Visual Analysis in Single-Subject Designs

Visual analysis of behavior data in single-subject research designs (also called within-subject or single-case designs) is used by researchers and clinicians to identify patterns of behavior and to determine the level of effect or control that environmental variables (i.e., interventions) have on specific behaviors. Single-subject researchers and clinicians use visual representations of behavior data (i.e., graphs) to assist in the clinical decision-making process to determine if particular interventions are effective and to inform potential changes to current interventions. The following discussion of visual analysis provides a brief review of the visual presentation of behavior data and how graphically presented data are analyzed to determine the level of control established by a particular experimental investigation or clinical intervention.