Case Research Design Research Articles

Investigating Gestalt-based Play Therapy on Anxiety and Loneliness in Female Labour Children With Sexual Abuse: A Single Case Research Design (SCRD)

Investigating Gestalt-based Play Therapy on Anxiety and Loneliness in Female Labour Children With Sexual Abuse: A Single Case Research Design (SCRD)

Single Case Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based Mobile Application with a Substance Abuse Counselor

We implemented an exploratory A-B single case research design with a phenomenological lens to analyze journal entries to assess the effectiveness of a 12-week mindfulness-based mobile intervention to reduce burnout and increase mindfulness and self-compassion. Our participant was one 55-year-old White woman employed as a substance abuse counselor at a medium sized treatment facility in a midwestern state. We collected three weeks of baseline data followed by a 12-week intervention using the Calm © app and collected self-reported scores on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, and the Self-Compassion Scale across baseline and intervention phases. Data analyses using the Percentage of Data Exceeding the Median provide preliminary evidence that using the Calm © app across 12 weeks may decrease levels of burnout and increase levels of mindfulness but provided no evidence for increased self-compassion. We provide suggestions for substance abuse counselors and discuss the limitations and future research recommendations.

How sovereign is a populist? The nexus between populism and political economy of the AKP

ABSTRACT This article investigates the effects of populist discourse on leadership and state behavior at the international level. From 2002 to 2013, Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) gradually consolidated its power, largely by deploying populist discourses and actions. However, after the party faced a number of challenges, including the Gezi protests, corruption allegations, and a failed coup, its populist rhetoric did not only begin to weaken but also seems to have created a problem of path dependency, which limited the decision-making capability at the hands of its leadership. By comparing the 2001–2002 and 2018–2019 economic crises based on the most-likely case research design, we assert that the AKP’s discursive turn into anti-Western and anti-establishment politics pushed the party into a corner, making it less likely to collaborate with international organizations, such as the IMF and even private consulting companies despite the country’s high inflation rates and currency depreciation.

PROSPECTİVE TEACHERS’ OPINIONS ABOUT ANIMATIONS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

The purpose of the current research is to determine prospective teachers’ opinions about animations. The current research employed case research design as a qualitative research method. The research group of the current research is comprised of 124 prospective primary teachers and 116 prospective science teachers. A structured form including 10 open-ended questions and a semi-structured interview form consisting of 8 questions were administered to the participants of the research. The findings of the research revealed that the opinions stated by the prospective teachers about the use of animations in science education could be gathered under the following themes: applications related to the objectives of the course, course energizers, individual differences, physical-technical capacity, student-teacher competencies, economic capacity, program capacity, learning gained with the help of others, type of music, behavioral-mental communication skills, empathy and science literacy. The data collected from the interviews showed that the prospective teachers see themselves as willing but incompetent in using animations, want to have training about the preparation of animation programs, want to use the animations they themselves develop but prefer to use the ones prepared by others and think that it is necessary to make use of animations in today’s educational environments. In light of the findings of the current research, experimental activities in the form of student seminars and courses can be suggested for prospective teachers to enhance their information, skills and competencies about animations. Article visualizations:

Pre-service Science Teachers’ Teaching Beliefs: Responding to ‘Which’, ‘How’ and ‘Why’ Questions

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to explore a comprehensive belief system model of pre-service science teachers’ (PSTs’) beliefs and to examine the reasons why and how these beliefs are in/consistent with each other. A sequential explanatory research design guided the study, with a quantitative approach being followed by a qualitative one. Participating in the quantitative research were 955 PSTs. The results of a structural equation modeling analysis of the dataset indicated that PSTs’ depressive beliefs were related to their epistemological beliefs and that these latter beliefs predicted their teaching-learning conceptions. Twelve PSTs participated in a follow-up research that employed a multiple case research design. Results, at this step, indicated that there was a relationship between a PST’s beliefs and experiences. Furthermore, if any inconsistencies between experiences and peripheral beliefs existed, the relationship was biased toward experiences. Therefore, the experience-biased calibration determined that central beliefs have a greater influence on peripheral beliefs than vice versa. Given these results, certain implications are presented.

