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.

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The Answer is 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.

Assume a Researcher Uses Positive Reinforcement Via Praise in an Initial