Single Case Method in Psychology: How to Improve as a Possible Methodology in Quantitative Research

• Published in: Integrative psychological & behavioral science 2015-09, Vol.49 (3), p.350-359
• Main Authors: Krause-Kjær, Elisa, Nedergaard, Jensine I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropology; Behavioral Research - methods; Behavioral Research - standards; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Humans; Psychology; Regular Article; Research Design - standards; Sociology
• ISSN: 1932-4502; 1936-3567
• DOI: 10.1007/s12124-015-9309-3

Awareness of including Single-Case Method (SCM), as a possible methodology in quantitative research in the field of psychology, has been argued as useful, e.g., by Hurtado-Parrado and López-López ( IPBS: Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 49 :2, 2015 ). Their article introduces a historical and conceptual analysis of SCMs and proposes changing the, often prevailing, tendency of neglecting SCM as an alternative to Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST). This article contributes by putting a new light on SCM as an equally important methodology in psychology. The intention of the present article is to elaborate this point of view further by discussing one of the most fundamental requirements as well as main characteristics of SCM regarding temporality. In this respect that; “… performance is assessed continuously over time and under different conditions …” Hurtado-Parrado and López-López ( IPBS: Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 49 :2, 2015 ). Defining principles when it comes to particular units of analysis, both synchronic (spatial) and diachronic (temporal) elements should be incorporated. In this article misunderstandings of the SCM will be adduced, and further the temporality will be described in order to propose how the SCM could have a more severe usability in psychological research. It is further discussed how to implement SCM in psychological methodology. It is suggested that one solution might be to reconsider the notion of time in psychological research to cover more than a variable of control and in this respect also include the notion of time as an irreversible unity within life .