Experimental Methods Used in Applied Research

According to Shaughnessy, Zechmeister, and Zechmeister, 2009, “in applied behavioral analysis the methods developed within the experimental analysis of behavior are applied to socially relevant problems (Shaughnessy, Zechmeister & Zechmeister, 2009, p. 317).” In this paper I will discuss some of these experimental methods used in applied research. First, I will discuss the similarities and differences between descriptive and inferential statistics, and when they should be used. In addition, I will explain the similarities and differences between single-case and small N-research designs. Furthermore, I will explain when single-case and small-N-research designs are used. Moreover; I will examine true experiments and examine how they control threats to internal validity. In addition, I will examine how true experiments are different from experimental designs. Finally, in this paper, I will discuss quasi-experiments by explaining their importance and how they differ from experimental designs.

According to Shaughnessy, Zechmeister, and Zechmeister (2009), data analysis and statistics play a major role in the analysis and the interpretation of experimental findings. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics are both used to describe the results of an experiment. In addition, they are used to confirm that an independent variable has an effect on behavior. Furthermore, both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics are used in the stages of data analysis of an experiment. Moreover, Descriptive statistics are used in inferential statistics (Shaughnessy, Zechmeister & Zechmeister, 2009).

Differences between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics exist. For example, descriptive statistics are used to help r...

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...nd how they control the internal validity of an experiment, and how they differ from experimental designs. Finally, I discussed quasi- experiments by discussing their importance and examining how they differ from experimental designs.

References

Works Cited

Aeschleman, Stanley, R. (1991). Single-subject research designs: some misconceptions. Rehabilitation Psychology. 36(1). Pp. 43-49. Retrieved February 6, 2010 from University of Phoenix PsycArticles Database.

Kazdin, Alan, E. (1978). Methodological and interpretive problems of single-case experimental designs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 46(4). Pp. 629-642. Retrieved February 6, 2009 from University of Phoenix PsycArticles Database.

Shaughnessy, J., Zechmeister, E., and Zechmeister, J., (2009). Research methods in psychology. (8th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. Chapters 7, 10, & 11.