Question 1

Compare and contrast social validity and empirical validity. What do these concepts have in common? How are they different?

Accepted Answer

Suggested answer points:Social validity refers to the degree to which other people think that the targeted changes in behavior are important and that the methods used to encourage behavior change are acceptable, whereas empirical validity refers to the measurements that actually demonstrate that the proposed behavioral changes will indeed positively affect the individual's life.

Question 2

The passage of time as well as both unforeseen and foreseen events that arise is known as __________________.
A)maturation
B)attrition
C)development
D)history

Accepted Answer

The passage of time and events that occur is known as history. Maturation and development refer more specifically to personal growth and change, while attrition refers to a decrease in something over time.

Question 3

Assume a researcher uses positive reinforcement via praise in an initial intervention phase, followed by positive reinforcement via tokens and praise, and response cost for inappropriate behaviors. The target behavior increases slightly during the praise only reinforcement phase but then improves much more so during the praise, tokens, and response cost phase. Explain whether this circumstance best represents a threat to reliability or validity.

Accepted Answer

Suggested answer points:The circumstance best represents a threat to validity. This represents multiple treatment interference making it very difficult for the researcher to determine which of the procedures (praise, tokens, response cost, and/or the combination)actually influenced the changes in the target behavior. The dependent variable could be very reliably recorded but this would not eliminate the threat to validity.

Question 4

Treatment interference might occur when more than one ___________________ is used.
A)dependent variable
B)independent variable
C)extraneous variable
D)confounding variable

Accepted Answer

Treatment interference may occur when more than one independent variable (treatment) is used. Confounding variables are a type of extraneous variable that may interfere with the treatment effect, but they are not necessarily related to the use of multiple treatments. The dependent variable is what is being measured, and it is not directly related to treatment interference.

Question 5

_____________ is important to establishing the believability of a functional relationship which, therefore, establishes confidence in the results that are obtained.
A)External validity
B)Interobserver reliability
C)Internal validity
D)Existential reliability

Accepted Answer

Internal validity is important to establishing the believability of a functional relationship between variables. It refers to the extent to which a study accurately reflects or tests the specific concept or relationship being studied. High internal validity ensures that the observed changes in the dependent variable are truly due to the changes in the independent variables and not due to any other extraneous variables or sources of error. This in turn generates confidence in the results that are obtained.

Question 6

Outline the considerations that Walker and Shea (1991)discuss as especially critical when conducting single subject research using children as participants. Which three to five considerations are most important, and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Outline the considerations that Walker and Shea...

Question 7

Single subject studies:
A)may incorporate elements of qualitative and quantitative procedures.
B)are rigid and do not allow for the use of a variety of data collection techniques.
C)may incorporate robust and powerful methods for influencing an individual's behavior.
D)may incorporate elements of qualitative and quantitative procedures and may incorporate robust and powerful methods for influencing an individual's behavior.

Accepted Answer

Single subject studies can incorporate both qualitative and quantitative procedures, as well as robust methods for influencing an individual's behavior. They are flexible in terms of data collection techniques, allowing for a variety of methods to be used.

Question 8

How do reactivity and observer drift differ? How are they similar?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do reactivity and observer drift differ?...

Question 9

What term is used when a subject becomes unavailable during the course of a study?
A)treatment drift
B)cancellation
C)attenuation
D)attrition

Accepted Answer

Attrition refers to the loss of participants during the course of a study, either due to dropout, non-compliance, or other reasons. This can affect the reliability and validity of the study's results. Treatment drift refers to a deviation from the planned intervention, cancellation refers to the termination of a study before completion, and attenuation refers to a decrease in the strength of a relationship between variables.

Question 10

An individual being observed and altering his or her behavior as a response to being observed is known as ______________.
A)consciousness
B)presence
C)reactivity
D)observer drift

Accepted Answer

Reactivity refers to the phenomenon where an individual being observed alters their behavior as a response to being observed. This is a common issue in observational research studies, where the presence of an observer can influence the behavior being studied. A and B are not correct because consciousness and presence do not specifically refer to the concept of reactivity, and D is not correct because observer drift refers to a different phenomenon where an observer's interpretation of the data changes over time.

Question 11

Empirical validity refers to:
A)the degree to which other people think the targeted changes in behavior are important and that the methods used to encourage behavior change are acceptable.
B)the measurements that actually demonstrate that the proposed behavioral changes will indeed positively affect the individual's life.
C)the degree to which the researcher may have confidence that other researchers will obtain the same results if the same procedures are used
D)varying the conditions from an earlier study but obtaining similar results.

Accepted Answer

Empirical validity refers to the degree to which the measurements actually demonstrate that the proposed behavioral changes will indeed positively affect the individual's life.

Question 12

Why is replication so important to a single subject research study? How many replications are needed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is replication so important to a...

