Kazdin (2nd ed.) Ch 2
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parsimony
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if competing views or interpretations of any phenomena can be proposed, one adopts the simplest one that can explain the data or information
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plausible rival hypothesis
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an interpretation of the results of an investigation on the basis of some other influence than the one the investigator has studied or wished to discuss
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threats to validity
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methodological issues that are likely to rival the explanation that it was the intervention that explained the effect
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findings
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a descriptive feature of the study and include what was found
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conclusions
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the basis or explanation of the finding
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internal validity
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extent to which an experiment rules out alternative explanations of the results
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threats to internal validity
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factors or influences other than the independent variable that could explain the results
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history
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(threat to internal validity) refers to events in the individual's environment occuring at the time of the experiment that could influence the results
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maturation
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(threat to internal validity) any change over time that may result for processes within the subject, such as growing older, stronger, smarter, etc.
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instrumentation
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(threat to internal validity) any change that takes place in the measuring instrument or assessment procedure over time. Such changes may result from the use of human observers whose judgements may change
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testing
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(threat to internal validity) any change that may be attributed to the effects of repeated assessment; it constitues an experience that, depending on the measure, may lead to systematic changes in performance
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statistical regression
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(threat to internal validity) any change from one assessment occasion to another that might be due to a reversion of scores toward the mean. If clients score at the extremes on one assessment occassion, their scores may change in the direction toward the mean on a second testing
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diffusion of treatment
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(threat to internal validity) can occur when the intervention is inadvertently provided during times when it should not be or to persons who should not yet receive the intervention at a particular point. The effects of the intervention will be underestimated if it is unwittingly administered in intervention and nonintervention phases.
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external validity
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addresses the broader question and refers to the extent to which the results of an experiment can be generalized or extended beyond the conditions of the experiment
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threats to external validity
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characteristics of the experiment that may limit the generality of the results
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generality across subjects
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(threat to external validity) extent to which the results can be extended to subjects or clients whose characteristics may differ from those included in the investigation
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generality across responses or measures
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(threat to external validity) extent to which the results extend to behaviors or domains not included in the program. These behaviors or domains may be similar to those focused on or may be entirely different areas of functioning
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generality across settings
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(threat to external validity) The extent to which the results extend to other situations in which the client functions beyond those included in training
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generality across time
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(threat to external validity) extent to which the results extend beyond the times during the day that the intervention is in effect and to times after the intervention has been terminated
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generality across behavior change agents
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(threat to external validity) extent to which the intervention effects can be extended to other persons who can administer the intervention. The effects may be restricted to persons with special skills, training, or expertise.
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reactive experimental arrangements
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(threat to external validity) possibility that subjects may be influeced by their awareness that they are participating in an investigation or in a special program. The intervention effects may not extend to situations in which individuals are unaware of the arrangement.
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reactive assessment
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(threat to external validity) extent to which subjects are aware that their behavior is being assessed and that this awareness may influence how they respond. Persons who are aware of assessment may respond differently from how they would if they were unaware of the assessment.
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multiple-treatment interference
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(threat to external validity) when the same subjects are exposed to more than one treatment, the conclusions reached about a particular treatment may be restricted. Specifically, the results may only apply to other persons who experience both of the treatments in the same way or in the same order.
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construct validity
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addresses the presumed cause or explanation of the causal relation between the intervention or experimental manipulation and the outcome
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confounds
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features within the experiment that can interfere with the interpretation of the results
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attention and contact accorded the client
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(threat to construct validity) extent to which an increase of attention to the client/participant during the intervention phase or lack of attention during nonintervention phases could plausibly explain the effects attributed to the intervention
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special stimulus conditions, settings, and contexts
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(threat to construct validity) extent to which special conditions in which the intervention is presented or embedded alone or in combination with the intervention could explain the effects attributed to the intervention by itself. The \"real\" influence might be \"intervention x adminstered by wonderful person y\" rather than the \"intervention\" free from its connection to special conditions
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threats to data evaluation validity
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aspects of the data that can interfere with drawing valid inferences
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excessive variability in the data
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(threat to data-evaluation validity) any source of variability that can interfere with detecting a difference when there is one
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unreliability of the measures
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(threat to data-evaluation validity) error in the measurement procedures that introduces excessive variability that obscures an intervention effect. The error might result from a measure that is not a valid index of the domain of interest, a measure that is unreliable and conditions of measurement (setting, test administrator) that influence the data in some way
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trends in the data
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(threat to data-evaluation validity) extendt to which the direction of change in a given phase or pattern across phases can interfere with drawing inferences about the effects of the intervention
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insufficient data
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(threat to data-evaluation validity) too few data points to permit conclusions about level of performance and its likely level in the near future
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mixed data patterns
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(threat to data-evaluation validity) intervention effects are usually replicated within a study. The effect of the intervention is inferred from the overall pattern. Mixed data patterns across phases or replication within the study can interefere with drawing valid inferences about the impact of the intervention.
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test of principle
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The purpose of such experiments is to show what can happen when the situation is arranged in a particular way.
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Assessment
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use of systematic measures to document performance and to reflect changes where changes are sought
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Experimental Design
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special arrangements of presenting the intervention or conditions to participants what will help establish that the intervention rather than other influences (threats to validity) is likely to be the cause of behavior change
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Data Evaluation
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procedures, techniques and criteria that are used to decide and show that there was a relaible change and that the effect within, between, or among conditions makes a difference.
