The steps at the heart of single-system (subject) research are part of the everyday practice of social work.
Each day social workers implement interventions to meet clients’ needs and monitor results. However,
conducting proper single-system (subject) research entails far more than these simple day-to-day practices.
Proper single-system research requires a high degree of knowledge and commitment. Social workers must
fully understand the purpose of single-system (subject) research and the variations of single-system (subject)
design. They must develop a hypothesis based upon research and select the right design for testing it. They
must ensure the reliability and validity of the data to be collected and know how to properly analyze and
evaluate that data. This assignment asks you to rise to the challenge of creating a proposal for a single-subject
research study.

the case study, “Social Work Research: Single Subject” in this week’s resources). After an initial assessment of
her social, medical, and psychiatric problems, you develop a plan for intervention. You also develop a plan to
monitor progress in your work with her using measures that can be evaluated in a single-system research
design. As a scholar practitioner, you rely on research to help plan your intervention and your evaluation plan.
Complete the Cortez Family interactive media in this week’s resources. Conduct a literature search related to
the chronic issues related to HIV/AIDS and bipolar mental disorder. Search for additional research related to
assessing outcomes and theoretical frameworks appropriate for this client. For example, your search could
include terms such as motivational interviewing and outcomes and goal-oriented practice and outcomes. You
might also look at the NREPP database identified in Week 1, to search for interventions related to mental
health and physical health.
By Day 7
Submit a 5- to 7-page proposal/research plan for single-system (subject) evaluation for your work with Paula
Cortez. Identify the problems that you will target and the outcomes you will measure, select an appropriate
intervention or interventions (including length of time), and identify an appropriate evaluation plan.
Include a description of:
The problem(s) that are the focus of treatment
The intervention approach, including length of time, so that it can be replicated
A summary of the literature that you reviewed that led you to select this intervention approach
The purpose for conducting a single-system (subject) research evaluation
The measures for evaluating the outcomes and observing change including:
Evidence from your literature search about the nature of the measures
The validity and reliability of the measures
How baseline measures will be obtained
How often follow-up measures will be administered