Question 13

Verification is:
A)the confirmation that the dependent variable is changing in a predictable direction as the independent variable is systematically applied.
B)the repetition of the observed predictions within the same study.
C)the idea that if there is no effect attributable to the independent variable, the dependent variable's data path will remain unchanged.
D)a way to predict a change in the desired direction in a data path as a result of the implementation of a dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

Verification refers to confirming that the independent variable is having a predictable effect on the dependent variable. This involves observing the data path and ensuring that it aligns with the expected direction of change based on the implementation of the independent variable. Options B, C, and D do not accurately describe verification.

Question 14

Examples of guidelines offered to address philosophical and ethical issues in single subject research include all of the following EXCEPT:
A)explore alternative interventions before selecting aversives.
B)participants should approve of the interventions before their use.
C)determine whether the individual understands the treatment program.
D)the planned intervention should be carefully monitored.

Accepted Answer

Participants in single subject research, especially if they are unable to give consent due to age, cognitive ability, or other reasons, may not always be able to approve interventions before their use. Instead, consent is often obtained from a legal guardian or through an institutional review process that ensures ethical standards are met. The other options (A, C, D) are indeed guidelines aimed at addressing ethical concerns in single subject research.

Question 15

The threat to reliability known as observer drift refers to:
A)the individual being observed altering his or her behavior as a response to being observed.
B)the degree to which the researcher has adequately controlled extraneous variables.
C)a researcher using his/her own personal judgment regarding the performance of a participant in a study.
D)the passage of time and both foreseen and unforeseen events that arise.

Accepted Answer

Observer drift refers to the phenomenon where there's a gradual shift in the way an observer applies criteria to measure or rate behavior over time, often due to the observer's changing interpretation or judgment. This can compromise the reliability of the data collected.

Question 16

____________________ involves varying the conditions from an earlier study, but still obtaining similar results.
A)Systematic replication
B)Interactive replication
C)Intrapositive replication
D)Direct replication

Accepted Answer

Systematic replication involves varying the conditions or aspects of a study (e.g., sample characteristics, experimental settings) while still aiming to obtain similar results to the original study, thereby testing the findings' robustness across different conditions.

Question 17

When a researcher engages in the process of repeating the observed predictions and verifications within the same study, he/she is practicing what?
A)replication
B)reinforcement
C)reliability
D)observation

Accepted Answer

Replication refers to the process of repeating the study to validate or confirm the findings. This is an essential aspect of research as it helps in assessing the reliability and validity of the study findings. The other options, reinforcement, reliability, and observation, do not accurately describe the process of repeating observed predictions and verifications within the same study.

Question 18

The notion that if there is no effect attributable to the independent variable, then the dependent variable's data path will remain unchanged is called:
A)verification.
B)stability.
C)prediction.
D)reliability.

Accepted Answer

Prediction refers to the expectation that if the independent variable has no effect, the dependent variable's data path will remain unchanged.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a question Walker & Shea (1991)raise regarding ethical and humane treatment of participants in general?
A)Who shall decide who will manage behavior?
B)What type of interventions will be used?
C)What are the outcomes sought?
D)What rewards are appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Walker & Shea (1991) focus on ethical considerations and humane treatment in behavior management, including who decides on management, the types of interventions, and the outcomes sought. The appropriateness of rewards is not specifically mentioned as a concern in their discussion.

Question 20

______________ refers to anything that may affect the demonstration of the functional relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
A)Intrinsic variables
B)Extraneous variables
C)Compound variables
D)Intervening variables

Accepted Answer

Extraneous variables are factors or conditions outside of the independent and dependent variables that might affect the outcome of the experiment. These variables can include participant characteristics, environmental factors, and other unforeseen circumstances that might influence the results. It's important to control for extraneous variables as much as possible to ensure that any observed effects are due to the independent variable and not something else.

Quiz 4: Issues in Single Subject Research

Compare and contrast social validity and empirical validity. What do these concepts have in common? How are they different?

The passage of time as well as both unforeseen and foreseen events that arise is known as __________________.

Treatment interference might occur when more than one ___________________ is used.

_____________ is important to establishing the believability of a functional relationship which, therefore, establishes confidence in the results that are obtained.

Outline the considerations that Walker and Shea (1991)discuss as especially critical when conducting single subject research using children as participants. Which three to five considerations are most important, and why?

Single subject studies:

How do reactivity and observer drift differ? How are they similar?

What term is used when a subject becomes unavailable during the course of a study?

An individual being observed and altering his or her behavior as a response to being observed is known as ______________.

Empirical validity refers to:

Why is replication so important to a single subject research study? How many replications are needed?

Verification is:

Examples of guidelines offered to address philosophical and ethical issues in single subject research include all of the following EXCEPT:

The threat to reliability known as observer drift refers to:

____________________ involves varying the conditions from an earlier study, but still obtaining similar results.

When a researcher engages in the process of repeating the observed predictions and verifications within the same study, he/she is practicing what?

The notion that if there is no effect attributable to the independent variable, then the dependent variable's data path will remain unchanged is called:

Which of the following is NOT a question Walker & Shea (1991) raise regarding ethical and humane treatment of participants in general?

______________ refers to anything that may affect the demonstration of the functional relationship between the independent and dependent variables.