Subject descriptions and single-subject research

In this manuscript, we respond to the minimum standards for describing research subjects as proposed by the Council for Learning Disabilities (CLD) Research Committee. Three issues are raised about the standards: (a) whether justification exists for the recommended standards, (b) whether a relationship exists between the description of subjects and the probability of replication, and (c) whether all types of research require the same subject description standards. These issues are discussed, and three recommendations to investigators who use single-subject research designs are made: (1) Describe variables that control subjects' performance in baseline conditions and the contexts of that performance, (2) identify subject selection criteria, and (3) report status variables as recommended by the CLD Research Committee.