Single-Subject Experimental Design for Evidence-Based Practice

• Published in: American journal of speech-language pathology Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 397 - 414
• Main Authors: Byiers, Breanne J., Reichle, Joe, Symons, Frank J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 01.11.2012; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Subjects: Behavior Change; Behavior Modification; Clinical medicine; Communication (Thought Transfer); Communication Disorders; Communication Disorders - therapy; Data Analysis; Education, Continuing; Effect Size; Evaluation Criteria; Evidence; Evidence Based Practice; Evidence-based medicine; Evidence-Based Practice - methods; Humans; Intervention; Language Pathology; Logical Thinking; Management; Physiology, Pathological; Quality; Replication (Evaluation); Research Design; Research Design - standards; Research methodology; Research Problems; Researchers; Resistance (Psychology); Speech disorders; Speech Disorders - therapy; Speech Language Pathology; Speech Pathology; Speech therapy; Speech-Language Pathology - methods; Speech-Language Pathology - standards; Statistical Analysis; Validity; United States
• ISSN: 1058-0360; 1558-9110; 1558-9110
• DOI: 10.1044/1058-0360(2012/11-0036)

Purpose: Single-subject experimental designs (SSEDs) represent an important tool in the development and implementation of evidence-based practice in communication sciences and disorders. The purpose of this article is to review the strategies and tactics of SSEDs and their application in speech-language pathology research. Method: The authors discuss the requirements of each design, followed by advantages and disadvantages. The logic and methods for evaluating effects in SSED are reviewed as well as contemporary issues regarding data analysis with SSED data sets. Examples of challenges in executing SSEDs are included. Specific exemplars of how SSEDs have been used in speech-language pathology research are provided throughout. Conclusion: SSED studies provide a flexible alternative to traditional group designs in the development and identification of evidence-based practice in the field of communication sciences and disorders. (Contains 2 tables and 8 figures.)