TEST BANK| SPCE 630 FINAL EXAM — 197 Questions
Section 1: Single Subject Research Designs (Questions 1-20)
1 A researcher uses a multiple baseline design across behaviors to evaluate a self-monitoring intervention. The
intervention is introduced for the first behavior at time 1, for the second behavior at time 2, and for the third
behavior at time 3. All three behaviors show improvement only after the intervention is introduced. However,
the researcher notices that the baseline data for the third behavior show a decreasing trend just before the
intervention is applied. Which threat to internal validity is most likely present?
A) Maturation
B) History
C) Instrumentation
D) Multiple-treatment interference
Answer: A
Rationale: Maturation is a threat because the decreasing trend in baseline for the third behavior suggests that the
behavior may have been improving due to natural developmental processes or time-related changes, not solely due
to the intervention. History would involve a specific external event, instrumentation refers to changes in
measurement, and multiple-treatment interference does not apply in a single intervention design.
2 In an alternating treatments design comparing two interventions (A and B) and a baseline condition (no
intervention), the data paths show clear separation with no overlap. However, the researcher suspects that the
sequence of conditions may have influenced the results. To control for sequence effects, which procedural
modification is most appropriate?
A) Increasing the number of data points per condition
B) Randomizing the order of conditions within each block
C) Extending the baseline phase before introducing treatments
D) Using a reversal design instead
Answer: B
Rationale: Randomizing the order of conditions within each block is the standard method to control for sequence
effects in alternating treatments designs. Increasing data points does not address sequence effects; extending
baseline is irrelevant to sequence; switching to a reversal design does not control sequence effects in the same way.
3 A researcher uses a changing criterion design to evaluate a token economy for increasing the number of math
problems completed per session. The criterion is set at 10 problems for the first phase, then raised to 15, then
20, then 25. The participant's performance matches or exceeds each criterion. However, during the phase with
criterion 20, performance drops to 18 for two sessions before returning to 20. Which conclusion is most
supported?
A) The design demonstrates a functional relation because performance stabilized at each criterion level.
B) The design fails to demonstrate a functional relation because the criterion was not met in all sessions.
C) The design demonstrates a functional relation only if the performance drop was due to extraneous variables.
D) The design is invalid because changing criterion designs require at least three criterion changes.
Answer: A
Rationale: In a changing criterion design, a functional relation is demonstrated when performance matches or
exceeds the criterion across multiple changes, with some variability allowed. The temporary drop does not negate
,the overall pattern; the design is valid with at least two criterion changes.
4 A study uses a multiple baseline design across subjects to evaluate a social skills training program. The
intervention is introduced to Subject 1 after 5 baseline sessions, Subject 2 after 8 sessions, and Subject 3 after 11
sessions. The results show that each subject improves only after the intervention begins. However, Subject 3
shows a moderate increase in social skills during the last two baseline sessions. Which threat to internal validity
is most likely?
A) Diffusion of treatment
B) Reactive effects of assessment
C) Multiple-treatment interference
D) Selection bias
Answer: A
Rationale: Diffusion of treatment occurs when participants in different tiers interact, causing the intervention to
spread to those still in baseline. Subject 3's improvement in late baseline suggests they may have learned skills
from Subject 1 or 2. Reactive effects involve measurement reactivity, not relevant here; multiple-treatment
interference is not present; selection bias is controlled by the design.
5 In a reversal design (ABAB), the data show a clear effect in the first B phase, but during the second baseline (A)
phase, the behavior does not return to original baseline levels. The researcher decides to proceed with the
second intervention phase anyway. Which statement best describes the design's validity?
A) The design still demonstrates experimental control because the second intervention phase shows improvement
over the second baseline.
B) The design fails to demonstrate experimental control because the behavior did not reverse during the second
baseline.
C) The design demonstrates experimental control only if the second baseline is longer than the first.
D) The design is invalid because a reversal design requires at least three reversals.
Answer: B
Rationale: A key feature of the reversal design is that behavior must reverse during the withdrawal phase to show
that the intervention is responsible for the change. Without reversal, other variables could account for the
improvement. The second intervention phase may show improvement, but without reversal, experimental control is
not convincingly demonstrated.
6 A researcher plans to use a multiple probe design to evaluate a reading comprehension intervention across five
participants. Which of the following is a primary advantage of using a multiple probe design over a traditional
multiple baseline design?
A) It reduces the risk of participant boredom by limiting the number of baseline sessions.
B) It allows for a more fine-grained analysis of behavior change.
C) It eliminates the need for baseline data altogether.
D) It increases the likelihood of demonstrating a functional relation.
Answer: A
Rationale: Multiple probe designs involve intermittent measurement during baseline, which reduces participant
fatigue and boredom compared to continuous baseline measurement in multiple baseline designs. They still include
baseline data, do not inherently provide finer analysis, and do not increase the likelihood of demonstrating a
functional relation.
,7 A study uses an alternating treatments design to compare two types of prompts (verbal vs. gestural) for teaching
a vocational task. The data show that gestural prompts consistently result in higher correct responses, but the
researcher notices that the verbal prompt sessions always occurred in the morning and gestural in the afternoon.
