ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to review the level of quality about content and method of single subject research design published in the Journal of Korean Society of Occupational Therapy. Methods : This review analyzed 31 single subject research design published between 2002 and 2011. The contents and quality of research design were examined. Results : The results revealed that the frequency dependent variables were in order of behavior change, function of upper extremity, activities of daily living. The participant of single study were similar in children, adults and the elderly. The highest percentage of diagnosis in children and adult or the elderly subject was cerebral palsy and autism and stroke, respectively. The highest percentage of design was reversal. The report frequency of maintain and generalization was low. The strong quality of methodology was 4 of 31 study and the rest studies were moderate. The most studies reported sufficiently well description of participants and setting, operationally defined independent and dependent variables, visual analysis followed standard conventions, and cleary and correctly stated type of design. However, there were no study employed intervention blind and the report of interrater or intrarater reliability was rare. Also, the percentage of performance about an adequate number of data points and a appropriate visual analysis was low. Conclusion : Based on these results, the content and level of quality of single subject research design applied in occupational therapy were investigated. Further studies should be fulfill the quality rating standard to establish evidence and improve the quality of single subject research design in occupational therapy.