CBMT Research and Evidence-Based Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a single-subject research design, what does a 'reversal' or 'ABA' design involve?
- Collecting baseline data, then applying an intervention, then withdrawing it to confirm functional relationship (Correct answer)
- Alternating two different interventions across consecutive sessions
- Measuring outcomes across multiple participants simultaneously
- Comparing pre-test and post-test scores with a control group
Correct answer: Collecting baseline data, then applying an intervention, then withdrawing it to confirm functional relationship
An ABA reversal design establishes baseline (A), applies treatment (B), then removes treatment (A) to demonstrate that behavior changes were due to the intervention.
Question 2: Which statistical measure best describes the 'spread' or variability of scores in a dataset?
- Mean
- Median
- Standard deviation (Correct answer)
- Mode
Correct answer: Standard deviation
Standard deviation quantifies how much individual scores deviate from the mean, indicating the variability or spread of a dataset.
Question 3: A music therapist wants to determine whether a new rhythm-based protocol reduces anxiety more than a standard relaxation technique. Which research design is MOST appropriate?
- Case study
- Randomized controlled trial (Correct answer)
- Ethnographic study
- Narrative inquiry
Correct answer: Randomized controlled trial
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the gold standard for comparing the efficacy of two interventions through random assignment and control conditions.
Question 4: In evidence-based practice, what does the term 'clinical expertise' refer to?
- The therapist's ability to read peer-reviewed journals
- The therapist's accumulated knowledge, judgment, and skills gained through practice (Correct answer)
- The number of years a therapist has been licensed
- The therapist's familiarity with a specific musical instrument
Correct answer: The therapist's accumulated knowledge, judgment, and skills gained through practice
Clinical expertise in EBP refers to the practitioner's accumulated experience, professional judgment, and skills that inform individualized client care.
Question 5: A peer-reviewed article reports a p-value of 0.03. What does this indicate?
- There is a 3% chance the intervention is effective
- There is a 97% chance the null hypothesis is true
- There is a 3% probability that the observed results occurred by chance if the null hypothesis is true (Correct answer)
- The effect size is large enough to be clinically meaningful
Correct answer: There is a 3% probability that the observed results occurred by chance if the null hypothesis is true
A p-value of 0.03 means there is a 3% probability of obtaining these results by chance alone, assuming the null hypothesis is true.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST defines a 'systematic review' in the context of music therapy research?
- A study conducted in a systematic way with structured procedures
- A comprehensive synthesis of multiple studies addressing a specific clinical question using explicit methods (Correct answer)
- A review article written by a single expert in the field
- A longitudinal study tracking patient progress over time
Correct answer: A comprehensive synthesis of multiple studies addressing a specific clinical question using explicit methods
A systematic review uses explicit, reproducible methods to identify, appraise, and synthesize all available evidence on a specific question.
Question 7: When applying qualitative research methods in music therapy, which approach focuses on the lived experience of participants?
- Grounded theory
- Phenomenology (Correct answer)
- Content analysis
- Meta-analysis
Correct answer: Phenomenology
Phenomenology seeks to understand the meaning of lived experiences from the participants' own perspectives, making it well-suited to exploring subjective music therapy experiences.
CBMT Research and Evidence-Based Practice 2
In a single-subject research design, what does a 'reversal' or 'ABA' design involve?