Single-System Design: An Effective Strategy for Evaluating Clinical Change

• Published in: The British journal of occupational therapy Vol. 63; no. 6; pp. 283 - 287
• Main Author: Joshi, Anjali S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.2000
• Subjects: Clinical evaluation; Occupational therapy; Research methods; Single system design
• ISSN: 0308-0226; 1477-6006
• DOI: 10.1177/030802260006300607

Documentation and research are two essential factors for the growth of any profession and, therefore, have priority in occupational therapy. Documentation is the key to the communication of the clinical services rendered by the occupational therapist to clients and to other members of the professional team (Gillette 1982, Ottenbacher and York 1984). Single-system research, sometimes referred to as single-subject research, is a quantitative research method. In single-system research, the efficacy of a certain intervention can be evaluated in a systematic way by studying one subject in a single setting (Ottenbacher 1984). A therapist can make use of any therapeutic technique to work in a single-system design. Gillette (1982, p499) stated: ‘Each occupational therapy clinic is a virtually untouched laboratory, a storehouse of evidence that, properly recorded, analysed and published, would serve to confirm the value of occupational therapy as a health care service.’ This article describes the application of single-system design in a clinical setting. The client discussed was treated using sensory integrative therapy. The purpose of this article is to show how a selected behaviour can be recorded and measured effectively using a single-system design.