NCJ Number
58666
Journal
Evaluation and The Health Professions Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 155-160
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
SINGLE ORGANISM RESEARCH SUCH AS ABAB AND MULTIPLE BASELINE DESIGNS MAY PROVIDE MORE VALUABLE INFORMATION THAN CURRENTLY ACCEPTED RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES.
Abstract
THE ABAB DESIGN IS SUITED TO IDENTIFYING VARIABLES THAT PRODUCE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE REMOVAL OF THE TREATMENT IS IMPRACTICAL, A MULTIPLE BASELINE DESIGN MAY BE APPLIED. THE MULTIPLE BASELINE DESIGN IS BASICALLY A MULTIPLE TIME SERIES DESIGN THAT CAN BE EMPLOYED TO FOLLOW SIMILAR BEHAVIOR ACROSS SUBJECTS. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS THE RESEARCHER TO SHOW THAT BEHAVIOR CHANGES OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE SUBJECT IS EXPOSED TO THE EXPERIMENTAL CONTINGENCIES. AN ADVANTAGE OF THE INTRASUBJECT AND MULTIPLE BASELINE DESIGN IS THAT CONTROL GROUPS ARE NOT REQUIRED. THIS BECOMES AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION WHERE THE TOTAL POPULATION IS RELATIVELY SMALL, AND IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS WHERE TRAINING WOULD VARY BECAUSE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH SKILLS NECESSARY TO FUNCTION IN OUR SOCIETY BY DEVELOPING DESIRED BEHAVIORS AND ELIMINATING UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIORS. THE INTRASUBJECT AND MULTIPLE BASELINE DESIGNS PROVIDE MEANS FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTINUOUSLY TRACK THE PROGRESS OF INDIVIDUALS. IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT THE CONCEPTS OF INTRASUBJECT AND MULTIPLE BASELINE RESEARCH DESIGNS DEVIATE FROM THE WIDELY ACCEPTED CONTROL GROUP DESIGNS IN TWO IMPORTANT WAYS. FIRST, THE BEHAVIOR UNDERSTUDY CAN BE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED AS OPPOSED TO PRE- AND POSTTREATMENT MEASURES; AND SECOND, INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORS NOT GROUP BEHAVIORS ARE BEING STUDIED. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)