Comparing instructor-led, video-model, and no-instruction control tutorials for creating single-subject graphs in Microsoft Excel: A systematic replication and extension

J Appl Behav Anal. 2024 Mar;57(2):502-514. doi: 10.1002/jaba.1053. Epub 2024 Feb 6.

Abstract

Visual inspection of single-subject data is the primary method for behavior analysts to interpret the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable; however, there is no consensus on the most suitable method for teaching graph construction for single-subject designs. We systematically replicated and extended Tyner and Fienup (2015) using a repeated-measures between-subjects design to compare the effects of instructor-led, video-model, and no-instruction control tutorials on the graphing performance of 81 master's students with some reported Microsoft Excel experience. Our mixed-design analysis revealed a statistically significant main effect of pretest, tutorial, and posttest submissions for each tutorial group and a nonsignificant main effect of tutorial group. Tutorial group significantly interacted with submissions, suggesting that both instructor-led and video-model tutorials may be superior to providing graduate students with a written list of graphing conventions (i.e., control condition). Finally, training influenced performance on an untrained graph type (multielement) for all tutorial groups.

Keywords: Microsoft Excel; graphing; instructor led; single‐subject design graphs; video model.

MeSH terms

  • Educational Personnel*
  • Humans
  • Students*