This book is written for student researchers, practitioners, and university faculty who are interested in answering applied research questions and objectively evaluating educational and clinical practices. The basic tenet of single-subject research methodology is that the individual is of primary importance and that each individual study participant serves as his or her own control. It is because of this focus on the individual that clinicians and educators have been using single-subject research designs for over 40 years to answer applied research questions. Although the methodology has its roots in behavioral psychology and applied behavioral analysis, it has been used by applied researchers across a variety of disciplines such as special education, speech and communication sciences, language and literacy, therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy, and social work. Key features include the following: Applied Focus – More than any other text, this one focuses on the nuts and bolts of how to use single-subject research in constructing one’s research project or in evaluating one’s professional practice. Numerous and Varied Examples – The book abounds in examples from special education and other disciplines and populations within the applied research literature. Reader Friendly – The text is written in a reader friendly style, features sample data sheets and graphic displays, and includes detailed guidelines for conducting visual analysis of graphic data. Expertise – The author’s long and distinguished career in teaching single-subject research is augmented in this book by contributions from other experts in the field.

In this anticipated new edition of Single Case Research Methodology, David L. Gast and Jennifer R. Ledford detail why and how to apply standard principles of single case research methodology to one’s own research or professional project. Using numerous and varied examples, they demonstrate how single case research can be used for research in behavioral and school psychology, special education, speech and communication sciences, language and literacy, occupational therapy, and social work. This thoroughly updated new edition features two entirely new chapters on measurement systems and controversial issues in single subject research, in addition to sample data sheets, graphic displays, and detailed guidelines for conducting visual analysis of graphic data. This book will be an important resource to student researchers, practitioners, and university faculty who are interested in answering applied research questions and objectively evaluating educational and clinical practices.

The Reviewer’s Guide to Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences provides evaluators of research manuscripts and proposals in the social and behavioral sciences with the resources they need to read, understand, and assess quantitative work. 35 uniquely structured chapters cover both traditional and emerging methods of quantitative data analysis, which neither junior nor veteran reviewers can be expected to know in detail. The second edition of this valuable resource updates readers on each technique’s key principles, appropriate usage, underlying assumptions and limitations, providing reviewers with the information they need to offer constructive commentary on works they evaluate. Written by methodological and applied scholars, this volume is also an indispensable author’s reference for preparing sound research manuscripts and proposals.

This text ntroduces readers to the history, epistemology, and strategies of single-case research design. The authors offer concrete information on how to observe, measure, and interpret change in relevant outcome variables and how to design strategies that promote causal inferences. Key Features Includes case vignettes on specific single-case designs Describes clinical and applied case studies Draws on multiple examples of single-case designs from published journals across a wide range of disciplines Covers recent developments in applied research, including meta-analysis and the distinction between statistical and clinical significance Provides pedagogical tools to help readers master the material, including a glossary, interim summaries, end-of-chapter review questions, and activities that encourage active processing of material. Intended Audience This text is intended for students and practitioners in a variety of disciplines—including psychology, nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy—who are increasingly called upon to document the effectiveness of interventions.

Evaluations of intervention programs seek to present high-quality design, measures and data to assess their merit and worth. While evaluations differ in their purpose, theoretical framework and methodology, their collective aim is to obtain relevant and meaningful information to inform practice, research, and policy. As such, evaluation findings serve to build a body of knowledge on effective approaches to promote designated psychological outcomes, critical to an individual's overall health and well-being. However, as examined in this e-book, methodological weaknesses directly limit the potential of evaluations of intervention programs. As discussed by Chacón-Moscoso and Sanduvete-Chaves, methodological weaknesses can be attributed to how to define and measure methodological quality and the contextual dependency of instruments designed to measure this quality. In response, this e-book provides a collection of studies on methodological approaches to promote the quality of psychological interventions. Specifically, 10 original works published in the Research Topic Methodological Quality of Interventions in Psychology are included. The papers are organized into two chapters. Concretely, Chapter 1 includes studies pertaining to methodological approaches to enhance the quality of psychological intervention, being context independent solutions. Furthermore, Chapter 2 presents original work in different areas (health, education, sport and social welfare) where methodological quality has been better assessed. Collectively, the papers in this e-book serve to expand the awareness of practitioners and researchers interested in psychological interventions of the critical role of methodological quality in this work. This research was funded by the projects 1150096 (Chilean National Fund of Scientific and Technological Development, FONDECYT); and PSI2015-71947-REDT (Spain’s Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness).