Social Validity Assessment in Behavior Interventions for Young Children: A Systematic Review

We sought to identify, examine, and summarize empirical literature focused on early childhood behavior interventions examined using a single case research designs (SCD) and published between 2001 and 2018. Using systematic procedures, 28 studies that met established inclusion criteria were identified, reviewed, and compared with respect to general and social validity assessment characteristics of SCD studies on behavior interventions for young children with problem behavior. The findings of the current review suggest: (a) promoting implementation fidelity through implementation support to improve social validity outcomes, (b) providing guidelines for timing and frequency of social validity assessment, and (c) development of social validity assessment tools designed to assess each of the social validity dimensions (i.e., goals, procedures, and outcomes).

Blending and becoming: migrant Chinese high-performance coaches’ learning journey in Australia

ABSTRACTPurpose: Despite the recruitment of foreign sport coaches being a relatively long-standing phenomenon, there is limited research examining the experiences of foreign coaches working in globalised high-performance sport contexts. In examining how foreign coaches learn to perform their craft, we draw upon Billett’s [2006. ‘Relational Interdependence Between Social and Individual Agency in Work and Working Life.’ Mind, Culture, and Activity 13 (1): 53–69. doi:10.1207/s15327884mca1301_5] notion of relational interdependence, which embraces a work-based approach to understanding how migrant coaches learn. Specifically, this lens enables a broad consideration of the interdependent relationship between the foreign coach’s agency and the affordances of the host workplace.Method: A single case (embedded) research design was chosen through the purposeful sampling of a sport organisation. The case focused on the learning of Chinese migrant coaches employed within an Australian high-performance coaching workplace (henceforth referred to as the National Sport Organisation; NSO) and involved data collection from three foreign coaches, four athletes, and four administrators employed by the NSO. Through a multiple data collection method (i.e. 1 year of observation, 20 interviews, 1 focus group, and related document collection), information was collected regarding the coaches’ practices and learning. A theoretical thematic analysis guided the data analytic procedure with the assistance of MindNode software.Results and discussion: Several major themes were identified in relation to Chinese coaches’ learning and practices in the NSO. Overall, Chinese coaches met work requirements through substantial personal learning including aspects related to language (i.e. English), the development of culturally appropriate coaching practices, and enhancement of athletes’ training approach.Conclusion: The findings of this research might be generative for foreign coaches and those responsible for the recruitment, professional learning, and development of such coaches. The notion of relational interdependence was an appropriate theoretical lens for research related to the learning of foreign high-performance sport coaches.

Improving Physical Fitness in Individuals with Autism Spectrum with Game Console Physical Activity Program

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of game consoles on the physical fitness levels of young individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Sample consisted of 8 individuals (4 male, 4 female), aged 11-18 years who were attending a sports training center. ABAB - multiple baseline across participants, single case research design was used. Overall study period was 14 weeks and the minimum research group participation period was 12 weeks. Camera was used to record the activities. The alternative treatment groups were given a routine training program that is provided by the center. The experiment group received an adapted physical activity training program using the kinect game console. Eurofit test battery was used for physical fitness assessments. Pre-test post-test measures were reported regarding the physical fitness levels were. Considering the evaluated results; The average percentage of the percentage increase in the Flamingo equilibrium test was 60.15%, the average of the increase percentage in the elasticity measurement results was 62.39, the mean percentage of the increase in body strength test was 45.46%, the average of the increase in running speed was 12.37%, the average of the increase in durability was 43.14%. Findings show significant improvements on the physical fitness levels of participants in the experimental group (console training) in contrast to the alternative treatment group (routine program).

