ABSTRACT
This chapter emphasizes the practical side of the science of behavior analysis. The goal of scientific research is usually to see if the independent variable causes a change in the dependent variable. Behavior analysts do research to understand the world. One of the things we like most about behavior analysis is that it gives us insights and understanding concerning the behavior (the psychological nature) of human beings and of our cousins in the animal kingdom. Behavior analysts have developed and tested an effective behavioral change technology. A problem with group research designs is that they usually involve comparing the average dependent variable measured for the experimental group with that measured for the control group. Therefore, most research in behavior analysis uses a single-subject experimental design that allows us to see the details of the performance of each unique individual. But sometimes group designs are also useful.
