CHAPTER OVERVIEW

The Nonequivalent Control Group Design The Static Group Comparison Single-Subject Design Evaluating Single-Subject Designs

THE QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

No control over group assignment Useful when manipulation of variables is ethically, morally, or practically difficult

THE QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Quasi-experimental research is post hoc research Internal validity is intermediate between pre-experimental and true experimental designs

THE NONEQUIVALENT CONTROL GROUP DESIGN

Participants Assigned to the Experimental Group Participants Assigned to the Control Group Pretest Pretest Treatment No Treatment Post-test Post-test

Commonly used when random assignment is not possible Similar to pretest post-test control group design Selection bias is a threat to validity

THE STATIC GROUP COMPARISON

Experimental Group Control Group Treatment No Treatment Post-test Post-test

No pretest Disadvantages
Questionable internal validity Questionable external validity

SINGLE SUBJECT DESIGN

Measure Behavior During Baseline
Treatment

Remove TreatmentMeasure Behavior During Reversal

Looks at cause and effect relationships in single individuals rather than in groups Common in behavioral analysis and special education Based on behavioral view of development

Measure Behavior During Baseline

Treatment

Remove TreatmentMeasure Behavior During Reversal

 AB designs (simple single subject) measure baseline and impose treatment ABA designs (reversal) remove treatment ABAB (alternating treatment designs) re-impose treatment

EVALUATING SINGLE SUBJECT DESIGNS

Most have good internal validity External validity may be questionable