A-B-A-B represents a procedure undertaking to, first A (measure a basely), first B (treatment measurement), second A (withdrawal of the remedy), second B (re-introduction of the remedy). In other words, it involves collecting information about the baseline, application of treatment, and measuring the effects of the remedy. Secondly, it involves going back to the baseline or what occurs after the treatment is removed.
Comparison and contrast between the graphs
If we take a closer look at the first graph, we notice that when the experimenter reduced Bob's demand, bob response rose to 98 %( ranging from 100%) also when Bob was praised after every session his behavior increased (Edward, Crighton & Jody, 1980).
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Consequently, it’s evident that the use of demand for both bobs resulted in a higher change in behavior. However, when reinforcement was withdrawn baseline returned to normal for Bob while Sam stuck on behavioral change. Thus the use of aggression as an escape behavior produces a more significant change but results in more loss when its application stops.
Note that excess exposure to negative reinforcement on Bob lead to a fall in aggression since bob finally acknowledges the hardship [and starts to imitate without necessary being given demand. There was an ascending baseline when Bob and Sam were commanded to do something. Also when Bob and Sam were no longer given command, the baseline became descending depicting a fall to near zero in their aggression level
The children exhibited a stable baseline when extinction behavior was applied at the end of the second session.
Conclusion on baseline
The application of ABAB design on the children each being used differently, it’s evident from the graphs that the first treatment raises the desired behavior, but this behavior quickly returns to baseline when the treatment is stopped (Edward, Crighton & Jody, 1980).
Recommendations
For Bob's case, the aggression could be controlled by letting him interact with other children since his aggression was towards adults. Therefore Bob's aggression would fall since he could quickly mingle with other children and learn from them. For Sams’ case since his aggression was not that severe the use of better medication would end his aggression.
References
Edward, C., Crighton, N., & Jody, B. (1980).Escape as a factor in the aggressive Behavior of Two Retarded Children: Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis . State university of New York.
