SINGLE-CASE RESEARCH IN CLINICAL-PSYCHOLO GY - MULTIPLE-BASE-LINE DESIGNED EXPERIMENTS

To evaluate clinical-therapeutical interventions there can be used var ious types of case-studies. A distinction is made between anectodical and uncontrolled case-studies and controlled single case-studies. Most of the single case-studies are based on the comparison between baseli ne and treatment data, using the person as its own control. This compa rison within one person combined with systematical observations during treatment is characteristic for single case-studies. Its underlying r ationale and the methods of single case-research are made clear by mea ns of the multiple-baseline-designs. Examples of their practical appli cation in clinical research show the significance of single case-resea rch for practical use. Finally, the differences, similarities, advanta ges and disadvantages of between group and single case-research design s will be discussed.