Variability
Also called: bounce, stability
Definition
How much the data points differ from one another within a condition. Low variability, or stability, makes changes between conditions easy to see; high variability can hide a real effect or fake one. Baseline is normally extended until the data are stable enough to predict from.
In plain language
How much the data bounce around from session to session. When they bounce a lot, it is hard to tell whether anything changed.
Example
Session counts of 3, 11, 2, 14 and 5 in one phase. High variability.
Not variability
Counts of 6, 7, 6, 7 and 6. That phase is stable.
See also
Written from
- kazdin-2011
Written from Kazdin (2011). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.