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Based on this scenario, explain how the school psychologist has implemented a multiple-treatment reversal design. In your explanation, identify what each part of the sequence represents using standard design notation (e.g., AA, BB, CC).

Case context: A school psychologist wants to evaluate two different interventions to improve a student's on-task behavior. First, they observe the student's natural behavior without any intervention. Next, they introduce a reward system for staying on task. After two weeks, they stop the reward system and observe the student's behavior again under natural conditions. Finally, they introduce a self-monitoring checklist.

Question: Based on this scenario, explain how the school psychologist has implemented a multiple-treatment reversal design. In your explanation, identify what each part of the sequence represents using standard design notation (e.g., AA, BB, CC).

Sample answer: The psychologist has implemented a multiple-treatment reversal design by testing more than one intervention and returning to a baseline between them. The initial observation of natural behavior serves as the first baseline (AA). Introducing the reward system is the first distinct treatment phase (BB). Stopping the reward system to observe natural behavior again is a return to the baseline (AA). Finally, introducing the self-monitoring checklist is the second distinct treatment phase (CC). This creates an ABACA-B-A-C sequence.

Key points:

  • The initial observation without intervention is the first baseline phase (AA).
  • The reward system represents the first distinct treatment phase (BB).
  • Stopping the reward system represents a return to the baseline phase (AA).
  • The self-monitoring checklist represents the second distinct treatment phase (CC).
  • The sequence follows a multiple-treatment structure, evaluating more than one intervention.

Rubric: A complete answer must accurately map the baseline (AA) and the two distinct treatments (BB and CC) to the specific events in the scenario, recognizing that the withdrawal of the first intervention represents a return to baseline.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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