Final answer:
A-B experimental designs may not adequately demonstrate systematic arrangements of the IV due to the lack of a control group and random assignment. Essential components for reliability in experiments include random assignment, control groups, placebos, and blinding of both researchers and subjects.
Step-by-step explanation:
An A-B design is a type of experimental setup where a participant experiences both the baseline (A) and the intervention (B) phases. However, this design may not effectively reveal that systematic arrangements of the independent variable (IV) took place. For reliable data and to minimize the impact of lurking variables, it's essential for an experiment to have certain components.
Key components include random assignment to treatment groups to eliminate bias, an established control group that may receive a placebo, and blinding of both researchers and subjects whenever possible to reduce the risk of experimenter bias. This helps ensure that any observed differences between groups are a result of the manipulation of the IV.
Furthermore, all subjects should ideally receive the treatments in random order, to counteract the potential learning effect from any specific sequence. The use of a control, often given a placebo, balances the effects of the experimental treatment with any potential placebo effects. Blinded studies, where neither the subjects nor the researchers know who is receiving the active treatment, effectively minimize bias, with double-blind experiments being the gold standard.