Participant Characteristics in Research on Interventions for Young Children With Challenging Behavior: A Systematic Review

Intervention studies to reduce challenging behavior in young children below the age of 6 were reviewed for participant characteristics, including gender, race/ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, and language to evaluate the frequency of reporting and diversity of participant characteristics in this area of research. Interventions conducted in school, preschool, and home-based settings were included; 53 articles were reviewed. In these articles utilizing single case research or group designs ( n = 2,262 participants), most articles reported gender and disability. Slightly fewer than half of the studies reported participants’ race/ethnicity. Socioeconomic status and language were infrequently reported. Analyses of participant characteristics in studies that reported children’s gender and race/ethnicity found that boys and Black and Latino children were overrepresented. Implications are discussed, including the field’s use of research standards regarding the reporting of participant characteristics, suggestions for inclusive recruitment and retention strategies, and the importance of identifying culturally responsive interventions for challenging behavior.

Feasible Coaching Supports to Promote Teachers' Classroom Management in High-Need Settings: An Experimental Single Case Design Study

Although there are many definitions of a high-need (or high-risk) school, typically researchers and policy makers agree it is a setting in which a vast percentage of students are (a) living in economic disadvantage, (b) from racially diverse backgrounds, (c) identified as having a disability, or (d) underperforming academically. Many teachers in high-need settings are new to the field or have experienced persistent challenges demonstrating effective classroom management. As a result, these teachers might benefit from intensive data-driven coaching to improve classroom management practice. Yet, existing empirically supported comprehensive coaching models tend to require resources that may be scarce in high-need settings. In this multiple-baseline single case research design study, teachers who requested assistance to provide effective classroom management received feasible coaching support (i.e., explicit didactic training, booster training with verbal modeling). Teachers implemented comprehensive classroom management plans with the highest level of treatment fidelity upon receiving booster training, and class-wide student behavior improved.

Effectiveness and Social Validity of FBAs for Youth At-Risk or With High Incidence Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness and social validity of 44 functional behavioral assessment (FBA) studies using single case research designs (SCRDs) conducted with youth displaying challenging behaviors or had high incidence disabilities. Three effect sizes were calculated: standard mean difference (SMD), Tau-U, and improvement rate difference (IRD). Fisher’s conservative dual criterion (CDC), which is a statistical aid to visual analysis, was also applied. Social validity was assessed by using indicators described by Kazdin (2010). Effect sizes were in ranges indicating moderate to large effects. Approximately 71% of AB contrasts reflected CDC systematic change. However, only 44% of studies assessed social validity. There were no significant differences in effectiveness of interventions whether or not a functional analysis was conducted nor whether the controlling function was escape or attention. Results are discussed in terms of FBA implementation issues related to social validity and the necessity for conducting a functional analysis for these youth.

Critical analysis of factors impacting trust and opportunism in agri-food supply chains: the case of tomato in the Northern Tanzania

The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse factors impacting trust (and opportunism) in tomato supply chain in Arusha region of Tanzania. The study had two-fold objectives which lead to the proposition that willingness or existence of collaborative relationships in the supply chain, coupled with willingness/existence of sharing physical or information resources among the partners, influence trust and subsequently determine the extent of opportunism. The study adopted a multiple case research design involving several actors in the chain. The data were collected using a questionnaire. The study found that collaboration with inputs retailers, collaboration with tomato farmers, risk sharing with other partners and sharing of physical resources with other partners has the highest impact on trust. Thus, opportunism would increase if good business practices to foster trust as recommended are not adopted as stipulated in the listed factors and vice versa. Other factors such as culture and regional specific variables may have impact on trust and opportunism, thus constituting an area for further research.

Critical analysis of factors impacting trust and opportunism in agri-food supply chains: the case of tomatoes in the Northern Tanzania

The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse factors impacting trust (and opportunism) in tomato supply chain in Arusha region of Tanzania. The study had two-fold objectives which lead to the proposition that willingness or existence of collaborative relationships in the supply chain, coupled with willingness/existence of sharing physical or information resources among the partners, influence trust and subsequently determine the extent of opportunism. The study adopted a multiple case research design involving several actors in the chain. The data were collected using a questionnaire. The study found that collaboration with inputs retailers, collaboration with tomato farmers, risk sharing with other partners and sharing of physical resources with other partners has the highest impact on trust. Thus, opportunism would increase if good business practices to foster trust as recommended are not adopted as stipulated in the listed factors and vice versa. Other factors such as culture and regional specific variables may have impact on trust and opportunism, thus constituting an area for further research.

