Final answer:
Multiple baseline designs in experimental single-subject designs involve the implementation of the same intervention across different subjects, behaviors, or settings at different times. This design allows researchers to establish a functional relationship between the intervention and the target behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multiple baseline designs are widely used in experimental single-subject designs. These designs involve the implementation of the same intervention across different subjects, behaviors, or settings at different times.
This design allows researchers to establish a functional relationship between the intervention and the target behavior. By staggered introduction of the intervention, researchers can observe changes in the behavior pattern that coincide with the implementation of the intervention.
For example, let's say a researcher wants to determine the effectiveness of a behavior intervention in increasing study time for three students. The researcher would start by introducing the intervention for Student A, then wait until a stable pattern of increased study time is observed. The researcher would then introduce the intervention for Student B, and so on. If each student shows an increase in study time after the introduction of the intervention, it provides evidence for the effectiveness of the intervention.