Which threat to internal validity is most concerning?
A) History
B) Maturation
C) Sequence effects
D) Instrumentation
Answer: C
Rationale: Sequence effects occur when the order of conditions influences results. Here, time of day (morning vs.
afternoon) is confounded with the type of prompt, so any difference could be due to time rather than the prompt
type. Randomizing the order would control this. History and maturation are less likely as they would affect both
conditions similarly; instrumentation is not indicated.
8 A researcher uses a changing criterion design to increase daily reading time from 10 minutes to 20 minutes in
2-minute increments. The participant's reading time exceeds each criterion, but during the 14-minute criterion
phase, the participant reads for 16 minutes, and during the 16-minute criterion phase, reads for 14 minutes.
Which of the following best describes the experimental control?
A) Experimental control is demonstrated because the participant's behavior closely tracks the criterion changes.
B) Experimental control is weakened because the behavior did not consistently match the direction of criterion
changes.
C) Experimental control is absent because the behavior exceeded the criterion in one phase.
D) Experimental control cannot be assessed because the criterion changes are too small.
Answer: B
Rationale: In a changing criterion design, experimental control is shown when behavior systematically matches the
criterion level. Here, the behavior overshot in one phase and undershot in the next, suggesting that the criterion was
not controlling behavior precisely. The pattern is inconsistent, thus weakening the demonstration of control.
9 A researcher conducts a multiple baseline design across settings to evaluate a classroom management strategy.
The intervention is introduced in Setting 1 at week 3, Setting 2 at week 5, and Setting 3 at week 7. In Setting 2,
baseline data show a stable, low rate of disruptive behavior, but immediately after the intervention is introduced
in Setting 1, disruptive behavior in Setting 2 decreases. Which threat to internal validity is most plausible?
A) History
B) Maturation
C) Diffusion of treatment
D) Instrumentation
Answer: C
Rationale: Diffusion of treatment occurs when the intervention in one setting affects behavior in another setting. The
immediate decrease in Setting 2 after intervention in Setting 1 suggests that the strategy may have been applied in
Setting 2 as well. History would require a specific event affecting all settings; maturation would be gradual;
instrumentation is not indicated.
10 In an ABAB reversal design, the researcher observes that during the first baseline, behavior is high and
variable; during the first intervention, behavior decreases and stabilizes; during the second baseline, behavior
increases but not to original levels; during the second intervention, behavior decreases again. The researcher
concludes that the intervention is effective. Which critique of this conclusion is most valid?
A) The design lacks sufficient data points in each phase to demonstrate a functional relation.
, B) The failure of behavior to return to baseline levels during the second baseline weakens the demonstration of
experimental control.
C) The variability in baseline suggests that the intervention is not responsible for the change.
D) The design should have included a third intervention phase to confirm the effect.
Answer: B
Rationale: A key criterion for experimental control in a reversal design is that behavior reverses when the
intervention is withdrawn. The incomplete reversal suggests that other factors may have contributed to the behavior
change, weakening the conclusion that the intervention alone caused the effect. The number of data points may be
adequate; variability in baseline does not preclude experimental control; a third intervention phase is not necessary
if reversal is clear.
11 In a multiple baseline design across behaviors, if the intervention is introduced to the first behavior and shows a
clear change, but the second behavior shows a simultaneous change before its intervention is introduced, which
internal validity threat is most likely present?
A) Maturation
B) History
C) Instrumentation
D) Multiple treatment interference
Answer: B
Rationale: A simultaneous change in a baseline behavior not yet exposed to intervention suggests an extraneous
event (history) occurred at the same time as the intervention for the first behavior. Maturation would appear as a
gradual trend, not a sudden shift. Instrumentation involves changes in measurement, and multiple treatment
interference applies to designs where treatments are applied sequentially to the same subject.
12 A researcher uses an alternating treatments design to compare two interventions for reducing off-task behavior.
Visual analysis shows that both interventions produce lower off-task levels than baseline, but the data paths
overlap considerably. Which additional analysis is most appropriate to determine if one intervention is
superior?
A) Compute the mean and range for each intervention phase
B) Conduct a randomization test on the difference between conditions
C) Calculate the percentage of non-overlapping data (PND)
D) Apply a piecewise regression with a change point
Answer: C
Rationale: When visual overlap is high, PND quantifies the extent to which one intervention's data points exceed the
highest (or lowest) data point of the other condition. Mean and range ignore overlap patterns. Randomization tests
require random assignment of treatment order, which may not be present. Piecewise regression is used for detecting
change points in time series, not for comparing overlapping conditions.
13 In a withdrawal design (ABAB), the researcher notices that the behavior during the second baseline (B2) does
not return to the level of the first baseline (A1). Which interpretation is most consistent with this pattern?
A) The intervention is not functionally related to the behavior
B) The intervention produced irreversible learning or carryover effects
C) A history effect occurred during the second baseline
D) The measurement system became more sensitive over time
Answer: B
Rationale: If behavior does not reverse to baseline levels, it suggests that the intervention effects persisted (e.g., skill
acquisition) even after withdrawal. This does not negate a functional relation; rather, it indicates that the behavior