Construction logistics governing guidelines in urban development projects

Purpose Although a construction logistics solution is necessary for dealing with the demands in many large urban development projects, there is a lack of research on governance mechanisms for construction logistics solutions. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the initiation and utilisation of a construction logistics centre (CLC) from different stakeholders’ perspectives to suggest governance mechanisms for strategic, tactical and operational levels and to develop guidelines for implementing these governance mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach A single case research design was used. Data were collected through interviews, site visits, observations and documentation from four stakeholder groups. Findings There is potential for utilising CLCs in development projects, with positive effects such as consolidation effects and enhanced planning. What is evident, however, is that the design and implementation of the CLCs must be based on a comprehensive stakeholder analysis, as there are conflicting goals between stakeholders. Governance mechanisms, including flexibility in the main contractors’ working construction process, as well as clearly stated roles, responsibilities and communication must be developed to enhance this potential. Research limitations/implications The conflicting goals of CLCs are identified and discussed, and the results show the need for further multi-stakeholder analysis of construction logistics solutions. Practical implications The experiences from the studied case are developed into practical guidelines to be used in the design of construction logistics solutions in development projects. Originality/value This study contributes by taking a multi-stakeholder perspective on CLCs and providing guidelines to be used in the design of construction logistics solutions in development projects.

The Effects of Strategy Instruction for Improving the Ability to Solve Word Problems Among Students With Learning Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Design Research

본 연구는 학습장애 학생들의 문장제 문제해결력 향상을 위해 적용한 전략교수 단일대상연구들에 대한 메타분석 결과를 보여준다. 연구자들은 전략교수 중재의 전반적인 효과를 분석하기 위하여 전체효과크기를 산출하였고, 일반적인 특성 및 전략교수 중재 변인에 따라 조절효과를 분석하였다. 본 메타분석을 위하여 우선 온라인데이터베이스를 활용하여 1975년부터 2018년까지 국내외에서 발표된 논문들을 대상선정기준에 맞추어 검토하였고, 최종 18편의 논문을 선정하였다. 선정된 논문들을 일반적인 특성 관련 조절 변인과 전략교수 프로그램 관련 조절 변인으로 구분되어 코딩하였다. 단일대상설계 시각적 데이터의 추출을 위하여 GetData Graph Digitizer 2.26 온라인 프로그램을 사용하였다. 연구자들은 중재의 효과크기를 산출하기 위해 Tau-U와 BCT 값을 도출하였고, 조절효과분석을 위하여 R 프로그램을 활용하여 비모수검정을 실행하였다. 주요 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 전략교수의 전체중재효과크기는 중간보다 약간 높은 정도의 효과를 지니는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 일반적인 특성 관련 조절 변인에 따른 효과크기의 경우 출판연도, 연령, 중재기간, 중재 충실도, WWC 단일대상설계 기준에 따라 중재효과크기는 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 마지막으로 전략교수 중재 변인에 따른 효과크기의 경우, 각 변인에 따라 유의미한 중재효과크기를 나타내었고, 대부분 하위 범주에서의 조절효과는 통계적으로 유의미한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 본 연구의 제한점 및 향후 연구에 관한 제언점을 논의하였다.The purpose of this meta-analysis of single-case studies was to investigate the effects of general characteristics-related and strategic-instruction-related moderators on the use of strategic instruction in improving the ability to solve word problems among students with learning disabilities. For the data analysis, articles published in Korean and English from 1975 to 2018 were reviewed. After applying the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, 18 peer-reviewed articles were selected. The selected papers were categorized by the general characteristics-related and strategic-instruction-related moderators, and the GetData Graph Digitizer 2.26 was used to visually extract single case data. Tau-U and BCT values were derived to calculate the intervention effect size of the study, and nonparametric tests were performed using the R program for moderator analysis. First, the overall effect size of strategic instruction was found to be slightly higher than the median. Second, the effect sizes according to the general characteristics-related moderators showed significant differences in subgroups of publication year, age, intervention session, fidelity, and WWC single case research design standards. Finally, in the case of effect sizes according to the strategic-instruction-related moderators, significant intervention effect size was noted between baseline and intervention phases. However, among most strategic-instruction-related moderators, subgroups did not demonstrate statistically significant differences. Based on these results, we discussed the limitations of the current study and made suggestions for future research.

