changing-criterion design
an experimental approach in which an initial baseline phase is followed by implementation of a treatment program delivered in a series of phases. Each phase has its own criterion rate for the target behavior, and once responding becomes stable an incremental shift in the criterion occurs to implement another phase. For example, a researcher studying the effectiveness of money in reducing caffeine consumption may use a changing-criterion design with four treatment phases, each gradually decreasing the amount below which participants must maintain their caffeine intake. The changing-criterion design is distinguished from other approaches (e.g., the A-B-A design) in that it does not require the withdrawal of an intervention, an extended baseline, or treatment implementation across multiple behaviors or treatments.