Comparing Visual and Statistical Analyses of Single-Case Designs

• In Event: 52.034 - Single-Case Designs and Small Sample Issues

Abstract

Although visual analysis has been the primary method of analysis in single-case designs (SCD), numerous statistical analyses have been developed to quantify SCD intervention effects and enable SCDs to be included in evidence-based practice reviews. This study investigated the correspondence between expert visual analysis and a recently-developed standardized effect size for SCDs. Editorial board members of journals that primarily publish SCDs (n=52) judged whether 31 published, multiple baseline design graphs depicted a functional relation. The percentage of experts declaring that a functional relation was present was compared to the standardized effect size. While a positive association was found, dichotomous classification of functional relation presence revealed differences between the two analytic methods, which warrants further investigation of data patterns producing disagreement.

Authors

• Katie Wolfe, University of South Carolina - Columbia

• Tammiee S. Dickenson, University of South Carolina - Columbia

• Kathleen McGrath, University of South Carolinia