Question

Advantages and disadvantages of stable baseline designs, reversal designs, and multiple baseline designs

Answer 1

The multiple baseline design

The advantages include the fact that

(a) it does not require withdrawing a potentially effective intervention

(b) sequential implementation of the independent variable parallels the practice of many teachers and clinicians

(c) the concurrent measurement of multiple behaviors allows direct monitoring of generalization of behavior change, and

(d) the design is relatively easy to conceptualize and implement

Disadvantages of the design include the fact that

(a) if behaviors are not functionally independent, the design may not demonstrate a functional relationship even though one may exist,

(b) because verification must be inferred from the lack of change in other behaviors, the design is inherently weaker than the reversal design at demonstrating experimental control,

(c) it is more an evaluation of the independent variable’s general effectiveness than an analysis of the behaviors selected for study, and

(d) it requires considerable time and resources.

STABLE BASELINE DESIGN

Advantages

single-

subject designs can be helpful for examining inferences that

address the functional relationships between independent

variables and measured behaviours.

single-

subject designs can be helpful for examining inferences that

address the functional relationships between independent

variables and measured behaviours.

single-

subject designs can be helpful for examining inferences that

address the functional relationships between independent

variables and measured behaviours.

single-

subject designs can be helpful for examining inferences that

address the functional relationships between independent

variables and measured behaviours.

1. STABLE BASELINE DESIGN can be helpful for examining inferences that address the functional relationships between independent variables and measured behaviours.

      b) can provide a strong basis to confirm a functional relationship

      c) STABLE BASELINE DESIGN can provide causal inferences based on results

Disadvantages

1. it raises the issue of external validity

2. Internal validity in
3. STABLE BASELINE DESIGNcan be improved through the repli-
4. cation of these studies (Kratochwill et al., 2010). In addi-
5. tion, it is possible to employ sample randomisation in
6. single-subject designs, although this technique remains
7. uncommon. Therefore, replication is an important mecha-
8. nism in STABLE BASELINE DESIGNto enhance internal validity,
1. which are regarded as one of the limitations of this type of
10. research

b) Internal validity in STABLE BASELINE DESIGN can be improved through the repli-cation of these studies (Kratochwill et al., 2010). In addi-tion, it is possible to employ sample randomisation insingle-subject designs, although this technique remains uncommon. Therefore, replication is an important mecha-nism in STABLE BASELINE DESIGN to enhance internal validity,which are regarded as one of the limitations of this type ofresearch

Reversal Design

Advantages

: • Clear demonstration of functional relationship

• Quantifies amount of behavior change

• Shows need to program for maintenance

Disadvantages:

• Irreversibility

• Social, educational, and ethical concerns

• Is not appropriate when independent variable cannot be withdrawn