The terms reversal and withdrawal designs are often used interchangeably, although, they do, in fact, have different meanings. Explain the difference in the two design types.

Question

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Answer 1

Suggested answer points:Both designs are A-B-A-B designs. A reversal design involves actively trying to "reverse" the effects of the intervention to encourage responding of the target behavior to revert to or at least toward baseline levels during the second A phase. For example, a student who has decreased his instances of talking out in class might have whatever original procedures once again instituted during the second A phase that were present in the original A (baseline phase). That is, the teacher provides attention to the student each time he talks out resulting in a rapid increase once again in talking out. The reintroduction of the intervention (the second B phase), if it replicates the success in the first B phase, provides an even stronger demonstration of the functional relationship. However, withdrawal designs where the intervention is removed but there is not an active attempt to encourage returns to baseline levels in the second A phase are much more commonly used.