Psychology Assignment



Psychology Assignment

Learning Outcome 1

1. A-B-A Single Case Study Design: “The letter A is used to indicate the baseline phase where no intervention is applied, and letter B is used to indicate the intervention phase” (Ravid, 2010, p.14). The purpose of this design is to assess the behavior of subject over the baseline period, according to the dependant and independent variables. This works on the basis of independent variable and then removing it, in order to identify the change in behavior from period A to B and then to further confirm the independent variable as the cause of behavioral change, it involves observing the reversal in the behavior after removing that variable from B to A (Whitley & Kite, 2012, p.376). This type of case study assists in determining the research questions which involve identifying the reversal in behavior change depending on independent variable. For example, ia child or student with negative behavior in phase A is provided with special care and attention from parents or teacher, it will result in positive outcome in phase B, but removal of parents or teacher's attention will result in reversal of behavior again from phase B to A.

2. Experimental and Control Conditions

There are a number of different research designs in order to deal with the behavior problems and to answer research questions. There are two main types for experimental research, which is true experimental research and quasi experimental research. Research designs follow procedures with experimental and controlled conditions (Plante, 2011, p.78).

Experimental strategy is also very effective way in research design as it can determine “cause-and-effect relationship” (Whitley & Kite, 2012, p.36). There are two conditions in the experimental strategy, experimental and control conditions, in which participants are divided into two groups control and experimental. Process, conditions, and variables are all same, but the major difference between both conditions is that there is only change of testing element in the experimental condition, while no change for the controlled group (McLeod, 2007).

Possible One Way Between-Subjects Experiment

In between subject design is also known as independent group design, and within-group design is known as repeated measure design. It is very essential to understand the basis on which research participants are divided in controlled or experimental groups and how the research will proceed. In between-subject designs, a participant can either participate in control or experimental condition, but not in both (Whitley & Kite, 2012).

For example, Some students cannot perform well in distractions, while some students are not affected with any distraction. Change in independent variable or noise results in effecting the performance of the students. This design is more appropriate to test the hypothesis, based on testing the independent variable and how manipulation of independent variable can assist in determining the impact on different groups in controlled and experimental conditions. Use of this independent variable will assist in identifying the difference in behavior and performance of different students and how noise distractions in the classroom affect the performance of ...