Question: Which experimental design is used to display the generalization effects of an independent variable?

Multiple baseline design is the most utilized experimental design out there because of its flexibility and ease. Also, it’s easy to inspect the impact of the independent variable across settings, subjects, and behaviors without having to withdraw an effective independent variable, which is a good thing for those irreversible target behaviors. It’s also a good one to use when it’s not appropriate or possible to remove that effective IV. It’s not the strongest for experimental control for that reason. You know it’s a multiple baseline design when you see it. What you’re looking at are the following steps – the independent variable being implemented in a staggered fashion across behaviors, settings, or subjects. This design does show the generalization of the effects of the independent variable across those behaviors, settings, or subjects. Do keep in mind that for most variations of this design, you do need stable baseline, so be sure to familiarize yourself with all of the different variations.

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Sequence effects

A confounding effect on a subject’s behavior in a given condition that results from the subject’s experience with a previous condition.

Reversal design

Any experimental design in which responding is reversed to a level obtained in a previous condition by alternating between specific independent variables and baseline conditions.

Multiple baseline design

An experimental design in which the effect of one independent variable is measured and evaluated within and across combinations of two or more subjects, behaviors, or settings.

Multiple treatment interference

In an experimental design that requires the implementation of more than one independent variable to one subject, the outcome of one treatment may be influenced by the effect of another.

Multielement design

An experimental design in which two or more independent variables are presented in rapidly alternating succession, and the differential effects of each independent variable on the target behavior are measured.

Irreversibility

A behavior for which the effects of treatment cannot be undone. Therefore, it cannot return to a baseline level of responding when an independent variable is removed.

Changing criterion design

An experimental design in which an initial baseline phase is followed by a series of treatment phases consisting of successive, stepwise, and gradually changing criteria for which reinforcement or punishment…

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