SINGLE SUBJECT

RESEARCH DESIGN

ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
INTRODUCTION
 In design of experiments, single-
subject design or single-
case research design is a research
design most often used in applied
fields of psychology, education, and
human behavior in which
the subject serves as his/her own
control, rather than using another
individual/group.
 Single-subject research is a method
ADVANTAGES OF SINGLE
SUBJECT RESEARCH DESIGN
 The biggest advantage of single-subject
research design is its ability to carry out
a scientific investigation with only one
subject (or sometimes two).
 It saves much time in dealing with
many subjects or large N research or
between group researches and he is
able to have full concentration on only
one subject.
 Single-subject research design allows
the researcher to control the
experimental situation more
 Such researches rarely require statistical
tests to be performed for evaluation of
data.
 Both exploratory and descriptive
researches can easily be carried out with
single-subject design.
 Single-subject research design allows the
researcher to eliminate and hold constant
extraneous variables that do not show
up until after the investigation is under
way.
 They are highly flexible and highlight
DISADVANTAGES OF SINGLE
SUBJECT DESIGN
 Carry-over effects: Results from the
previous phase carry-over into the next
phase.
 Order effects: The ordering (sequence)
of the intervention or treatment affects
what results.
 Irreversibility: Once a change in the
independent variable occurs, the
dependent variable is affected this cannot
be undone by simply removing the
 Practical limitations: Single subject
research is time consuming research.
 Baseline Problems: One of the basic
assumptions of single subject research is
that stable baseline has been established. If
baselines varies it is difficult for the
researcher to conclude a reliable change in
behaviour following treatment or intervention.
 Researcher’s Bias: The researcher waits
for some cues indicating change in subject’s
Behaviour and then he introduces a
withdrawal of the treatment. Such practices
by the researcher are not scientific.
Thank You !