. Maturation, because biological changes from the medication may represent a developmental process that naturally reduces self-injurious behavior over time.
C. Instrumentation, because changes in the participant's neurological state may alter how observers perceive and record self-injurious behavior.
D. History, because an external event occurring concurrently with the intervention makes it impossible to attribute behavior change solely to the DRO procedure.
D. History, because an external event occurring concurrently with the intervention makes it impossible to attribute behavior change solely to the DRO procedure.