Implementing Automated Nonparametric Statistical Analysis on Functional Analysis Data: A Guide for Practitioners and Researchers
ANSA gives you a free, two-minute statistical check for any multielement or pairwise functional analysis.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kranak et al. (2022) wrote a how-to paper. They show you how to use a free web tool called ANSA.
ANSA runs nonparametric stats on your functional-analysis graphs. You paste in your data and get a clear decision.
What they found
The paper does not give new client data. It gives step-by-step pictures and rules so you can copy the process.
The authors say the tool works for multielement and pairwise designs.
How this fits with other research
Friedel et al. (2022) also give a free shiny app, but theirs uses Monte Carlo methods instead of nonparametric tests. Both aim to add numbers to your visual check.
Manolov et al. (2023) offer another web tool that scores trend, level, and overlap. ANSA goes further by giving a full statistical decision for FA data.
Dowdy et al. (2022) found that most BCBAs still eyeball graphs without any structured aid. These three free tools answer the same gap in different ways.
Why it matters
You no longer need to guess if the alone condition is really higher. Open ANSA, upload your file, and get an instant rule-based call. It takes two minutes and protects you from over-calling a difference. Use it right after the last session while you still remember the context.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Functional analysis (FA) is an integral component of behavioral assessment and treatment given that clinicians design behavioral treatments based on FA results. Unfortunately, the interrater reliability of FA data interpretation by visual analysis can be inconsistent, potentially leading to ineffective treatment implementation. Hall et al. (2020) recently developed automated nonparametric statistical analysis (ANSA) to facilitate the interpretation of FA data and Kranak et al. (2021) subsequently extended and validated ANSA by applying it to unpublished clinical data. The results of both Hall et al. and Kranak et al. support ANSA as an emerging statistical supplement for interpreting FA data. In the present article, we show how ANSA can be applied to interpret FA data collected in clinical settings in multielement and pairwise designs. We provide a detailed overview of the calculations involved, how to use ANSA in practice, and recommendations for its implementation. A free web-based application is available at https://ansa.shinyapps.io/ansa/. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40614-021-00290-2.
Perspectives on Behavior Science, 2022 · doi:10.1007/s40614-021-00290-2