D5 Identify the relative strengths of single-case experimental designs and group designs

D.5 Identify the relative strengths of single-case experimental designs and group designs.

Identifying the relative strengths of single-case experimental and group designs involves understanding the advantages of each approach when studying behavior. Single-case designs focus on individual behavior changes over time, while group designs examine differences across groups of participants, allowing for broader generalizations.

Examples:

Single-case experimental designs (e.g., reversal or multiple-baseline designs) help monitor individual progress and adjust interventions based on repeated behavior measures. For instance, if you are working with one child on a behavior intervention, you can track their progress over time and assess the immediate effects of the intervention.
Group designs (e.g., randomized controlled trials) are better suited for comparing treatment effects across different groups and generalizing about a population. For example, testing two teaching methods with a large group of students to see which method results in better academic outcomes would require a group design.

D. Experimental Design

D.1. Distinguish between dependent and independent variables.

D.2. Distinguish between internal and external validity.

D.3. Identify threats to internal validity (e.g., history, maturation).

D.4. Identify the defining features of single-case experimental designs (e.g., individuals serve as their own controls, repeated measures, prediction, verification, replication).

D.5. Identify the relative strengths of single-case experimental designs and group designs.

D.6. Critique and interpret data from single-case experimental designs.

D.7. Distinguish among reversal, multiple-baseline, multielement, and changing-criterion designs.

D.8. Identify rationales for conducting comparative, component, and parametric analyses.

D.9. Apply single-case experimental designs.