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Education, Pages: 4

Research Design – Single Subject

Research Design – Single Subject

Part 1: Definitions
Personal Definition: Definition:
This should be in your original words

 

The single-subject research design uses one subject or a group of individuals with similar characteristics to assess changes over a period. The research design relies on various characteristics found in the subject, thus making it impossible for the researcher to control the study and ensure the credibility of the results.

 Definition:

 

Single-subject research design is a research method that adopts “small samples to explore detailed changes over time” (Dorais et al., 2023, p. 136). This research method focuses on a single subject and incorporates the time variable to evaluate complex changes in a subject to reach viable conclusions. The research design is often used in disciplines such as education, human behavior, and psychology.

Reference:

Dorais, S., Dukes, A., & Gutierrez, D. (2023). Single Subject Design. Reimagining Research: Engaging Data, Research, and Program Evaluation in Social Justice Counseling.
 

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Part 2: Explore with Words
Antonym: Synonym:
Group research design

 

 Within-subject, single-case experimental design
Words associated with: Sentence:
Multiple-baseline research design Construct a sentence using the design in context.

 

Single-case experimental designs provide credible results.

Part 3: Purpose and Quality Indicators
Answers Research Questions about:
The single-case research design answers applied research questions concerning the type of experiment under investigation. In addition, this type of research design answers questions about specific characteristics of the subject of study. For instance, a teacher may need to establish the number of complex words that students with special needs can read per hour. After the teacher intervenes and illustrates the appropriate ways to pronounce the words, the teacher can then watch the students repeat reading the complex words over a one-hour period, evaluate the progress, and then record any type of changes that may occur in their reading skills.
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Characteristics:
●       The research is divided into different phases, where participants are tested for one condition under each phase.

●       The dependent variable is measured at regular interviews over a period

●       Participant behavior determines the change in conditions

●       Research does not rely on a specified amount of time or number of observations

●       The research offers repeated measurement since behavior is measured repeatedly

 ●       Provides detailed descriptions of the conditions under research

●       Only one variable is allowed to change under single-subject research.
Sampling / Participants
Single subject research does not rely on a single subject as its name suggests. Instead, it relies on a small number of participants, ranging from two to ten participants. The participants are not studied as a group; instead, the researcher evaluates each of the participants’ characteristics. Single subject research relies on objective behavior since each participant serves as an independent control in the research. Moreover, the independent control aspect is achieved through changing the interventions and repeated observation to evaluate the behavioral changes. The results of the observation are represented on a line graph to illustrate the behavioral changes achieved after the intervention.
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Intervention Fidelity / Independent Variable
Single-subject research seeks to evaluate the participant’s variability to determine the impact of the evaluation. The independent variable refers to the intervention that is introduced in the research. Notably, the independent variable relies on the participants in the research to produce results. The success of the independent variable relies on the fidelity of the intervention. Fidelity of the intervention is defined as the accuracy of the results achieved from the intervention. Fidelity is pegged on correctly implementing the vital components of the proposed intervention (An et al., 2020). Measurements of intervention fidelity ensure attention to the intervention and guard the research against any deviations that may impact the successful implementation of the intervention.
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Instrumentation / Measures
Instrumentation is a vital aspect of data collection in single-subject research. Notably, this research relies on the input of participants, thus adopting instrumentation that enables the researcher to evaluate the effects of the interventions introduced. The ideal instrumentation will involve using observation and interviews. Observation is ideal when measuring the physical changes that may occur after intervention. On the other hand, interviews are used to evaluate the internal impacts of an intervention. Observation and interviews allow the participants to illuminate, describe, and explain the situations under research (Mowat, 2022). The measures in this research design involve repetition of the interview or observation to evaluate the impact of the interventions.
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Internal Validity
Internal validity is essential in ensuring successful observation of participants’ behavior and the subsequent development of credible conclusions. Internal validity is measured as “the extent to which observed differences in the dependent variable are directly related to the independent variable” (Baldwin, 2018, p. 31). Internal validity is achieved by repetition, whereby the researcher repeats the observation process to ascertain the impact of the intervention. Various factors pose a significant threat to internal validity. The leading threat is the bias between subjects, whereby some participants have characteristics that provide an advantage over other participants. The second threat is mortality, whereby the researcher loses participants, which impacts the entire research.
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Outcome Measures / Dependent Variable
The dependent variable in a single-subject research design is the performance of the participants after the intervention is introduced. Essentially, the dependent variable in the research is the behavior (Scruggs & Mastropieri, 2021). The dependent variable is measured repeatedly since it forms the basis of evaluating the intervention’s impact. Notably, the outcome measures in this research rely on the quality of the dependent variable. The dependent variable undergoes changing conditions that are measured over time using repetition to evaluate the effects of the interventions. The quality of the dependent variables is determined by the quality of the intervention. If the trend of a variable increases or decreases whenever conditions change, then the intervention is problematic.
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Data Collection / Analysis
Single-subject research relies on varying data collection methods. The methods adopted in data collection should ensure the researcher can observe the vital aspects of the participant’s behavior. The commonly used data collection methods in this research are observation, tests, and interviews (Istiqomah et al., 2022). After data collection, it is essential to analyze the data to make conclusions. The most common data analysis technique is visual inspection, which is conducted after data representation. The researcher represents their data on a graph and looks at the distribution of the plots on the graph for the data collection sessions before making a decision on how the independent variable (intervention) impacts the dependent variable (behavior).
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Part 4: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Critical Issues
Strengths: Weaknesses:
●       Single-subject research is easy to conduct and provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between intervention and behavior. The researcher simply needs to conduct repeated interventions and behavioral observation to conduct a detailed analysis

●       Conducting this research is inexpensive as it does not require a lot of participants or expensive data analysis tools

●       The research offers a lot of flexibility in implementing and evaluating the interventions. The researcher can evaluate the interventions of each participant until they achieve the desired results.

