These activities include:

Readings

There is a substantial literature on single-subject research, even without considering the number of published studies using the methods. The bibliography for the class is not exhaustive, but it is clearly more than we can read this term. Still, we shall read a lot. Please keep up with it.

Participation

I expect to ask lots of questions during class sessions and hope student will answer. I'll promote this with various techniques (yes-no cards, electronic polling, etc.). Those who participate regularly will have the benefit of making express responses and getting immediate feedback. Students may also increase their level of participation by completing reading quizzes on line; these quizzes provide another opportunity to respond and receive feedback. This aspect of the class is not graded.

Examination

The sorta-kinda-mid-term exam includes three parts: (a) short answer questions (similar to quiz items), (b) study design section (I give students a research question and they outline a plan for answering it using single-subject methods), and (c) critique (I provide a brief study and students identify important parts of it and discuss the methods used). I usually give the exam as a take-home activity with the requirement that students devote only a specified amount of time to it. Notes and printed materials (but not answers from previous years' course materials) may be consulted while completing the exam. This activity is graded on the usual letter-grade scale. The examination constitutes 40% of the final grade. The date for submission of the exam will announced.

Protocol development

The protocol is a detailed plan for implementing a study and serves as the final examination for the course. It provides students an opportunity to submit a written product showing that they know how to use single-subject research methods to address a research question. This activity is graded on the usual letter-grade scale. I shall provide a more detailed description of the contents of this report. The protocol constitutes 50% of the final grade. It will be due by the date and time of the U.Va.-scheduled final exam.

Project presentation

Students will present a brief overview of their projects during an class meeting late in the term. The support of research constitutes 10% of the final grade.