Abstract
Collection of interobserver agreement data and reporting the results with summary statistics are standard practices in single-case
research. An alternative to summary statistics is plotting the second observer’s data on the same graph as the primary observer.
In this study, we evaluated whether plotting the second observer’s data differentially influenced the judgments about functional
relations for A–B–A–B designs. Participants were graduate students and experts. Results suggested that (a) experts made more
accurate judgments than graduate students, (b) raters made more accurate judgments for graphs with 1 rather than 2 primary
data paths, and (c) raters were not influenced differentially in their judgments of functional relations by the presence or
absence of the second observer’s plotted data. In addition to standard hypothesis testing, equivalence testing was performed
and showed accuracy of judgments was equivalent for graphs with and without the second observers’ data being added.
research. An alternative to summary statistics is plotting the second observer’s data on the same graph as the primary observer.
In this study, we evaluated whether plotting the second observer’s data differentially influenced the judgments about functional
relations for A–B–A–B designs. Participants were graduate students and experts. Results suggested that (a) experts made more
accurate judgments than graduate students, (b) raters made more accurate judgments for graphs with 1 rather than 2 primary
data paths, and (c) raters were not influenced differentially in their judgments of functional relations by the presence or
absence of the second observer’s plotted data. In addition to standard hypothesis testing, equivalence testing was performed
and showed accuracy of judgments was equivalent for graphs with and without the second observers’ data being added.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10864-012-9150-4
- Authors
- Jennifer R. Ledford, Department of Special Education, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Box 228, Nashville, TN 3720, USA
- Mark Wolery, Department of Special Education, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Box 228, Nashville, TN 3720, USA
- Kathleen Artman Meeker, Department of Special Education, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Box 228, Nashville, TN 3720, USA
- Joseph H. Wehby, Department of Special Education, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Box 228, Nashville, TN 3720, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Education
- Online ISSN 1573-3513
- Print ISSN 1053-0819