●       Best suited for inexperienced researchers since it does not require complex data analysis tools. Researchers simply need to represent the data on a graph and conduct a visual inspection.

●       The research design allows for the evaluation of individual data and continuous assessment of the interventions.

●       Adopts the use of minimal subjects and still achieves credible results. The use of minimal participants ensures the avoidance of methodological and statistical challenges evident in other research designs.

 ●       Single-subject research relies on the generalization of conclusions, thus failing to address the impact of interventions on each participant.

●       Lack of concrete generalized results for the interventions since each intervention applies independently to each participant

●       Relies on multiple and heterogeneous participants across studies, which implies generality. As a result, it becomes difficult to provide an in-depth analysis of the performance of an intervention across changing conditions.

●       Prone to failures during testing. In instances where single-subject research is used in providing treatment, systematic changes in environmental conditions could impact the relationship between the intervention and the outcome of the treatment.

●       Prone to failure, especially when a participant is lost, thus altering the repetition of the intervention and observation

●       There is no comparison group, which makes it difficult to ascertain the effectiveness of the intervention; thus, the inability to achieve external validity.

●       Fails to conduct intricate data analysis and relies on graphical representation and visual observations to conduct analysis, which impacts its external validity.
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Critical Issues to Identify:
When reviewing this type of design, it is critical to look for …….

There are three critical aspects to consider in single-subject research. These factors are the changes in level, variability, and trend as they indicate the quality of the intervention and ultimately impact the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Firstly, it is critical to look for changes in level after the introduction of an intervention. Level refers to the average performance rate in every phase where an intervention is applied. Further, it is essential to look at the instance of change after the introduction of the intervention. Finally, it is critical to look for the trend. The trend refers to the gradual changes (decreases or increases) in behavior during observations.
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What Will Help Me Remember:
The critical aspect that will enhance my remembrance of single-subject design is the fact that it relies on an individual participant’s response to an intervention. Further, I will remember the research design because it does not require complex data collection and analysis processes.
Unique to Special Education:
How does this research design meet unique needs in special education? What unique problems does this design have when implemented in special education?
Allows the tutor to focus on the specific needs of learners and provide different interventions repeatedly to improve the learners’ capabilities. The collective interventions provided may not have similar effects on every learner. Each learner may require a unique intervention to enhance their capabilities.

 
Prominent Researchers:
  1. Wilhelm Wundt-Conducted research on sensation and consciousness
  2. Burrhus Frederic Skinner-Experimental analysis of behavior
  1. Montrose Wolf-Social Validity: The case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart
  2. Alan Kazdin and Hussain Tuma-Single-Case Research Designs
Resources:
  1. https://opentext.wsu.edu/carriecuttler/chapter/overview-of-single-subject-research/
 3. Wolf, M. M. (1978). Social validity: the case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis finds its heart 1. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11(2), 203-214.
  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7691231/
 4. Kazdin, A. E., & Tuma, A. H. (1982). Single-case research designs.

References
An, M., Dusing, S. C., Harbourne, R. T., Sheridan, S. M., & START-Play Consortium. (2020). What really works in intervention? Using fidelity measures to support optimal outcomes. Physical therapy, 100(5), 757-765.

Baldwin, L. (2018). Internal and external validity and threats to validity. In Research concepts for the practitioner of educational leadership (pp. 31-36). Brill.

Dorais, S., Dukes, A., & Gutierrez, D. (2023). Single Subject Design. Reimagining Research: Engaging Data, Research, and Program Evaluation in Social Justice Counseling.

Istiqomah, I., Yuliani, R., Ekawati, R., & Widodo, S. A. (2022). Number recognition development with number card: Single subject research. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 11(3), 1171-1182.

Mowat, H. (2022). Interviews and Observation. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research, 382-392.

Scruggs, T. E., & Mastropieri, M. A. (2021). How to summarize single-participant research: Ideas and applications. In The Meta-Analysis Research in Special Education (pp. 227-244). Routledge.

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Question 

Overview

In order to become more familiar with the different research designs, you will complete three Research Design Assignments in this course.  For each Research Design Assignment, you will focus on the one assigned research design and state the design’s definition, purpose, characteristics, quality indicators, strengths, weaknesses, and critical issues.

Research Design - Single Subject

Research Design – Single Subject

Instructions

Using the Research Design Template provided for each of these three assignments, complete each section of the template by answering each prompt. You must incorporate at least one citation per section from a scholarly journal and list the word count for each section where requested.

Word requirements are as follows:

  • Part 1: 50-word minimum
  • Part 2: No word count requirement
  • Part 3: 100-word minimum
  • Part 4: 150-word minimum

If a question or section on the template does not have a word count listed within the questions, it does not have a word count requirement. Formatting and references must reflect current APA compliance.