Single subject research design is an experimental design used to establish functional relationships in individuals commonly applied in fields of psychology, education, and human behavior. Effective interventions are identified in natural settings to measure the mean change in participants’ behavior. It involves up to eight subjects who are own controlled. The independent variable can be manipulated to achieve meaningful outcomes.
This design is advantageous since it is feasible and efficient in field research, it provides quick feedback to the investigator about the effects of the treatment conditions. It has strong internal validity since it’s very flexible in response to intervention effects and highlights individual variations. Generally, it’s been shown to reduce study bias of individuals. The design is criticized for its unsuitability to answer actuarial questions, it makes heavy time demands. The subsequent phase is affected by results from the previous phase and the sequence of the intervention has an influence on results. Once the independent variable changes, it affects the dependent variable and can’t be reversed. Ethical and feasibility problems are presented by the withdrawal of treatment.
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Data is collected in phases beginning with baseline data collected without any interference on the dependent variable. To collect information on the dependent variable an independent variable is introduced in the intervention phase. The independent variable in the reversal phase is removed to collect information on the dependent variable. Descriptive, correlational, and causal knowledge levels are produced by this design.
In the case of language deficits, storybooks are read by an adult to a boy of three years diagnosed with autism and questions asked periodically to record his normal level of spontaneous speech. This is repeated while elaborating on the story, asking questions, posing choices and allowing the child to give information until his speech increases spontaneously. A graphic analysis is visually conducted to inspect differences between phases to measure level, trend and variability. The goal is to demonstrate, verify and replicate.
