There is upward trend during the intervention phase, but it looks as if the caseloads began to decrease during the baseline (October 1989). This is the baseline phase, and we can examine it for a pattern. From 1998 to July of 1991, there was no treatment. In Figure 11.1, the y-axis is caseload size. The y-axis is the measure of the problem we’re trying to change (i.e., the dependent variable). The x-axis is time, as measured in months. An example of a graph from a single-subjects design is shown in Figure 11.1. One way to analyze the data from a single-subjects design is to visually examine a graphical representation of the results. Repeated measurements are taken during this stage to see if there is change in the dependent variable during treatment. The next stage is the treatment stage, and it refers to the time in which the treatment is administered by the social worker. In this way, the baseline stage provides the same type of information as a control group - what it looks like when there is not treatment given. Thus, we have to see if our intervention is effective by comparing the client before treatment to and during and after treatment. The baseline stage is important because with only one subject, there is no control group. The drawback to this is the information is likely to be less reliable than a baseline data recorded in real time. In that case, a retrospective baseline can be attained by asking the client to recollect data from before the intervention started. Unfortunately, that may be impractical or unethical to do in practice if it entails withholding important treatment. This provides the opportunity to determine the baseline pattern. Ideally, social workers would start measurement for the baseline stage before starting the intervention. Establishing a pattern can prove difficult in clients whose behaviors vary widely. The dependent variable may (1) be stable over time, (2) exhibit a trend where it is increasing or decreasing over time, or (3) have a cycle of increasing and decreasing that is repeated over time. During the baseline stage, the social worker looks for one of three types of patterns (Engel & Schutt, 2016). This requires at least three different occasions of measurement, but it can often take longer. The baseline stage should last until a pattern emerges in the dependent variable. Whatever measure is used to assess the targeted problem, that measure is the dependent variable in the single-subjects design. For other clients, the social worker might assess other indicators, such as the number of arguments the client had when they were drinking or whether or not the client blacked out as a result of drinking. By looking at this, we could evaluate the level of alcohol consumption. A social worker might ask the client to record the number of drinks that they consume each day. For example, a person with substance use issues may binge drink on the weekends but cut down their drinking during the work week. During the baseline stage, the social worker is collecting data about the problem the treatment is hoping to address. The baseline stage is the period of time before the intervention starts. The dependent variable is measured repeatedly during two distinct phases: the baseline stage and the treatment stage. But what exactly are we measuring in single-subjects design? The behavior or outcome that we expect will change as a result of the treatment is the dependent variable in a single-subjects research design. Single-subjects designs involve repeated measurements over time, usually in two stages. While the results will not be generalizable, they do provide important insight into the effectiveness of clinical interventions. Because clinical social work often involves one-on-one practice, single-subjects designs are often used by social workers to ensure that their interventions are having a positive effect. Single-subjects design is distinct from other research methodologies in that, as its name indicates, only one person, group, policy, etc. Describe the two stages of single-subjects design.Identify why social workers might use single-subjects design.
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