Unit 8 Discussion
- Watch the Unit 8 Lecture.
- Read the following scenario.
You, a student of behavior analysis, are in a discussion with a general psychology student. The general psychology student asserts that research in behavior analysis is not “real” research because control groups are not used. Your friend says that since behavior analytic research does not use a control group, experimental control cannot be demonstrated. Compose a defense of research in behavior analysis.
Cover the following topics:
- List and briefly describe the essential components of experiments in behavior analysis.
- What provides the basis for comparison in single-subject experimental designs?
- Discuss how experimental control is achieved in a single-subject research design.
- List and describe the three components of baseline logic (also known as “experimental reasoning”) used in single-subject research designs.
Peer Responses:
Review two of your classmates’ posts to assess the following:
- Did your peer provide a good defense of research in behavior analysis? Why or why not?
- Chime in on the discussion between your peer and the general psychology student. Describe at least one assumption about behavior that leads behavior analysts to study behavior differently than psychologists studying group data (see Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2020, pp. 157-158 for reference).
