Single-subject designs

Multivariate, Replicated, Repeated-Measures Single-Subject Designs... 

We close this chapter with a brief introduction to the implications of work in dynamical systems theory for experimental design and analysis. This section is meant to portray a systems perspective that may be a fruitful worldview fi om which to approach research. The multivariate, replicated, repeated-measures, single-subject design can be used to provide data for examination within this dynamical systems perspective. 

MacMahon, S. and S. Kermode 1998. A clinical trial of the effect of aromatherapy on motivational behaviour in a dementia care setting using a single subject design. Aust. J. Holist. Nurs., 5 47-49. 

Denenberg, V. H. (1982). Comparative psychology and single-subject research. In D. W. Fiske (Series Ed.) A. E. Kazdin A. H. Tuma (Vol. Eds.X New directions for methodology of social and behavioral sciences Single-case research designs (No. 13, pp. 19 31). San Erancisco Jossey-Bass. 

Nesselroade, J. R., Jones, C. J. (1991). Multi-modal selection effects in the study of adult development A perspective on multivariate, replicated, single-subject, repeated measures designs. Experimental Aging Research, 17, 21-27. 

The designs in this section show how a single subject can be made to pop up using a wide variety of techniques, both one-piece and multipiece. The specific techniques used here and the forms generated relate exclusively to the shape of a heart. However, with a little imagination, the same techniques can be adapted in form to represent any other subject of your choice. The heart templates shown in this chapter can be enlarged but the different elements of the designs must remain in proportion to each other. 

Whereas existing methods rely on a single subjective judgment of score in each category, the BETAPLUS method provides specific design and operationally related questions to be answered in each category. 

Several protocols have been published in the literature, differing in terms of mode of application, body site, and so forth. The advantage of these tests is mainly to be more realistic than the soap chamber test they also offer the possibility of discontinuing product application at any time if excessive irritation starts to develop. The main disadvantage of the exaggerated use test is the low number of test materials that can be tested simultaneously on a single subject most of the procedures have been designed for only two products applied on the contralateral body sites, hands, (fore)arms, the antecubital flex, half-face or half-head, and so forth. Under such conditions, the test product is compared to only one reference product or solution per test. The method is also more tedious to perform on 25-30 subjects than a classical soap chamber test, as the applications, sometimes three to five per day and per subject, have to be done in the laboratory by a technician. 

Saudergrass, R.A. L.C. Drummer. 1996. Single subject research designs and zoo research. Zoo Biol. 15 173-182. 

The Linkam DSC is of the single specimen design and is described in detail elsewhere [36]. The cell comprises a silver enclosure around a thermocouple plate, the plate has a 3 X 0.5 mm slot and the sample is held in contact with the plate by a low thermal mass spring. A reference (cdibration) sample of the same thermal mass was first subjected to the temperature ramp and the thermal response of the neutral system recorded. The sample was then run and its thermal response recorded. The differential response was subsequently calculated from the electronic recordings, the single pan technique relies on the accuracy and reproducibility of the temperature control system and is comparable to that of a conventional, two-pan, heat-flux DSC (for example a Du Pont 990) [1]. 

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