Understanding How Experts Conduct Visual Analysis

Although visual analysis is integral to evaluating intervention effects in single-case research, little is known about how researchers actually use this method. Previous research on visual analysis has focused on the decisions that researchers make but has not examined how researchers use visual analysis to make those decisions. In this qualitative study, we used a think-aloud protocol and asked 15 researchers to verbalize their analysis as they viewed published multiple baseline design graphs. We analyzed transcripts using Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR). Contrary to previous research on the reporting of visual analysis in published manuscripts, researchers frequently described level, trend, and variability. However, they discussed data sufficiency and covariation across tiers less often. Implications for future research include extending the think-aloud protocol to compare the analytic process across design types and expertise levels. Our findings may also contribute to the development or refinement of protocols for training visual analysis that are rooted in expert consensus.