Data Analysis Problems in Single-Case Evaluation: Issues for Research on Social Work Practice

Abstract

Data analysis problems, particularly involving the likelihood of obtaining visually ambiguous graphs, pose a barrier to efforts to promote increased use of smgle-case evaluation by practitioners. The debate about whether these efforts will eventually achieve sufficient success has thus far paid little attention to the impact of data analysis problems on practitioners' propensity to sustain a commitment to conducting single-case evaluations. This article uses findings from an evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral intervention with adolescent sex offenders to illustrate these data analysis problems and develop issues for research on social work practice and the teaching of single-case evaluation.