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A clinical researcher wants to use an AB design to evaluate if a new guided breathing exercise reduces a client's daily anxiety ratings. Describe how the researcher should apply this design by detailing what occurs in the baseline phase (A) and the treatment phase (B).
Question: A clinical researcher wants to use an AB design to evaluate if a new guided breathing exercise reduces a client's daily anxiety ratings. Describe how the researcher should apply this design by detailing what occurs in the baseline phase (A) and the treatment phase (B).
Sample answer: The researcher should first measure the client's daily anxiety levels under normal conditions without any intervention to establish the baseline phase (A). Once a baseline is established, the researcher should introduce the guided breathing exercise and continue to measure daily anxiety ratings during this treatment phase (B).
Key points:
- Measure anxiety ratings under normal conditions first to establish baseline (Phase A).
- Introduce the breathing exercise and continue measuring anxiety ratings (Phase B).
Rubric: The response must apply the AB design structure: 1) Explicitly state that baseline anxiety ratings must be collected first without the intervention (Phase A). 2) State that the guided breathing exercise is introduced and anxiety ratings continue to be measured (Phase B).
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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