Experimental Design

Development of an intervention is the final step in the functional behavior assessment (FBA) process. In the completion of the FBA antecedent and reinforcing contingencies are identified which can be manipulated to prevent the behavior from occurring, remove reinforcement for engaging in the undesired behavior, or be utilized to reinforce alternate behaviors (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007). An FBA is a necessary component of the intervention process in that it provides the necessary information with regard to the function of the behavior through the systematic manipulation of environmental variables thought to maintain the problem under controlled conditions; yielding a clear demonstration of the interaction between the independent variable

Procedure: Using distilled water, premeasured containers and objects determine displacement of fluids and density of objects. Use ice and heat measure temperatures in Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin.

The following paper presents the use of an ABA single subject research design in evaluating a 16 year old foster youth’s behavior, and the use of an intervention on decreasing negative behavior and increasing positive behavior. Use of the ABA design, factors to be evaluated, treatment variables, implementation of the research design, data gathering, and data analysis are all discussed. Limitations of single subject research designs are also presented. Finally, graphed data is attached in the appendix.

The single- subject design was used because the researcher paired the students to compare the students that received treatment in comparison to the students that did not receive treatment (Whitfield, 1999).

The social worker chose to use an AB single subject research design to evaluate Christine’s intervention. The AB single subject design consists of two phases, with A being the baseline phase and B being the intervention phase. The social worker chose this design for several reasons. First, Morgan and Morgan (2001) identified this design as effective when analyzing an individual’s behavior. Secondly, this design is flexible, works well when used in a practice setting, and is effective with children (Lundervold and Belwood, 2000; Foster, Watson, Meeks, and Young, 2002). It does not require the social worker to adhere to any additional ethics than what is required in a practice setting and the social worker does not have to receive

Instructions: This is a group activity that you will start in class and complete at home. For each of the following, note, whether the research design used is an experiment, a quasi-experiment, or a correlational approach and why. If a study is an experiment, identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. Please type your answers in complete sentences.

Ex. When conducting a research study a researcher could use a single-subject design when trying to see if; for exceptional students, an IEP should be conducted every year or twice a year, and which one improves the student’s

I chose to research the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports approach to positive reinforcement. I wanted to find out if this approach taught temporary or long-term (positive) behavioral changes. I researched this approach and compared it to the Responsive Classroom approach. In order to determine its effectiveness, I looked at referral data at Nimitz High School provided around this time this last year, and compared it to its current numbers. While it showed beneficial changes last year, I found an increase in behavioral problems this year. I also attempted to look at the reasoning behind the

2. _C____ Divide your subjects in half. One group receives one treatment of the independent variable and the other group receives a different treatment of the independent variable. Subjects were all told they were going to see a video of a therapist's session after which they would rate the quality of the session. The groups differed in that the subjects in one group were told that prior evaluations indicated that the therapist was effective whereas subjects in the other group were told that the evaluations indicated the therapist was not effective. These different subjects were used for the two levels of the independent variable: subjects were in either the "effective therapist" or the "ineffective therapist" condition.

Under the research design section it could have been mentioned that the study was a descriptive correlation design, experimental design, Quasi-experimental design, or a comparative descriptive design which is "used to describe a phenomenon of interest and related variable" (Gray, Grove, & Sutherland,

8. The people who make up this article is the students from 7 different universities. It was rather representative because they were from universities that were located across the US, not just from one specific area. This was a unsystematic selection procedure because they weren’t from specific groups or students, just casual students from the seven different universities which created a representative sample of a big population.

Applied Behavior Analysis analysts are required to know the steps that are needed and necessary for behavior modification. This type of modification requires a clear definition of the behavior needing modification (target behavior), how this will benefit the individual in need of the modification, a clear plan of modification, and consistent data gathering to determine the effectiveness of the proposed behavior modification plan. In order to achieve a successful modification plan, the ABA professional first needs to gather information about the individual either by direct or indirect means. The modification must always been in the best interest of the individual, or those closest to the individual, and it must be a functional modification that can be carried out in the absence of the analyst. The ABA professional needs to understand the needs of each client. In order to do this, the professional will have to assess the behavior, gather data, identify a target behavior, propose a hypothesis about an intervention, implement the modification program, gather more data about the effectiveness of the program, and report about the outcome.

When using Applied Behavior Analysis, the role of the teacher is crucial. For ABA to be used correctly, a teacher must keep documentation on every student. This documentation should be taken frequently and with precision. Little details such as a shift in interest should be documented. This documentation will show the progress each child makes in the process of modifying their behaviors. In addition to keeping thorough documentation, teachers must examine each student individually. In observing their interests, teachers can form individual enforcers for each student. For example, if a student always chooses to do puzzles during free time, puzzle pieces could be a reinforcer. Every time the student does something that deals with the positive modification of behavior, they can earn a puzzle piece. When all of the pieces are earned, they will be able to put the puzzle together. This method is beneficial when correcting a student’s behavior.

There are six methods used to analyse trial design; of which are discussed as follows.

A study design is the procedure that guides a researcher on how to collect, analyze and interpret observations. It is a logical model that guides the investigator while he navigates through the various stages of the research. Study types can be classified severally depending on the research strategy employed. A study type can be non-interventional that is ‘observational’ where a researcher just observes and analyses researchable objects or situations without intervening. Non-interventional study designs can be exploratory, descriptive or comparative. A study can also be