Mac – Alternating Treatments Graph

In this design, an experimenter rapidly alternates between multiple treatments, or conditions, in order to compare the differential effects of the interventions.  The graph is one that consists of multiple data paths in a single phase.

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More Information about Alternating Treatments Designs

In a classic alternating treatments design, an experimenter rapidly alters distinct conditions to determine differential effects and functional relations between behavior and the environment.  The data are then graphed with multiple line, each representing a different condition.  This type of design has been used for conducting functional analysis of challenging behavior, where an experimenter rapidly alternates between different reinforcement conditions (e.g., social positive reinforcement, social negative reinforcement) to determine the maintaining variables of the challenging behavior.

This graph can also be used to display the outcomes of other interventions because the essence of this graph includes multiple data paths in a single condition.  For example, this type of graph can be used to  illustrate the change in responses across multiple exemplar instruction, in which a new operant is taught across various response topographies (e.g. match, point, impure tact/intraverbal, pure tact).

Examples

Ebby and Greer (2017) used this design to compare reinforcers that maintained tact responses with preschool children.  The researchers found that children emitted a higher number of tacts when that behavior received attention as opposed to token reinforcement.

Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman (1994) compared the effects of different reinforcement contingencies on the emission of self-injury in young children with intellectual disabilities toward the development of function-based treatments.

Ortega and Fienup (2015) compared the effects of a preferred stimulus to a preferred stimulus plus mother’s attention on an infant’s behavior during tummy time.  The researchers found that the baby elevated his head more often and cried less when the baby’s mother talked to him and played with a toy during tummy time.