1. GED 500 – Lesson 6 Single Subject Designs

2. Lesson Objectives
After completing all activities in this lesson, learners will be able to
- identify, diagram and describe types of single subject research designs.
GED 500 Lesson 6

3. Single Subject Research Designs
Experimental research implies that the independent variable can be manipulated.
Sometimes the experiment involves only one subject – especially in the measurement of behavior, in Counseling research and in Special Education research.
The experimental designs for this purpose are Single Subject designs.
GED 500 Lesson 6

4. Single Subject Research Designs
In Single Subject designs, as in all experimental designs, there is a “treatment” that serves as the independent variable.
Comparisons that take place in Single Subject designs take place over time.
Since there is only one subject, the comparison can be only of that one subject at different observation times during the study.
GED 500 Lesson 6

5. Single Subject Research Designs
Single Subject designs most often have baseline, treatment, and observation phases.
In the baseline phase no treatment is given. The dependent variable (often behavior) is measured.
The strongest Single Subject design includes a baseline phase before and an observation after a treatment. Data is collected during the baseline and during the post treatment observation.
GED 500 Lesson 6

6. Single Subject Research Designs
Single Subject designs often have A-B-A or
A-B-A-B designations
The As and Bs are associated with baseline (measurement), treatment and observation (measurement).
GED 500 Lesson 6

7. Single Subject Research Designs
For example, A-B-A means that there is:
Baseline measurement (A)
Treatment (B)
Observation (A)
A-B-A-B means that there is…
GED 500 Lesson 6

8. Single Subject Research Designs
In each of the phases, the dependent variable is measured several times to achieve stability (as in the time-series design).
The A-B pattern can be designed in almost any configuration:
A-B-A
A-A-B-A-A
A-B1-A-B2-A (two different treatments)
GED 500 Lesson 6

9. Single Subject Research Designs
Charts are often used to illustrate A-B-A etc. results.
GED 500 Lesson 6

10. Single Subject Research Designs
Another type of Single Subject design is called multiple baseline, which extends the comparisons beyond one behavior with one subject.
There are several types:
across-behaviors (more than one behavior for one subject)
across-subjects (the same behavior for several subjects)
across-settings (one behavior, one subject, several settings)
GED 500 Lesson 6

11. Single Subject Research Designs
For example, a Special Education teacher might want to know if a behavior management program works the same way for several students (across-subjects), for both acting out and self-biting (across-behaviors), or for a student in the classroom and on the playground (across-settings).
GED 500 Lesson 6

12. Single Subject Research Designs
Multiple baseline data is also commonly reported in chart form.
GED 500 Lesson 6

13. Single Subject Research Designs
If two treatments are compared simultaneously for one subject, it is called an alternating treatments design.
In this case, treatments are alternated and the behavior is measured for each condition.
Results are charted.
GED 500 Lesson 6

14. Self-Check
Single Subject designs are most commonly used for research involving…
behavior
teaching and learning
children interacting with parents
GED 500 Lesson 6

15. Self-Check (Single Subject)
Single Subject designs are most commonly used for research involving…
behavior
teaching and learning
children interacting with parents
GED 500 Lesson 6

16. Self-Check The A-B-A design means… Treatment, Baseline, Treatment
Treatment A, Baseline, Treatment B
Baseline, Treatment, Observation
GED 500 Lesson 6

17. Self-Check The A-B-A design means… Treatment, Baseline, Treatment
Treatment A, Baseline, Treatment B
Baseline, Treatment, Observation
GED 500 Lesson 6

18. Self-Check
The type of Single Subject design in which the effect of a treatment is measured on several subjects at the same time is…
Multiple Baseline
Multiple Subject Study
Multiple Settings Study
GED 500 Lesson 6

19. Self-Check
The type of Single Subject design in which the effect of a treatment is measured on several subjects at the same time is…
Multiple Baseline
Multiple Subject Study
Multiple Settings Study
GED 500 Lesson 6

20. End of Lesson 6
GED 500 Lesson 6