Researchers and clinical professionals use single case research designs when they want to learn more from a disorder, problem, or phenomenon affecting one person. Single case designs can be ideal to use to study one person in depth, such as when creating a specific intervention for a specific patient, or to use when studying a rare phenomenon. For example, a clinician might want to conduct in depth research on a patient’s response to intervention after a stroke. As another example, it could be rare for a patient to present with late stage untreated syphilis. If this patient consents to be part of a single case research study, information about late stage untreated syphilis could be gained without violating ethical standards or placing someone at risk by denying treatment.
Think of a topic or scenario you would want to research using a case study.
- What would you want to study and why did you select this topic.
- Summarize how you could conduct a single case study to assess this using the scientific method. Discuss what single case method you would use and why.
- Discuss anticipated findings from your study.
- Discuss the possible limitations to your study.