COURSE SYLLABUS

PSY62XX: Single Case Experimental Designs

Instructor: Trevor Stokes, Ph.D., Professor.

Course Prerequisite: Enrollment in Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis

or consent of instructor.

Course Description: Single case experimental designs are a hallmark of applied behavior analysis. These designs operate to demonstrate functional relationships between adjustments in independent variables and their effects upon dependent variables in applied research. This course will examine theoretical and practical issues in experimental design and control

Texts:

Sidman, M. (1960) Tactics of Scientific Research. Basic Books. (Available from Authors Cooperative in Boston.)

Poling, A. & Fuqua, R.W. (Eds) (1986??) Research methods in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Readings: From Kazdin, A.E. (1999?). Research Design in Clinical Psychology. N.Y., N.Y.: Plenum.

From Kratochwill, T.R. & Levin, J.R. (1992) Single case research design and analysis. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum.

Hilliard, R.B. (1993). Single-case methodology in psychotherapy outcome research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 373-380.

Meehl, P.E. (1967). Theory testing in psychology and physics: A methodological paradox. Philosophy of Science, 34, 103-115.

Cohen, J. (1994). The Earth is round (p<.05). American psychologist, 49, 997-1003.

From the current and former volumes of the Journal of Applied behavior Analysis.

Hartmann, D.P. (1977). Considerations in the choice of interobserver reliability estimates. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 103-116.

Bijou, S.W., Peterson, R.F., & Ault, M.H. (1968). A method to integrate descriptive and experimental field studies at the level of data and empirical concepts. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 175-191.

Michael, J. (1974). Statistical inference for individual organism research. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 7, 647-653.

Baer, D.M. (1977). "Perhaps it would be better not to know everything." Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 167-172.

Class Format: Discussion

Readings

Class exercises in design and analysis.

Practicum discussion

Evaluation: Class participation. 25%

Three Class Papers 25%

Practicum report 25%

Final Paper 25%

Topics: Experimental control

Reliability

Generality

Validity

Replication

Repeated measures

Variability

Data analysis

Data presentation.

Statistics

Reversal (withdrawal) design

Multiple baseline design

Changing criteria design

Alternating treatment design

Component analysis

Implementation strategies