Creating an environment or treatment that restores a specific social behavior requires a rigorous analysis of an established plan to evaluate its effectiveness. Thus, to determine the efficacy of a given medication, researchers can implement it over a wide range of participants or conditions. While there are multiple single-subject design methodologies that behavior analysts can choose from, I would utilize the multiple baseline design in my profession.
Multiple baseline design is used in behavioral analysis. As noted by Cooper, Heron, and Heward (2007), the approach can be utilized in the analysis of the effects of independent variables across behaviors, settings, and subjects. For instance, replication of specific effects on multiple individuals following the introduction of an independent variable may signify a strong functional relationship between the variable and the outcome. Rather than withdrawing the independent variable to verify its effectiveness, multiple baseline design relies on comparisons between baseline data and subsequent changes recorded after recurrent implementation of the treatment (Cooper et al., 2007). Hence, the unique nature of the baseline design makes it ideal for behavioral analysis.
If I were conducting a behavioral study in psychology, I would apply the multiple baseline design to compare the effectiveness of treatments for various mental health disorders. Notably, I would rely on multiple baselines across settings design to verify the efficacy of the treatment plan. For instance, to analyze the effects of social interaction in reducing the rate of depression among individuals, I would first record the baseline condition of the participants. The individuals would further be placed in different settings, with few and many people, and recurrent results upon reaching a stable condition would be recorded. A comparison between the baseline and recurrent conditions would be used to verify the effectiveness of the treatment.
Reference
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
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