Chapter 11

Overview of Changing Criterion

Design

Changing Criterion Design Involves the evaluation of the effects of a

treatment on the gradual, systematic increase or decrease of a single target behavior

Frequently used when reinforcement or punishment contingencies are in effect

This is done by changing, in a stepwise fashion, the criterion levels necessary to meet contingencies to increase behavior (positive or negative reinforcement) or to decrease behavior (differential reinforcement procedures or punish)

Changing Criterion Design Continued It is considered a variation of the A-B

Design In changing Criterion Design, After

baseline data are collected (A), the treatment phase (B) is divided into Subphases– Each subphase require changes in the target

behavior that more closely approximate the terminal behavior or goal

The Six Steps of Changing Criterion Design

Step 1- Define the target behavior.

– the behavior should be able to change gradually and in a stepwise fashion

Step 2 Collect baseline data.

– Data should be gathered until they are stable and/or moving in a counterproductive fashion

The Six Steps of Changing Criterion Design

Step 3- Determine level of performance require for the contingent presentation of the reinforcement or punishment

A) Determine goal of behavior B) Determine criterion level for the

first subphase

Determining Criterion Level

1. Determine terminal behavior or goal2. Determine criterion level for the first subphase

by a) Setting the criterion level at the mean of the stable portion of the baseline data, particularly if the initial rate of responding is lowb) Taking 50% of the average of the baseline data and add to the average

Determining Criterion Level Continuedc) Choosing the highest or lowest data point

and use that as the criterion level, useful for social behaviors

d) Use professional judgment

3. Establish the criterion levels for the subsequent subphase. This usually involves a gradual increase or decrease in the criterion levels in the direction of the goal.

The Six Steps of Changing Criterion Design ContinuedStep 4- Begin the intervention. The criterion

required to obtain the treatment is applied.

Step 5- Introduce the next subphase level after the initial criterion level is met.

Step 6- Continue through each subphase in a stepwise fashion until the terminal goal is reached

Issues Related to Changing Criterion Designs

The length of each phaseThe magnitude of the criterion

changes, andThe number of phases or

criterion changes

Length of Each Phase

Phase should be long enough to allow stable responding

Length of phase should be varied if possible

Magnitude of the Criterion Changes Should not be too large or too

small

Use baseline data to help make the determination

Number of Criterion Changes The number of criterion changes actually refers to

the number of phases (subphases) that should be included in the study

The determination will depend on both the length of the phases and the magnitude of the criterion changes

The greater the magnitude of the criterion changes, the fewer the number of phases before the target goal is met

The more times the target behavior changes to meet a new criteria, the more control is demonstrated

Prediction, Verification, & Replication Prediction of the levels of future behaviors

is made when stable responding is attained with in each phase

Replication occurs every time that the behavior changes in the predicted direction based on the predetermined criterion levels

Prediction, Verification, & Replication Verification is possible when either of two

of the previously discussed suggestions to increase internal validity are made– It is demonstrated when the direction of the

criterion levels is reversed and the behavior returns to a previously set criterion level

Advantages Changing Criterion Design Withdrawal of treatment not necessary Good design to evaluate contingency

programs to increase or decrease behavior Gradual change in target behavior results in

educationally or clinically appropriate outcomes

It can be helpful to use when the terminal goal that is set takes a relatively long time to reach

When to Use Changing Criterion Design When the target behavior can change

gradually in a stepwise fashion When the behavior is already in the subject’s

repertoire and needs to be increase or decreased

When the effects of continent reinforcement or punishment procedures need to be evaluated

When withdrawal of treatment is not appropriate

Disadvantages of Changing Criterion Design Target behavior must be able to change in a

gradual, stepwise fashion, Requires time and effort to determine

important parameters of the design (e.g., the number and and lengths of phases)

Not appropriate for treatment approaches that do not use contingent procedures to increase or decrease behaviors

When not to Use Changing Criterion Design When the target behavior cannot be changed in a

gradual, stepwise fashion When the target behavior is not in the subject’s

repertoire When treatments other than the presentation of

contingencies are being evaluated When time and effort cannot be given to

determine the important parameters of the design (number and length of phases, magnitude of criterion changes)

Adaptations of the Changing Criterion Design Primarily involve

– The addition of a phase or phases in which there is reversal to a previous criterion level or

– A return to baseline

Both adaptations are used to demonstrate greater

experimental control of the independent and

dependent variable.

Reversal to a Previous Criterion Level Instead of a steady, stepwise increase or

decrease in the criterion levels, the criterion is reversed one or more times

Provides additional evidence of the functional relationship between treatment and the target behavior

Reinstate Baseline Conditions

More radical reversal in which the stepwise progression is interrupted by returning to baseline conditions

The B phase is the stepwise criterion changes required for the representation of the contingencies

Reinstate Baseline Conditions Continued This design shows a powerful functional

relationship between the independent and dependent variable

It has the ethical liabilities of the withdrawal design because the subject is placed in a nontreatment phase

A more powerful method of demonstrating experimental control