Final answer:
The changing criterion design systematically modifies criteria to evaluate changes in behavior, as exemplified by incrementally increasing steps in a walking program. It is distinct from designs that use alternating treatments, multiple baselines, or random adjustments, focusing instead on the influence of one variable at a time.
Step-by-step explanation:
With reference to an example, briefly describe the changing criterion design. This design is a research method used in behavior analysis to evaluate the effects of a treatment on a subject's behavior. A clear example can be seen in interventions designed to increase physical activity. In such studies, the initial criterion might be for the participant to walk 3000 steps a day. As the participant meets this criterion consistently, the criteria are systematically modified, with the step count incrementally increasing, to promote further improvements in behavior. The changing criterion design is thus a design where criteria are modified systematically to evaluate behavior change.
It is important to not confuse the changing criterion design with other designs such as a design involving alternating treatment phases to assess behavior modification, a design incorporating multiple baseline measures for comprehensive analysis, or a design utilizing random intervals for criterion adjustments. Instead, the changing criterion design follows a structured process where only one variable is manipulated at a time, and the criterion is altered only after the subject has met the current criterion reliably, ensuring a clear link between the treatment and the observed behavior change.