Small N designs for rehabilitation research

Rehabilitation research presents unique and challenging problems to investigators during both the design and analysis periods. Statistical issues regarding sample size requirements for an adequately powered study may be in direct conflict with realistic recruitment and subject retention goals. Issue...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of rehabilitation research and development 2012, Vol.49 (1), p.175-186
Main Authors: Barnett, Scott D, Heinemann, Allen W, Libin, Alexander, Houts, Arthur C, Gassaway, Julie, Sen-Gupta, Sunil, Resch, Aaron, Brossart, Daniel F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Behavior
Guidelines as Topic
Health aspects
Health Services Research - methods
Humans
Injuries
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Models, Theoretical
People with disabilities
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Rehabilitation
Research Design - standards
Sample Size
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Rehabilitation research presents unique and challenging problems to investigators during both the design and analysis periods. Statistical issues regarding sample size requirements for an adequately powered study may be in direct conflict with realistic recruitment and subject retention goals. Issues of underpowered studies, sample size requirements, and recruitment goals plague rehabilitation research. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are typically narrow in scope and thus lack generalizability to everyday, yet specific, clinical problems; they are also costly and time-consuming and require large numbers of participants for randomization to have optimal, desired effects. Further, the RCT design may not be applicable to assistive technologies and environmental modifications-vital components of disability and rehabilitation research-nor is it appropriate in situations in which theoretical models of change are lacking or premature. Single-case designs are better suited for studies in which understanding and changing patient behavior and functional status are primary goals and the targeted sample sizes are less than 30 and frequently less than 10. Theoretical, methodological, and clinical reasons for using experimental and quasi-experimental single-case designs are presented. Recommendations for designing and conducting single-case studies that contribute to the evidence base are also discussed.
ISSN:0748-7711
1938-1352
DOI:10.1682/JRRD.2010.12.0242