Praise for earlier editions: I have been using this textbook as a required reading for my research class since 2004 because I found the text’s coverage of research concepts to be in-depth, and easy to read without the technicalities. —Ziblim Abukari, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Westfield State University Applied Social Research. . . is thorough, well organized, and clear, making it highly appreciated by my students. —Barry Loneck, PhD, School of Social Welfare, SUNY Albany Discover the practical side of research in human services with this easy-to-follow classic Designed for students and professionals in social work, public administration, nursing, criminal justice, and other human services fields, this text breaks down complex concepts into accessible, real-world applications. Follow along with easy-to-read language and engaging examples to uncover nonintimidating, practical tools for everyday problem-solving. Several new features, such as recorded practitioner interviews and Technology in Research boxes, clarify and reinforce the value of applied social research and innovative tools real professionals use in their work. This textbook takes readers on a journey through the entire research process, from identifying problems to collecting and analyzing data, and finally, to effectively communicating your findings. Each chapter closes with critical thinking and self-assessment questions to help evaluate students’ understanding of the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), promoting in-depth learning. Instructors will also welcome a wide array of instructor resources, including a new Instructor Manual, Sample Syllabi, Test Bank, and chapter PowerPoint presentations. New to the Eleventh Edition: Every chapter opens with an extended vignette highlighting how professionals incorporate research methods into their work. New Practitioner Profiles provide real-world insights into human services, and podcast segments with recorded interviews are included with every chapter. Chapters now include Technology in Research and Research in Practice boxes, helping readers understand the research practice and technological innovations. The new Instructor Manual includes additional discussion questions relating to the podcasts, learning activities to help students evaluate competencies, and more. Key Features: Clear explanations of the research process, from problem-solving to data analysis, simplifies learning. Explore real-life stories via practitioner interviews and vignettes in every chapter. All chapters close with bulleted main points, key terms for review, and several types of questions for evaluating competencies and self-assessment. Understand the link between research and improved services and develop logic-based research skills.

The field of classroom management is not a neatly organized line of inquiry, but rather consists of many disparate topics and orientations that draw from multiple disciplines. Given the complex nature of the field, this comprehensive second edition of the Handbook of Classroom Management is an invaluable resource for those interested in understanding it. This volume provides up-to-date summaries of research on the essential topics from the first edition, as well as fresh perspectives and chapters on new topics. It is the perfect tool for both graduate students and practitioners interested in a field that is fascinating but not immediately accessible without the proper guidance.

Research in Deaf Education: Contexts, Challenges, and Considerations provides foundational chapters in the history, demography, and ethics of deaf education today. It also gives readers specific guidance across a broad range of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.

Single-Case Methods in Clinical Psychology: A Practical Guide provides a concise and easily-accessible introduction to single-case research. This is a timely response to the increasing awareness of the need to look beyond randomised controlled trials for evidence to support best practice in applied psychology. The book covers the issues of design, the reliability and validity of measurement, and provides guidance on how to analyse single-case data using both visual and statistical methods. Single-case designs can be used to investigate an individual’s response to psychological intervention, as well as to contribute to larger scale research projects. This book illuminates the common principles behind these uses. It describes how standardised measures can be used to evaluate change in an individual and how to develop idiographic measures that are tailored to the needs of an individual. The issue of replication and generalising beyond an individual are examined, and the book also includes a section on the meta-analysis of single-case data. The critical evaluation of single-case research is examined, from both the perspective of developing quality standards to evaluate research and maintaining a critical distance in reviewing one’s own work. Single Case Methods in Clinical Psychology will provide invaluable guidance to postgraduate psychologists training to enter the professions of clinical, health and counselling psychology and is likely to become a core text on many courses. It will also appeal to clinicians seeking to answer questions about the effectiveness of therapy in individual cases and who wish to use the method to further the evidence-base for specific psychological interventions.

N-of-1 trials, a type of individualized randomized controlled trial, are relevant to almost every discipline in medicine and psychology. They can tell the clinician with precision whether a treatment works in that individual, which distinguishes from the information available from most other trial designs. They have the potential to revolutionize the way clinical medicine is practiced. Whether you are a busy clinician, a researcher or a student, this book provides everything you need to know about N-of-1 trials. Written and edited by some of the world’s leading experts on N-of-1 trials, the book presents state of the art knowledge about N-of-1 trials, with chapters on ethics, statistics, health economics, design, analysis and reporting, and more. Full of examples and well illustrated, it is a comprehensive compendium of issues surrounding the design, conduct, interpretation and implementation of N-of-1 trials in a health system.