In this article, literature concerning the quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) of single-subject research literature is reviewed. First, the general rationale for such an approach is discussed. Next, procedures for synthesizing single-subject literature are described, followed by comments and critiques of those procedures. Finally, a review is presented of the results of applications of those procedures. The authors suggest that procedures based on percentage of nonoverlapping data (PND) between baseline and treatment are justifiable, meaningful, and-across nine applications have produced results that are highly meaningful and faithful to the original research reports.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Allison, D. B. , Faith, M. S., & Franklin, R. D. (1995). Antecedent exercise in the treatment of disruptive behavior: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 2, 279-303.
2.
Allison, D. B. , & Gorman, B. S. (1993). Calculating effect sizes for meta-analysis: The case of the single case. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 31, 621-631.
3.
Allison, D. B. , & Gorman, B. S. (1994). "Make things as simple as possible, but no simpler." A rejoinder to Scruggs and Mastropieri. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 32, 885-890.
4.
Andrews, G. , Guitar, B., & Howie, P. (1980). Meta-analysis of the effects of stuttering treatment. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 45, 287-307.
5.
Busk, P L. , & Serlin, R. C. (1992). Meta-analysis for single-case research. In T. R. Kratochwill & J. R. Levin (Eds.), Single-case research design and analysis: New directions for psychology and education (pp. 187-212). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
6.
Center, B. A. , Skiba, R. J., & Casey, A. (1985-1986). Amethodology forthequantitative synthesis of intra-subject design research. Journal of Special Education, 19, 387-400.
7.
Coop, K. M. (1982). The use of induced imagery to increase reading and listening comprehension for learning disabled students. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
8.
Corcoran, K. J. (1985). Aggregating the idiographic data of single-subject research. Social Work Research and Abstracts, 21, 9-12.
9.
Gingerich, W. J. (1984). Meta-analysis of applied time-series data. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 20, 71-79.
10.
Glass, G. , McGaw, B., & Smith, M. L. (1981). Meta-analysis in social research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
11.
Hamilton, J. , & Safer, N. (1992). Single subject research and the policy process. In T. E. Scruggs & M. A. Mastropieri (Eds.), Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol. 7, pp. 291-309). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
12.
Herbert, E. W. , Pinkston, E. M., Hayden, M. L., Sajwaj, T. E., Pinkston, S., Cordua, G., & Jackson, C. (1973). Adverse effects of differential parental attention. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 6, 15-30.
13.
Hersen, M. , & Barlow, D. H. (1984). Single case experimental designs: Strategies for studying behavior change. New York: Pergamon.
14.
Huitema, B. E. (1985). Autocorrelation in applied behavior analysis: A myth. Behavioral Assessment, 7, 109-120.
15.
Jackson, G. B. (1980). Methods for integrative reviews. Review of Educational Research, 50, 438-460.
16.
Kavale, K. A. , Mathur, S. R., Fomess, S. R., Rutherford, R. B., & Quinn, M. M. (1997). Effectiveness of social skills training for students with behavior disorders: A meta-analysis. In T. E. Scruggs & M. A. Mastropieri (Eds.), Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol. 11, pp. 1-26). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
17.
Kazdin, A. (1978). Methodological and interpretive problems of single-case experimental designs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 629-642.
18.
Levin, J. R. (1992). Single-case research design and analysis: Comments and concerns. In T. R. Kratochwill & J. R. Levin (Eds.), Single-case research design and analysis: New directions for psychology and education (pp. 213-242). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
19.
Mastropieri, M. A. , & Scruggs, T. E. (1985-1986). Early intervention for socially withdrawn children. Journal of Special Education, 19, 429-441.
20.
Mastropieri, M. A. , & Scruggs, T. E. (1989). Constructing more meaningful relationships: Mnemonic instruction for special populations. Educational Psychology Review, 1, 83-111.
21.
Mastropieri, M. A. , Scruggs, T. E., Bakken, J. P., & Whedon, C. (1996). Reading comprehension: A synthesis of research in learning disabilities. In T. E. Scruggs & M. A. Mastropieri (Eds.), Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol. 10, pp. 201-227). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
22.
Parsonson, B. S. , & Baer, D. M. (1992). The visual analysis of data, and current research into the stimuli controlling it. In T. R. Kratochwill & J. R. Levin (Eds.), Single-case research design and analysis. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
23.
