Revisiting the Measurement and Analysis of the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure at the Individual Organism Level
Loading...
Authors
Assemi, Kian
Issue Date
2025
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure , Individual , IRAP , Relational Frame Theory , RFT , Stability
Alternative Title
Abstract
Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) research has historically had a predominant focus on group designs to evaluate data. This dissertation started with Study One, a group design experiment involving training verbal relations among experimental symbols. Predictions were generally met when analyzing the group data, but when individual data was considered, the proportion of data meeting predictions was lower than expected. As such, Study Two, the focus of the dissertation, analyzed data at the individual organism level using two different extended IRAPs intended to be more suitable for individual organism data. One version had substantially more blocks of trials than typically used in IRAP research. Study Two was primarily concerned with comparing different scoring calculations with respect to stability and predicted data patterns based on the Differential Arbitrarily Applicable Relational Responding Effects (DAARRE) Model. The different calculations included latency, rate, accuracy, slope and probability analyses. In addition to calculating standardized difference scores, raw difference scores, block data, and individual trial data were analyzed. These data were subsequently evaluated in terms of quantifiable variability formulas, including the percentages of deviation, and coefficient of variation. Finally, different aggregation methods were evaluated in terms of DAARRE model predictions. The different IRAP versions, aggregation methods and formulas for analyses resulted in varying degrees of stability and in differences in the extent to which DAARRE-based predictions were met. Several methods resulted in adequate stability levels and yielded a higher proportion of DAARRE-based predictions being met for individual participant data. Implications for the expansion of single subject approaches in IRAP research and proposed strategies are discussed.