Evaluate hypothetical interventions based on single-subject experimental designs.

Evaluating Hypothetical Interventions Using Single-Subject Experimental Designs Student’s name University Professor’s name Course Name Date Evaluating Hypothetical Interventions Using Single-Subject Experimental Designs: Introduction Single-subject experimental designs (SSEDs) represent a fundamental pillar of applied behavior analysis (ABA) since the research enables practitioners to test the effectiveness of interventions at the individual level. In contrast to the group designs, which are based on statistical comparisons between large samples, SSEDs involve repeated measures of an individual's behavior over time and conditions. This individual focus renders them very practical in practice, where decisions to treat patients must be customized to the particular client. A key benefit of single-subject designs is that they can establish a functional relationship between intervention and the target behavior, without using large or control groups. This ability to demonstrate causal agency at the individual level renders SSEDs better than group designs in assessing change of behavior in clinical care. This paper compares two interventions that were designed in previous units. The first one is Annie with the habit reversal training (HRT) plan to decrease skin picking, and Jimmy with the contingency contract to raise homework and reading compliance. A different research design is applied to each plan to show its functional control and determine the effectiveness of treatments. Overview of Single-Subject Designs SSEDs share common features: systematic manipulation of independent variables, repeated measures of behavior, and visual analysis of graphed data. Common formats include: ABAB (reversal) design: treatment repetition and withdrawal to ascertain functional relationship AB design: A simple baseline is followed by treatment. Multiple baseline: phased introduction of interventions across behaviors and settings. Changing criterion: slow changes in standards of performance to measure treatment effects. Alternating treatments: Faster alternating conditions to compare interventions Because of the lack of danger associated with the target behavior and because of the reversibility of that behavior, an ABAB reversal design is the incorrect response modality for Annie. Also, the design is in the experiment's control (Dysarz, 2023). Edgemon et al (2021) argue that a multiple baseline across behaviors design is better suited and a closer all-or-nothing alternative for Jimmy than termination of the academic contract. Evaluation Plan 1: Annie’s Skin-Picking Intervention Target Behavior and Operational Definition Annie's selected behavior is skin-picking, a repetitive, often reflexive behavior that can cause wounds to the skin, including sores, bleeding, and scarring. Operational definition of skin picking: If Annie scratches, picks, or grooves the skin of her hands and fingers, and makes marks with her finger/nail. The element is unambiguous, quantifiable, and tangible. It also passes the stranger test, which means if anyone (or anything) outsider was present at the time, that person could write down what is going on without their own feelings or bias clouding what the stranger, or in this case Annie, was feeling. The definition is correct and straightforward, because no general words like nervous habit are used. Measurement System Annie's target behavior is skin picking, which is repetitive and sometimes a more reflexive type of behavior that can lead to physical harm like sores, bleeding, and scarring. An operational definition of skin picking is any instance when Annie scratches, picks, or digs into the skin of her hands or fingers with a finger or nail and makes marks. That definition is accurate, observable, and measurable. It also passes the stranger test, the idea that any outsider would be able to write down what is happening without their own emotions and bias getting distorted by Annie's emotional situation. The definition is easy to understand and is accurate because it does not employ general terms such as nervous habit. Data Collection Schedule and Responsibility Annie's parents will take photos of the pages they can see each day and trace the pages onto a systematic sheet. Parents will be trained in what constitutes an event recorded, and an interobserver agreement will exist to minimize subjectivity. A therapist will go through the data every week to make sure it is correct, and will give feedback too. This strategy can help to promote accountability and consistency, which is important when conducting high-quality single-subject research. Research Design An ABAB reversal design will be implemented, consisting of four phases: A1 (Baseline): No treatment, just documenting the natural frequency of skin picking B1 (Intervention): Habit reversal training. A2 (Withdrawal): Return to normal conditions,...