Comparing procedures for training staff to create single-subject design graphs using GraphPad Prism

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2016

First Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Second Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Third Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda

Abstract

"An important skill for behavior analysts is creating graphs that clearly convey intervention outcomes. Prior research has documented the shortcomings of Microsoft Excel (e.g., Su, 2008; Vanselow & Bourret, 2012). GraphPad Prism allows for editing that aligns with graphing conventions, but initial training is needed. Two effective self-directed training methods are enhanced written instructions (EWI; e.g., Graff & Karsten, 2012) and video modeling (VM; e.g., Collins, Higbee, & Salzberg, 2009; Moore & Fisher, 2007), but no single-subject studies have compared the efficacy of these methods. In this study, we compared the efficacy and social validity of EWI and VM for training staff to create graphs using GraphPad Prism. In Study 1, a single-subject design was employed to compare the effects of the methods on the individual performance of 11 graduate students. In Study 2, an across-groups design was used to compare the effects of the training methods across a greater number of graduate student participants (n = 28). EWI and VM were both found to be highly effective, and no significant differences in accuracy or speed were found. Mean interobserver agreement for both studies was above 95%."

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