An Alternative Method for Quantitative Synthesis of Single-Subject Researches

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is twofold: (a) to compare the validation of percentage of nonoverlapping data approach and percentage of data points exceeding the median of baseline phase (PEM) approach, and (b) to demonstrate application of the PEM approach in conducting a quantitative synthesis of single-subject research investigating the effectiveness of self-control. The results show that the PEM had higher Spearman correlation with original authors' judgment than PND did. The results of applying the PEM approach to synthesize the effect of self-control training on academic and social behavior showed that the treatment was highly or at least moderately effective.

Literature Review of Interventions for Between-Task Transitioning for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Including Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Although this metric is the most widely used method of objectively determining intervention effectiveness in singlesubject research (Parker et al 2011), Wolery et al (2010 cite several limitations of PND that should be taken into account when viewing the current results. First, PND may be impacted by the presence of variability and trend in the baseline condition (Ma 2006). For example, Kern and Vorndran (2000) investigated the effects of preferred activities and adult interaction on flopping to the floor in the context of transitions.…”

Impact Of Tactile-Cued Self-Monitoring On Independent Biology Work For Secondary Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…To analyze graphed data and to evaluate control of the TCSM intervention over the target behavior, we used six classic visual inspection criteria, including changes in means, levels, trends, and variability; latency; and overlap (Kazdin, 2011). We also reported descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, and ranges), percentage of nonoverlapping data (PND; Scruggs, Mastropieri, & Castro, 1987), and percentage of data points exceeding the median (PEM; Ma, 2006). Finally, we calculated effect sizes (d, that is, standardized mean difference; Cohen, 1988), using the standard deviation of the baseline phase, to compare each participant's mean percentage of independent biology work for the baseline phase versus first condition, and for the baseline phase versus all conditions' phases combined.…”

Behaviour analysis and evidence-based education

“…The advantages of combining visual analyses with the use of statistical procedures in singlesubject research designs can be important (Beeson & Robey, 2006;Ma, 2006).…”