Multielement Design
Also called: alternating treatments design, ATD, multiple-treatment design
Definition
A single-case design in which two or more conditions are alternated rapidly, often session by session in a random or counterbalanced order, and their effects are compared by the separation between the data paths. It is the design behind most functional analyses and a common choice for comparing two teaching procedures.
In plain language
Switch quickly between two or more conditions and see which one produces more of the behavior. Used to compare treatments and in functional analysis.
Example
Attention, demand, alone and play conditions are rotated across sessions, and the behavior is far higher in the attention condition.
Not multielement design
Running one teaching method for a month and then a different one for a month. That is a sequential comparison without rapid alternation.
See also
Written from
- barlow-hayes-1979
- iwata-1982-1994
Written from Barlow and Hayes (1979) and the functional-analysis methodology of Iwata et al. (1982/1994). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.