ABA Exam CoachLessons · D. Experimental Design
D.9 · Choosing a single-case design
You've got a client, a target behavior, and an intervention, so how do you actually show the intervention caused the change? Let's pick the right single-case design for the situation, every time.
Key takeaway
Every single-case design runs on baseline logic: prediction, verification, and replication. Pick the design that fits the constraint. Use reversal when the behavior can reverse and withdrawal is safe. Use multiple baseline or multiple probe when it can't reverse or withdrawal is risky. Use multielement for a quick comparison of treatments, and changing criterion for step-wise goals. In a multiple baseline, introduce the IV to the next tier only after the treated tier shows a clear change and the untreated tiers stay stable.
Every single-case design runs on baseline logic: prediction, verification, and replication. Pick the design that fits the constraint. Use reversal when the behavior can reverse and withdrawal is safe. Use multiple baseline or multiple probe when it can't reverse or withdrawal is risky. Use multielement for a quick comparison of treatments, and changing criterion for step-wise goals. In a multiple baseline, introduce the IV to the next tier only after the treated tier shows a clear change and the untreated tiers stay stable.
Members get the full lesson video, notes and a 5-question test
The video walks through the idea, worked examples, the trap people fall into and an exam-style question. The notes and the checkpoint come with it, and your results feed your Where to focus plan.