Exam 13: Experimental Research: Quasi and Single-Case Designs

Justin is going through his own personal program of endurance training. In the first two weeks, he rewards himself with a quarter every day if he runs a complete mile. In the next two weeks, he gives himself a quarter for every two consecutive miles run. Next, he gives himself a quarter for every three consecutive mile run and so on until he can run eight consecutive miles a day. This program is very much like which single-case research design?

Which series shows a potential maturation effect?

What aspect of the A-B-A design helps us determine whether the treatment, as opposed to some other variable, was responsible for the observed change in behavior?

A treatment effect is demonstrated in the regression-discontinuity design by:

In a quasi-experimental study, when an event occurs during the study that affects the dependent variable scores of one group but not the other, this is called:

What are the characteristics of nonequivalent comparison-group quasi-experimental design and how are rival hypotheses that might explain the results?

A problem with the A-B-A and the A-B-A-B designs is that:

Compared to the results that would be obtained from a randomized or strong experimental design, the nonequivalent comparison-group design:

The design where the pattern of pretest responses is compared with the pattern of posttest responses is called:

Explain the limitations of each of the single-case research designs.

A researcher does a multiple-baseline study across individuals looking at the effect of a 15-minute nap on first grade children's attention to academic work. Four children are included in the study. Below are graphs of the results. The dependent measure is the number of minutes the child is on task. Child 1 gets the treatment after 5 baseline sessions. Child 2 gets the treatment after 10 baseline sessions, Child 3 after 15, and Child 4 after 20. Overall, the nap:

A single-case experimental design in which the response to the experimental treatment condition is compared to baseline responses taken before and after administering the treatment condition. What design is this?

The primary way of determining whether a threat to the internal validity of the nonequivalent comparison-group design is plausible is to:

In an attempt to reduce the use of gasoline, a city imposed a $2.50 per gallon tax on gasoline in 2010. A researcher working for the city located data on annual gallons used for the five years leading up to the gas tax (to provide a baseline) and located data for the five years after the start of the gasoline tax (to show the consumption pattern after the tax). Which of the following best describes this study design?

All single-case designs are some form of:

Explain the difference between strong experimental research designs and quasi-experimental research designs.

In an interrupted time-series designs pretest and posttest scores are compared.

What evidence in the graphs rules out history or maturation effects as causing the change in time on task?

For the multiple-baseline design to demonstrate a treatment effect:

Explain how a treatment effect is demonstrated in single-case research designs.