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FIELD NOTE

Field Note 6

SPE 525: Measurement, Data Display, Interpretation and Experimental Design

November 18, 2020

Arizona State University

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FIELD NOTE
Module 6 of SPE525 discuses single subject experimental designs and the variety of

experimental analyses (D-5 and D-6 of the BACB Task List.) Single subject experimental

designs are considered reversal/withdrawal designs, multiple baseline, multi-element/alternating

treatment designs, and changing criterion. Reversal and multiple baseline designs were discussed

in the previous module. These designs were used primarily for replication of effects. Multi-

element/alternating treatment designs are similar, however, there are minor conflicts. Ledford

and Gast (2018) state “The primary difference is that the ATD is used to compare interventions

while the M-ED is used to assess factors that may be maintaining challenging behavior.”

Changing criterion designs are primarily used for demonstration questions, but also used to

increase/decrease behaviors/skills. As noted in the presentation, once the criterion changes, the

response should change as well. When conducting your study, it is important to consider how

these factors could potentially influence data. We want to avoid threats to internal/external

validity as much as possible. Experimental questions can be broken down into comparative,

component, or parametric analyses. Ledford and Gast (2018) best explain the importance of

differentiating between analyses by stating, “When planning such studies, you should compare a

form of the intervention that was effective in previous (demonstration) studies to a variation of

that form. These studies help refine conclusions about when, under what situations, and for

whom different variants of an intervention are recommended.” The goal is to have the most

confident and efficient study, and that starts with identifying the type of experimental question in

your study and selecting the most appropriate graph design.

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References

Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). (2014). Professional and ethical compliance

code for behavior analysts [PDF file].

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/170706-compliance-code-

english.pdf

Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). (2017). Fifth edition task list [PDF file].

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/170113-BCBA-BCaBA-task-list-

5th-ed-.pdf

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.).

Pearson.

Ledford J. R. & Gast. D. L. (2018). Single Case Research Methodology (3rd ed.). Routledge.