True or False
In changing criterion designs the behaviour does not have to be in the learner's repertoire at the onset as it will be shaped by the intervention
False - it must already be in their repertoire.
Shaping = behaviour change strategy not experimental design; changing response criterion is topographical in nature
Changing criterion = experimental design; evaluates the effects of instructional techniques on rate, accuracy, duration, or latency of a single behaviour
List two ways that you can demonstrate experimental control in a changing criterion design
1. the criterion lines should have a large separation - the greater the vertical distance between them the greater the experimental control
2. data points should fall around the criterion lines
3. evidenced by the extent that the level of responding changes to confirm to each new criterion
List the 3 consecutive phases required for a reversal design prototype (not the BAB design)
1. initial baseline (A)
2. intervention (B)
3. Return to baseline (A)
How can you identify a multiple treatment reversal
* look for additional letters being added like C and D
* look for comparison of two or more IVs to the baseline and or to one another
Define internal validity
the extent to which an experiment shows convincingly that changes in the behaviour are a function of the IV and NOT the result of uncontrolled or unknown variables
Reversal designs encompass A-B-A-B and DRI/DRA procedures
True - reversal designs encompass experimental designs in which the IV is withdrawn (A-B-A-B) or reversed in its focus (DRI/DRA)
List the three guidelines for using a changing criterion design
1. length of phases must be long enough to achieve stable responding
2. the size of changes between each criterion should vary to prove strong functional relations
3. the more criterion changes the better proof of experimental control
List the 5 types of reversal designs
1. Repeated reversals (A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B)
2. BAB (B-A-B)
3. Multiple treatment design (A-B-A-C-A-B-A-C) (A-B-C-D-A-C-A-D)
4. NCR reversal technique
5. DRO/DRA/DRI reversal technique
When would you use an NCR reversal technique
When you want to demonstrate the effects of contingent reinforcement on the behaviour because NCR serves as the baseline control
Define confounding variable and provide an example
Any uncontrolled factor known or suspected to exert influence on the dependent variable
EG: a student's level of interest in the subject matter in class affecting their ability to complete work problems
Define bootleg reinforcement
secretive reinforcement that is not part of the behaviour plan accessed by the learner
Provide an example of a behaviour change program for which you would use a changing criterion design
EG: a researcher may use this design to assess how a person's behaviour changes when the researcher provides the person with reinforcement contingent upon 10 responses per minute, then 20 response per minute, then 30 response per minute etc.
What is the biggest disadvantage of the B-A-B reversal design
Sequence effects: the effects on a subject's behaviour in a given condition that are the result of the subjects experience with a prior condition.
the level of the behaviour in condition A may have been influenced by the IV before it
AKA: carryover effect; alteration effects
List the four types of baseline patterns
ascending
descending
variable
stable
Define extraneous variable and provide an example
An extraneous variable is any aspect of the environment that must be held constant to prevent unplanned environmental variation
EG: lighting, room temperature
List an AKA for Type I errors when evaluating ABA research
False Positive
List 2 advantages of using a changing criterion design
1. does not require several of improved behaviour
2. enables an experimental analysis within the context of a gradually improving behaviour
How can you control for sequence effects when using a reversal design
* add a few more phases to your design so that you can properly evaluate the effect of one intervention on it's own
EG: If it was A-B-C-B change to A-B-C-B-A-C-A-C
______ is the degree to which a study's results are generalizable to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviours, whereas _____ is the extent to which an experiment shows convincingly that the changes in behaviour are a function of the IV and not any other uncontrolled variable
* External validity
* Internal validity
List and explain the four confounding threats to internal validity
1. measurement confounds - caused by observer bias, reactivity or observer drift
2. IV confounds - usually given in treatmet packages and hard to delineate (i.e. token delivery also involves GCSR)
3. Subject confounds - maturation, or repeated measures
4. Setting confounds - natural settings are hard to control and could result in bootleg reinforcement
List an AKA for Type II errors when evaluating ABA research
False Negative
List 2 disadvantages of the changing criterion design
1. the target behaviour must already be in the person's repertoire
2. not appropriate for analyzing the effects of a shaping program
3. it is NOT a comparison design
For a reversal to occur what must the behaviour do
approximate the initial baseline level
* this demonstrates functional control of the IV
The target behaviour must already be in the learner's repertoire, and it is NOT a comparison design are the disadvantages of the _____ design
* Changing criterion
List and define the two major types of scientific replication methods used in ABA
2. Systematic replication - purposly varying one or more aspects of an earlier experiment (generally this replication method is used in research)