HomeUncategorizedCON Artist Captured! Unmasking the CONfounding Variable of the Alternating Treatments Design CON Artist Captured! Unmasking the CONfounding Variable of the Alternating Treatments Design March 11, 2023 Question: This is known as the confounding variable of the alternating treatments design. Answer: Multiple treatment interference.. The alternating treatments design is an experimental design in which two or more independent variables are presented in rapidly alternating succession. This design does compares these variables to each other to see which one is best for treating the target behavior. This is a great design to use especially if you want to avoid problems with irreversibility because no IV is ever reversed or withdrawn. It also avoids sequence effects since each IV is presented essentially at the same time. But, this design does have a potential disadvantage: when multiple treatments are going on at the same time or being administered at the same time, they could have an effect on the behavior that is known as the multiple treatment interference. It’s a variation of sequence effects, meaning that it’s hard to say for certain that each independent variable is actually acting independently without the influence of those other independent variables which are being administered at the same time. The moral of this story is that there are pros and cons to everything. During any aspect of programming in ABA, whether it’s an experimental design or in the applied setting, you have to be sure that you always weigh the good and the bad. And you have to make sure that you control for those things that could confound your results. D-5 Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion). Alternating TreatmentConfounding VariableExperimental DesignSection DSection D-5 Related Content Let's Break Down a BCBA® Mock Exam Question: Ethical Considerations in Experimental Design Test your understanding of ethical considerations in experimental designs with PTB co-founder Dana Meller. Let's review a BCBA® mock exam question about reversal design and the nuances and concerns associated with this experimental setup. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).The Most Utilized Experimental Design for Generalization Effects Learn what the most utilized experimental design is for generalization effect. PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares this design's key features and benefits, allowing us to assess the effects of an independent variable across various settings, subjects, and behaviors. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).Breaking Down a Mock BCBA® Exam Question: Reversal Design Variations With Only One Reversal Test your Experimental Design skills with PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she reviews and breaks down a mock exam question about reversal design variations that display only one reversal. Included is a description of A-B-A, B-A-B, and A-B-A-B reversal designs. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).Shortcuts to Understanding the Basics Behind Each Experimental Design Experimental design causes a lot of anxiety. PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares a few shortcuts to help on exam day, eliminating some answer options but also, more importantly, give you a head start on understanding the basics behind each design.The Proof of Function is in the Reversal Design Pudding PTB co-founder Dana Meller puts your understanding of experimental design to the test. What are the critical phases required for a successful and robust experimental setup. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).Breaking Down a Mock BCBA® Exam Question: Identify a 3-Phase Reversal Experimental Design Test your Experimental Design skills with a breakdown of a BCBA® mock exam question about the identification of a three-phase experimental design. Included is a detailed comparison between four different reversal designs: ABC reversal, ABA reversal, BAB reversal, and ABAB reversal. As a bonus, Dana also provides examples of instances in which each of the reversal designs would be implemented. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).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.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.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.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.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 … CON Artist Captured! Unmasking the CONfounding Variable of the Alternating Treatments Design Read MoreReversal 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.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.Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Identify This Experimental Design Scenario Test your ABA terminology with PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she offers guidance to identify the specific experimental design relating to a scenario. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).CON Artist Captured! Unmasking the CONfounding Variable of the Alternating Treatments Design PTB co-founder Dana Meller hones your experimental design skills with a focus on the alternating treatments design's confounding variable. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).Let's Break Down a BCBA® Mock Exam Question: Identifying Measurement Confounds in Experimental Design PTB co-founder Dana Meller breaks down a BCBA® mock exam question that explores the difference between measurement confounds and subject confounds, how they relate to threats to internal validity in ABA research. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-2: Distinguish between internal and external validity.Experimental Design Terminology ➠ The Baseline Logic Blueprint & the Sum of Its Parts Join PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she discusses baseline logic in single-subject experimental designs. Dana breaks down the four essential elements of baseline logic and how these elements play a crucial role in demonstrating experimental control and confirming the effectiveness of interventions. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-3: Identify the defining features of single-subject experimental designs (e.g., individuals serve as their own controls, repeated measures, prediction, verification, replication).Let's Break Down a BCBA® Mock Exam Question: Analyzing the Fundamental IV & BehaviorChange Relationship Hone your experimental design skills through review of a BCBA® mock exam question. PTB co-founder Dana Meller breaks down the crucial aspect of experiments—how they demonstrate changes in behavior attributed to the independent variable. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-2: Distinguish between internal and external validity.Dana Do's: How to Decipher the Many Forms of Validity It's particularly meaningful to be able to tell validity, social validity, internal and external validity apart. PTB co-founder Dana Meller has some tips to do just that.Dana Do's: How to Discriminate Dependent vs. Independent Variables If You're Not a Researcher Not a researcher? How about some help discriminating between dependent and independent variables. PTB co-founder Dana Meller offers a few tips to make that distinction on the BCBA® exam.Let's Break Down a BCBA® Mock Exam Question: Key Elements of Baseline Logic for Multiple Baseline Design (D-3) PTB co-founder Dana Meller breaks down a BCBA® mock exam question about baseline logic for a multiple baseline design across behaviors. Dana explains the significance of replication in providing more convincing evidence of a functional relationship and how to make scientific justifications using baseline logic in various designs. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-3: Identify the defining features of single-subject experimental designs (e.g., individuals serve as their own controls, repeated measures, prediction, verification, replication).Dana Do's: 1-Minute Experimental Design Test Hack (you still have to study it though) PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares a huge secret to help break down experimental design questions. BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-3: Identify the defining features of single-subject experimental designs.Dance the Axes Tango: Assessing Intervention Effectiveness on the Dynamic Data Graph Floor Sharpen your experimental design skills and explore how independent variables influence behavior. PTB co-founder Dana Meller explains how to decipher graphical representations of data and understand the roles of the y-axis and x-axis. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-1: Distinguish between dependent and independent variables.Dana Do's: Importance of Experimental Design Fluency PTB co-founder Dana Meller talks about the importance of being fluent in experimental designs, not just to pass the exam, but to be a good clinician as well. Ref Section D-3: Identify the defining features of single-subject experimental designs (e.g., individuals serve as their own controls, repeated measures, prediction, verification, replication).Experimental Validity: The Relationship between Behavior Change & Independent Variables PTB co-founder explains the different types of validity in ABA. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-2: Distinguish between internal and external validity.
