Chapter 7

Front 1

Experimental control

Back 1

The outcome of an experiment that demonstrates convincingly a functional relation, meaning that expermintal control is achieved when a predictable change in behavior (dependent variable) can be reliable produced by manipulating a specific aspect of the environment (independent variable). Or, the extent to which a researcher maintains precise control of the Independent variable by presenting it, withdrawing it, and/or varying its value, and also by eliminating or holding constant all confounding and extraneous variables

Front 2

Internal validity

Back 2

The extent to which an experiment shows convincingly that changes in behavior are a function of the independent variable and not the result of uncontrolled or unknown variables.

Front 3

Confounding variables

Back 3

And uncontrolled factor known or suspected to exert influence on the dependent variable.

Front 4

External validity

Back 4

the degree to which the studies results are generalizable to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviors.

Front 5

Experimental question

Back 5

A brief but specific statement of what the researcher wants to learn from conducting the experiment

Front 6

Single-subject (or single-case) designs

Back 6

A wide variety of research designs that use a form of experimental reasoning call baseline logic to demonstrate the effects of the independent variable on the behavior of individual subjects.

Front 7

Dependant variable

Back 7

Is the target behavior in and applied behavior analysis experiment, or more precisely a measurable dimensional quantity of that behavior

Front 8

Extraneous variables

Back 8

Any aspect of the experimental setting (ex.lighting,temperature) that must be held constant to prevent unplanned environmental variation.

Front 9

Independent variable

Back 9

The particular aspect of the environment that the experimenter manipulates to find out whether it affects the subject's behavior. The variable that is systematically manipulated by the researcher in an experiment to see whether changes in the independent variable produce reliable changes in the dependent variable. In applied behavior analysis, it is usually an environmental event or condition antecedent or consequent to the dependent variable. Sometimes called the intervention or treatment variable.

Front 10

Experimental design

Back 10

Refers to the particular arrangement of conditions in a study so that the meaningful comparisons of the effects of the presents, absence, or different values of the independent variable can be made.

Front 11

Parametric analysis

Back 11

An experiment designed to discover the differential effects of a range of values of the independent variable.

Front 12

Steady or stable state responding

Back 12

A pattern of responding that exhibits relatively little variation in it's measured dimensional quantities over a period of time.

Front 13

Baseline logic

Back 13

The term sometimes used to refer to the experimental reasoning inherent in single subject experimental designs; entails three elements: Prediction, variation, and replication

Front 14

Steady state strategy

Back 14

Repeatedly exposing a subject to a given condition while trying to eliminate or control extraneous influences on the behavior and obtaining a stable pattern of responding before introducing the next condition.

Front 15

Baseline

Back 15

A condition of an experiment in which the independent variable is not present; data obtained during baseline are in basis for determining the effects of the independent variable; a control condition that does not necessarily mean the absence of instruction or treatment, only the absence of a specific independent variable of experimental interest.

Front 16

Stable baseline

Back 16

Data that show no evidence of an upward or downward trend; all of the measures fall within a relatively small range of values.

Front 17

Ascending baseline

Back 17

A data path that shows an increasing trend in the response measure over time

Front 18

Descending baseline

Back 18

A data path that shows a decreasing trend in the response measure over time.

Front 19

Variable baseline

Back 19

Data points that do not consistently full within a narrow range of values and do not suggest any clear trend.

Front 20

Prediction

Back 20

The anticipated outcome of a presently unknown or future measurement; One of the three components of experimental reasoning, or baseline logic, used in single-subject research designs.

Hint 20

1. If A is true, then B is true.

2. B is found to be true.

3. Therefore, A is true.

The behavior analyst version goes like this:

1. If the independent variable is a controlling factor for behavior (A), then the data obtained in the presence of the independent variable will show that the behavior has changed (B).

2. When the independent variable is present, the data show that the behavior is changed (B is true).

3. Therefore, the independent variable is a controlling variable for the behavior therefore, (A is true).

Front 21

Practice effects

Back 21

Improvements in performance resulting from repeated opportunities to perform a behavior so that baseline measurements can be obtained.

Front 22

Affirmation of the consequent

Back 22

The predictive power of steady state responding enables the behavior analyst to employ a kind of inductive logic.

Front 23

Verification

Back 23

One of the three components of the experimental reasoning, or baseline logic, used in single subject research designs; accomplished by demonstrating that the prior level of baseline responding would have remained unchanged the independent variable not been introduced. Verifying the accuracy of the original prediction reduces the probability that some uncontrolled (confounding) variable was responsible for the observed change in behavior.

Front 24

Replication

Back 24

A) Repeating conditions within an experiment to determine the reliability of effects and increase internal validity.

B) Repeating whole experiments to determine the generality of findings of previous experiments to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviors.

Front 25

A B design

Back 25

A two phase experimental design consisting of a pre-treatment baseline condition (A) followed by treatment condition (B)