Suppose you obtained the following results in an ABAB design assessing the effectiveness of family therapy in reducing a child's temper tantrums.Which interpretation(s)is(are)plausible?
$$\begin{array}{l}
\text { Number of tantrums per day: }\
\begin{array} { l l l l l l l }
\text { A: } & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 \
\text { B: } & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \
\text { A2: } & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \
\text { B2: } & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0
\end{array}
\end{array}$$
A)History could have caused the change.
B)The intervention may have been effective, but with irreversible effects.
C)History could have caused the change or the intervention may have been effective, but with irreversible effects.
D)none of these.

Question

Suppose you obtained the following results in an ABAB design assessing the effectiveness of family therapy in reducing a child's temper tantrums.Which interpretation(s)is(are)plausible?
$$\begin{array}{l}
\text { Number of tantrums per day: }\
\begin{array} { l l l l l l l } 
\text { A: } & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 \
\text { B: } & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \
\text { A2: } & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \
\text { B2: } & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0
\end{array}
\end{array}$$
A)History could have caused the change.
B)The intervention may have been effective, but with irreversible effects.
C)History could have caused the change or the intervention may have been effective, but with irreversible effects.
D)none of these.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ABAB design allows for the assessment of the intervention's effectiveness by comparing the behavior before the intervention (A phase) with the behavior during the intervention (B phase). In this case, the number of tantrums per day decreased dramatically during the B phase, suggesting that the family therapy intervention was effective in reducing tantrums. However, because the design only includes one participant and the data is relatively limited, it is also possible that some external factor (e.g. history) could have caused the change. Additionally, the fact that the behavior did not return to baseline levels during the second A phase (A2) could suggest that the intervention had some lasting, irreversible effects. Therefore, both interpretations are plausible.

Suppose You Obtained the Following Results in an ABAB Design