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Using Single-Subject Research Methodology to Study Learning Disabilities

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Research Issues in Learning Disabilities

Abstract

Single-subject research requires repeated, trustworthy measurement of dependent variables and repeated manipulation of one or more independent variables to establish lawful relationships between the dependent and independent variables and to discredit alternative explanations for that relationship. Single-subject researchers intensively study individuals’ actions under two or more experimentally controlled conditions; usually behavior, or the product of behavior, is the dependent variable, and presence or absence of an experimentally controlled condition is the independent variable. To judge whether a relationship between the independent and dependent variables exists, the investigator inspects the data visually. These characteristics are shared by the various designs typically discussed in texts on single-subject research methodology (e.g., Johnston & Pennypacker, 1993; Kazdin, 1982; Tawney & Gast, 1984).

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Lloyd, J.W., Tankersley, M., Talbott, E. (1994). Using Single-Subject Research Methodology to Study Learning Disabilities. In: Vaughn, S., Bos, C.S. (eds) Research Issues in Learning Disabilities. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8345-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8345-1_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8347-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-8345-1

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