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Single-participant research design. Bringing science to managed care
1Department of Psychology, Spalding University, 851 South Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40203-2188, USA. dmorgan@spalding.edu
The American Psychologist
|March 31, 2001
Summary
Single-participant research designs offer behavioral scientists accountability for clinical interventions. These designs provide flexibility for both basic and applied research, addressing criticisms of traditional statistical methods.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Psychology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Managed health care emphasizes accountability for clinical intervention effectiveness.
- Traditional null hypothesis significance testing faces increasing criticism.
- A gap exists between psychological research and clinical practice.
Observation:
- Single-participant research designs are well-suited for behavioral scientists and clinicians.
- These designs offer power and flexibility for intervention research.
- The Fisherian tradition has historically limited the adoption of single-participant designs.
Findings:
- This article details the history, epistemology, and benefits of single-participant research designs.
- Single-participant designs are advantageous for demonstrating intervention usefulness.
- The flexibility of these designs supports both basic and applied research.
Implications:
- Adoption of single-participant designs can improve the link between psychological research and practice.
- These designs provide a robust methodology for accountability in managed care settings.
- Single-participant research offers a valuable alternative for behavioral scientists evaluating interventions.