Project
The Perfect Number Six: Comprehensively Analyzing Data obtained from Single-Case Experimental Designs
The aim of this PhD project is to introduce analytical techniques to analyze data obtained from single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) in terms of level, trend, variability, overlap, immediacy, and consistency. The development of a quantification to assess the consistency of data patterns from similar phases and the consistency of the replications of a potential effect is a first step to this end. We apply the developed quantification for assessing the degree of consistency of data patterns in the published literature by means of a systematic review to derive benchmarks for interpretation. Furthermore, we show how various effect size measures can be incorporated into a comprehensive approach for testing the significance of each data aspect with adequate Type I error rate control. To that end, we introduce randomization as an important mechanism for increasing the internal and statistical conclusion validity. Finally, a systematic review was conducted to find out which SCED forms are most often used, which data aspects applied researchers analyze, and how common randomization is in the study design.