A school psychologist is asked to help a teacher with a disruptive student. Apply the core assumption of single-subject research to explain why the psychologist should conduct a study focusing on this specific student rather than simply applying a strategy based on a published group-average study.
Question: A school psychologist is asked to help a teacher with a disruptive student. Apply the core assumption of single-subject research to explain why the psychologist should conduct a study focusing on this specific student rather than simply applying a strategy based on a published group-average study.
Sample answer: The psychologist should study this specific student because group-average research can obscure individual differences, meaning a group-approved strategy might not represent this particular student's behavior. By conducting an intensive study on this individual student, the psychologist can isolate their specific behavioral responses and design a targeted, direct, and more effective intervention.
Key points:
- Group-average studies may not represent the behavior or needs of this particular individual.
- Focusing intensively on the individual student's behavior is necessary.
- Allows the psychologist to isolate the student's unique response to interventions.
- Enables the design of a targeted and direct intervention for the specific disruptive behavior.
Rubric: The response must apply the assumption of single-subject research to the scenario. It should explain that published group research averages out data and might not apply to this student's unique case. It must conclude that studying this specific student directly is necessary to isolate their response and design a targeted intervention for their specific behavior.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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A school psychologist is asked to help a teacher with a disruptive student. Apply the core assumption of single-subject research to explain why the psychologist should conduct a study focusing on this specific student rather than simply applying a strategy based on a published group-average study.