Improving the Accessibility of Effect Size and Synthesis Methods for Single-Case Research

To develop SCD guidance, the research team conducted a 3-year project. During the first year, they reviewed the literature to select representative data sets published within single-case studies to provide the basis for the illustrations used throughout the Methods Guide for Effect Estimation and Synthesis of Single-Case Studies.  They also developed, field tested, and iteratively revised a Suite of Software Tools (R package and web-based application) to calculate SCD effect sizes. Across all years of the project, the research team developed, refined, and finalized the Methods Guide and the Suite of Software Tools with input from their advisory panel of SCD experts to ensure best fit methods, conceptual clarity of the decision rules featured in the guide, and usability of both the Methods Guide and the Suite of Software Tools. The Methods Guide summarizes technical developments in the use of effect size measures and synthesis methods for SCD and provides guidance on the underlying assumptions, advantages and disadvantages, and strategies for selecting and using each of the three major approaches for estimation and synthesis of single-case studies: a) design-comparable effect sizes, b) case-specific effect sizes, and c) multilevel modeling of raw individual participant interrupted time-series data.