Ch. 9 Single-Case Designs and Small-n Research

Question 1

Single-Case Research Designs

Answer 1

• idiographic rather than nomothetic
• often used in clinical psychology and neuropsychology
• two major types: case study and single-case experimental designs

Question 2

Case Study Method

Answer 2

Intensive description and analysis of a single individual
Data:
- clinical observations, self-report, archival data
- case studies typically report results of a treatment

A major problem is the lack of scientific control due to simultaneous treatments and extraneous variables

Question 3

Advantages of Case Study Method

Answer 3

• rich source of ideas for hypotheses
• opportunity for clinical innovation
• method for studying rare events
• possible challenges to theoretical assumptions
• tentative support for psychological theory
• complement to nomothetic

Question 4

Disadvantages of Case Study Method

Answer 4

• difficulty drawing cause-and0effect conclusions
• problem of generalizing findings from a single individual
• possible biases when interpreting outcomes (observer bias, biases in data collection e.g. poor memory)

Question 5

Points to remember about case studies

Answer 5

• anecdotal evidence and “testimonials” are no scientific
• reports that appear in popular press and media are not necessarily based on good science
• people want to believe treatments described in testimonials will work for them, but they often don’t
• it’s better to pay attention to results of single-subject experiments

Question 6

Single-Subject Experimental Designs

Answer 6

Based on B. F. Skinner’s approach called applied behavior analysis
- greater scientific control
- critical feature: independent variable
- treatment
- no-treatment control ( baseline stage)
- compare treatment and baseline conditions
- monitor behavior continuously
- search for discontinuity in behavior following implementation of treatment