The Strategy of Political Parties in Wining Legislative Elections in Indonesia: Studies in Dharmasraya District

Political parties are political participation in constitutional democratic in an effort to realize the national ideals of Indonesian people. In a democratic party, electoral activities are an arena to express people's freedom in choosing and selecting their leaders. Therefore political parties as political machinery must have the best strategy in order to understand people's tastes to achieve party victory through legislative elections. This study aims to find out how the strategy of political parties in winning elections for legislative members in Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatra Province. The study used a qualitative method with a case study approach (case research design study). All data taken through in-depth interviews to ten informants consisting of administrators of political parties, legislative members, political observers, and the public. The data obtained then analyzed thematically by means of being collected, reduced, presented and closed with conclusions. The results of the study found that there are four strategies carried out by political parties in winning legislative members at the time of the election, namely; first, utilizing the influence of party leaders, secondly, disseminating legislative candidates through print and electronic media, thirdly, procuring self-sufficiency by legislative candidates and fourth, direct socialization of legislative candidates to the public.

Using System of Least Prompts to Teach Play to Young Children With Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the system of least prompts (SLP) for increasing the levels of play behaviors in four young children with disabilities. A multiple probe across participants’ single case research design was used to examine the relation between SLP and child-targeted behaviors. The results demonstrated that the instructional package was functionally related to increased levels of independent play and diversity of targeted play actions. Furthermore, play levels were maintained when intervention was withdrawn.

Play Therapy and Psychoeducational School-Based Group Interventions: A Comparison of Treatment Effectiveness

This study focused on using a single case research design (SCRD) to compare the effectiveness of a child-centered group play therapy intervention to a psychoeducational group intervention (skillstreaming), and a group that received no intervention for 6 weeks. A group of 10 young children (kindergarten and Grade 1) were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups. We found that children participating in the CCGPT intervention were 4.18 times more likely to have a decrease in total problem behavior across the 6-week period compared to children in the skillstreaming group, and 1.61 times more likely than children in the wait-list group.

Using Progressive Time Delay to Increase Levels of Peer Imitation During Sculpting Play.

A multiple probe across participants with an embedded withdrawal single case research design was used to examine the effectiveness of a progressive time delay (PTD) procedure to teach preschoolers with disabilities to imitate their peers during a sculpting play activity. Data indicated the presence of a functional relation between the use of PTD and contingent reinforcement on increased levels of peer imitation across participants; levels also decreased when PTD was withdrawn, although not to baseline levels. Overall levels of peer imitation had a greater magnitude of change than demonstrated in previous research.

Between-case standardized effect size analysis of single case designs: Examination of the two methods

An increasing movement in single case research is to employ statistical analyses as one form of data analysis. Researchers have proposed different statistical approaches. The purpose of this paper is to examine the utility and discriminant validity of two novel types of between-case standardized effect size analyses with two existing systematic reviews. The between-case analyses found greater effect sizes for the studies in the object play review and smaller effect sizes for studies of sensory intervention, which were consistent with the overall conclusions reached in the original systematic reviews. These findings provide evidence of discriminant validity, although concerns remain around the methods’ utility across different single case research designs. Future directions for research and development also are provided.