Studying transition beh/ Please help

Can you please help me with this question?

How do you study transition behavior using a single subject steady state design?

I'm a ab student and have come across this question no one seems to know.
can you please help me?
Thanks so much!

[William H Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA]

Steady state behavior is stable responding and transition state responding is behavior undergoing change from one steady state to another.  There are many ways to measure behavior that undergoes a transition but that requires that behavior is stable before and after transition.  This is not as difficult or complex as it may sound but I suggest going to Murray Sidman's "Tactics of Scientific Research" (1960).  It details analyzing behavior in steady states and transition states and is available through www.behavior.org (in the book store under behavior analysis tools).

If the question is about measure the behavior of transition (as in moving from one place to another) in a single subject design, I suggest that you take a look at the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.  Go to the abstract search and type in the keyword transitions.  Several studies using single subject designs are reported there.  One excellent example is pasted below:

McCord, B. E., Thomson, R. J., & Iwata, B. A. (2001). Functional analysis and treatment of self- injury associated with transitions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 195-210.
We applied functional analysis methodology to the assessment and treatment of 2 individuals' self-injurious behavior (SIB), which was reported to be occasioned by transitions from one activity or location to another. A structural (task) analysis of activity transitions identified at least three separate components that might influence behavior either alone or in combination: (a) termination of a prechange activity, (b) initiation of a postchange activity, and (c) movement from one location to another. Results of preference and avoidance assessments were used to identify activities to which participants were exposed in varying arrangements during transitions in a functional analysis. Results of 1 participant's functional analysis indicated that his SIB was maintained by avoidance of having to change locations, regardless of the activity terminated prior to the change or the activity initiated following it. The 2nd participant's analysis revealed the same function but also an additional one: avoidance of certain task initiations. This information was used to identify transition contexts during intervention and to design treatment procedures appropriate for a given context and behavioral function. A procedure involving advance notice of an upcoming transition had no effect on SIB, and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) had limited effects in the absence of extinction. Sustained decreases in SIB were observed when DRA was combined with extinction and response blocking. Further extensions of functional analysis methodology to the assessment of problem behavior in situations characterized by multiple or protracted stimulus changes are discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: _activity transitions, advance notification, avoidance assessment, differential reinforcement, extinction, functional analysis, preference assessment, response blocking, self- injurious behavior