How do I know that my method is correct for my experiment

Question

If I was to do a n-of-1 study on expressive writing and it’s benefits in reducing anxiety, would it be better if I flipped a coin and make it randomised and did one day with and one day without

or NOT flip a coin and just do one week without, tally it and then one week with expressive writing and tally that as studies show it’s beneficial when it’s consistent

Answer 1

Hello Za!

Like most answers and puzzles found within Psychology, the true answer to your question is.. it depends. Let's quickly break down N-of-1 studies and the pros and cons of either of your study options.

N-of-1 studies are part of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and are usually conducted within the medical field to study drug effects, routines, extraneous circumstances, etc. N-of-1 studies are interesting because they are conducted with only a single patient.

PROS: Easier observation, less expensive, faster results, more specified outcomes for that individual

CONS: Small sample size, less variation, less specified outcomes for populations

In conclusion, N-of-1 studies are great for the individual involved and can have a great affect on their treatments. However, N-of-1s are rarely used for general studies and their results are often seen as negligible.

To answer your question for daily randomization vs weekly randomization - Most researchers would conclude that weekly randomization may be the best way to conduct N-of-1. Not only are the weekly intervals more convenient (daily observation would be very time intensive), but they also remove the possibility of "day-of-week" effects. These effects could be: your patient may be less anxious on the weekends, they feel more creative on Tuesdays, they're too busy to write on Fridays, etc. These effects could influence outcomes and observations which may lead to inconclusive results (> 0.5).

Although most researchers may choose the weekly interval, what is most important is the consistency and understanding of all extraneous variables within the study and your patient.

I hope this answers your question! Let me know if you have any more questions!

Regards,

Dustin Holmes