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Apply Skinner's single-subject research methodology to design this study. Describe the phases needed to demonstrate a functional relationship between the reinforcement and the student's behavior, and justify your design choices using operant conditioning principles.
Case context: A psychology researcher wants to test a new reinforcement program to reduce off-task behavior in an elementary student. Drawing on B. F. Skinner's work, the researcher decides to implement a single-subject research design instead of a group-comparison design.
Question: Apply Skinner's single-subject research methodology to design this study. Describe the phases needed to demonstrate a functional relationship between the reinforcement and the student's behavior, and justify your design choices using operant conditioning principles.
Sample answer: The researcher should first implement a baseline phase to measure the frequency of the student's off-task behavior without reinforcement. Next, the reinforcement phase is introduced, applying operant conditioning principles to decrease off-task behavior. To establish a clear functional relationship, the researcher should use a reversal (ABAB) design, withdrawing the reinforcement to see if off-task behavior returns to baseline levels, and then reintroducing it. This controls for external variables and shows the behavior is controlled by the consequence.
Key points:
- Establishes a baseline phase to measure the student's behavior prior to reinforcement.
- Applies a reinforcement program (consequence) to modify the target behavior (operant conditioning).
- Uses a reversal (ABAB) design to verify that changes in behavior are due to the reinforcement program.
- Justifies the single-subject design by showing how it demonstrates a functional relationship within the individual subject.
Rubric: The response must apply single-subject design phases (baseline and intervention), mention the application of reinforcement/operant conditioning, and justify the design components (like a reversal phase) as the method to demonstrate a functional relationship.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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