Single-case study designs revisited

Although considered by some writers to be one way of integrating research and practice, single-case study designs have recently been criticized for failing to facilitate research and practice goals. The authors offer a perspective in which knowledge-building efforts are seen along a continuum ranging from exploratory to causal and indicate that such a perspective leads to a more optimistic view of the usefulness of various single-case designs. They suggest that a practice model including such elements as a clear definition of desired outcomes, the collection of baseline information, and the tracking of progress during intervention is compatible with a variety of single-case study designs.