Salzburg, C. L. , Strain, P. S., & Baer, D. M. (1987). Meta-analysis for single-subject research: When does it clarify? When does it obscure?Remedial and Special Education, 8, 43-48.
24.
Schloss, P. J. , Misra, A., & Smith, M. R. (1992). The use of single subject designs in applied settings. In T. E. Scruggs & M. A. Mastropieri (Eds.), Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol. 7, pp. 249-290). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
25.
Schlosser, R. W. , & Goetze, H. (1991). Selbstverletzendes Verhalten bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit geistiger Behinderung: eine Meta-Analyse von Einzelfalluntersuchungen zur Effektivitat von Interventionen [Interventions for reducing self-injurious behavior in children and youth: A meta-analysis of evaluations of intervention effectiveness]. Sonder-padogogik, 21, 138-154.
26.
Schlosser, R. W. , & Goetze, H. (1992). Effectiveness and treatment validity of interventions addressing self-injurious behavior: From narrative reviews to meta-analyses. In T. E. Scruggs & M. A. Mastropieri (Eds.), Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol. 7, pp. 135-176). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
27.
Scotti, J. R. , Evans, I. M., Meyer, L. H., & Walker, P. (1991). A meta-analysis of intervention research with problem behavior: Treatment validity and standards of practice. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 96, 233-256.
28.
Scruggs, T. E. (1992). Single subject methodology in the study of learning and behavioral disorders: Design, analysis, and synthesis. In T. E. Scruggs & M. A. Mastropieri (Eds.), Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol.7, pp. 223-248). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
29.
Scruggs, T. E. , & Mastropieri, M. A. (Eds.). (1994a). The effectiveness of generalization training: A quantitative synthesis of single subject research. In Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol. 8, pp. 259-280). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
30.
Scruggs, T. E. , & Mastropieri, M. A. (1994b). The utility of the PND statistic: A reply to Allison and Gorman. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 32, 879-883.
31.
Scruggs, T. E. , Mastropieri, M. A., & Casto, G. (1987a). The quantitative synthesis of single subject research: Methodology and validation. Remedial and Special Education, 8, 24-33.
32.
Scruggs, T. E. , Mastropieri, M. A., & Casto, G. (1987b). Reply to Owen White. Remedial and Special Education, 8, 40-42.
33.
Scruggs, T. E. , Mastropieri, M. A., & Casto, G. (1987c). Response to Salzberg, Strain, and Baer. Remedial and Special Education, 8, 49-52.
34.
Scruggs, T. E. , Mastropieri, M. A., Cook, S., & Escobar, C. (1986). Early intervention forchildren with conduct disorders: A quantitative synthesis of single-subject research. Behavioral Disorders, 11, 260-271.
35.
Scruggs, T. E. , Mastropieri, M. A., Forness, S. R., & Kavale, K. A. (1988). Early language intervention: A quantitative synthesis of single-subject research. Journal of Special Education, 22, 259-283.
36.
Scruggs, T. E. , Mastropieri, M. A., & McEwen, I. (1988). Early intervention for developmental functioning: A quantitative synthesis of single subject research. Journalfor the Division of Early Childhood, 12, 359-367.
37.
Skiba, R. J. , & Casey, A. (1985). Interventions on behavior disordered students: A quantitative review and methodological critique. Behavioral Disorders, 10, 239-252.
38.
Skiba, R. J. , Casey, A., & Center, B. A. (1985-1986). Nonaversive procedures in the treatment of classroom behavior problems. Journal of Special Education, 19, 459-481.
39.
Stokes, T. , & Baer, D. M. (1977). An implicit technology of generalization. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 349-367.
40.
Swanson, H. L. (1981). Modification of comprehension deficits in learning disabled children. Learning Disability Quarterly, 4, 819-202.
41.
Tawney, J. W. , & Gast, D. I. (1984). Single-subject research in special education. Columbus, OH: Merrill.
42.
White, D. M. , Rusch, F. R., Kazdin, A. E., & Hartmann, D. P. (1989). Applications of meta-analysis in individual subject research, Behavioral Assessment, 11, 281-296.
43.
White, 0. R. (1987). Some comments conceming "The quantitative synthesis of single-subject research."Remedial and Special Education, 8, 34-39.
44.
Yeaton, W. H. (1982). A critique of the effectiveness of applied behavior analysis research. Advances in Behavior Research and Therapy, 4, 75-96.
