Daniel F. Brossart

The relationship between visual analysis and five statistical analyses in a simple AB single-case research design.

This study explored some practical issues for single-case researchers who rely on visual analysis of graphed data, but who also may consider supplemental use of promising statistical analysis techniques. The study sought to answer three major questions: (a) What is a typical range of effect sizes from these analytic techniques for data from “effective interventions”? (b) How closely do results from these same analytic techniques concur with visual-analysis-based judgments of effective interventions? and (c) What role does autocorrelation play in interpretation of these analytic results? To answer these questions, five analytic techniques were compared with the judgments of 45 doctoral students and faculty, who rated intervention effectiveness from visual analysis of 35 fabricated AB design graphs. Implications for researchers and practitioners using single-case designs are discussed.

Acculturation, White Marginalization, and Family Support as Predictors of Perceived Distress in Mexican American Female College Students.

This study examined the influence of psychosociocultural variables of acculturation, White attitudinal marginalization, family support, and income on perceived distress in 247 Mexican American female college students. Participants were bicultural and attended primarily White universities in the West and Southwest. Results showed that comfort with White cultural values, perceived support from family, and financial support are related to lower perceived distress for participants. Implications for counselors addressing perceived distress in Mexican American female college students are provided.

Problem-solving training via videoconferencing for family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injuries : A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE To examine the effectiveness of an individualized problem-solving intervention delivered in videoconferencing sessions with family caregivers of persons living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and possible contagion effects on care recipients. DESIGN Family caregivers were randomly assigned to an education-only control group or an intervention group in which participants received problem-solving training (PST) in monthly videoconference session for a year. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-one caregivers (54 women, 7 men) and their care recipients (40 men, 21 women) consented to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised was administered to caregivers. Caregivers and care recipients completed the Inventory to Diagnose Depression, the SF-36 and the Satisfaction with Life scale at pre-treatment, 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS Twenty-eight caregivers discontinued the study and their follow-up data were unavailable at the final assessment. Older caregivers were more likely than younger caregivers to remain in the study. Intent-to-treat analyses projected a significant decrease in depression among caregivers receiving PST; efficacy analyses indicated this effect was pronounced at the 6th month assessment. ITT analyses and efficacy analyses revealed that care recipients of caregivers receiving PST reported gains in social functioning over time. CONCLUSIONS Community-based, telehealth interventions may benefit family caregivers and their care recipients, but the mechanisms of these effects are unclear. Attrition and sample issues should be considered in future studies with these populations.

Construction and validation of the Intragroup Marginalization Inventory.

This study reports the development and validation of the Intragroup Marginalization Inventory (IMI). The IMI consists of three scales that assess the extent to which an individual perceives interpersonal distancing from family, friends, and ethnic group community members. Intragroup marginalization is defined as the interpersonal distancing that occurs when an acculturating individual is believed to exhibit behaviors, values, and beliefs that are outside the heritage cultures group norms. Intragroup marginalization is based on social identity theory that asserts that groups maintain their identity by the distinctive behaviors of its members. When an acculturating individual displays behaviors or attitudes that differ from the heritage culture groups norms, the group may respond to the threat with social alienation of the transgressor. The results support the IMIs validity via a) content validity in the development of the items, b) construct validity in the selection of the factors based upon an exploratory factor analysis, c) the replicability of the factors based upon a confirmatory factor analysis, and d) discriminant validity through examining the relationship of the factors with other established measures.

Incorporating nonoverlap indices with visual analysis for quantifying intervention effectiveness in single-case experimental designs

The field of neuropsychological rehabilitation frequently employs single case experimental designs (SCED) in research, but few if any, of the published studies use the effect sizes recommended by the American Psychological Association. Among the available methods for analysing single case designs, this paper focuses on nonoverlap methods. This paper provides examples and suggestions for integrating visual and statistical analysis, pointing out where contradictions may occur and how to be a critical consumer.

Evaluation of the accuracy of two regression-based methods for estimating premorbid IQ ☆

Two premorbid IQ estimation procedures were compared in a normal, non-brain-impaired sample and a clinical sample of known brain-impaired individuals. The methods used for comparison were the purely demographically based regression index (DI) developed by and the Oklahoma Premorbid Intelligence Estimate (OPIE) equation by, which uses demographic information combined with current performance tasks. The data for the normal sample were gathered from the WAIS-R standardization sample of 1880 subjects. The clinical sample was 100 patients with known cognitive impairment who had been referred to a private neuropsychology practice. The DI appeared to provide the most clinical utility as an estimate of premorbid IQ in a cognitively impaired sample. Significant differences between the two methods for specific locations of brain injury were not observed.

Robust regression for single-case data analysis: How can it help?

This study examined the degree to which outliers were present in a convenience sample of published single-case research. Using a procedure for analyzing single-case data Allison & Gorman (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 31, 621–631, 1993), this study compared the effect of outliers using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to a robust regression method and attempted to answer four questions: (1) To what degree does outlier detection vary from OLS to robust regression? (2) How much do effect sizes differ from OLS to robust regression? (3) Are the differences produced by robust regression in more or less agreement with visual judgments of treatment effectiveness? (4) What is a typical range of effect sizes for robust regression versus OLS regression for data from “effective interventions”? Results suggest that outliers are common in single-case data. The effects of outliers in single-case data are explored, and the implications for researchers and practitioners using single-case designs are discussed.

Assessing depression in rural communities.

OBJECTIVES Examined the severity of depressive symptoms and the rates of probable depression assessed by different instruments that were included in two separate surveys of residents in a predominately rural region of the United States. METHOD Surveys of the Brazos Valley region in south central Texas were conducted and responses to the short form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (in the 2006 survey) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (in the 2010 survey) were analyzed. RESULTS Regardless of instrument used, results indicate that women and African Americans are at greater risk for depression in this underserved region, but no unique effects were found for rural residency. IMPLICATIONS Implications for research, assessment, program planning, and policy are discussed.

Dimensions that characterize supervisor interventions delivered in the context of live supervision of practicum counselors.

This study empirically examined underlying dimensions from actual supervisory statements taken from interventions occurring during live supervision of counseling interviews. Multidimensional scaling revealed 6 dimensions: (a) directing-instructing vs. deepening, (b) cognitive clarification vs. emotional encouragement, (c) confronting vs. encouraging the client, (d) didactic-distant vs. emotionally involved, (e) joining with vs. challenging the trainee, (f) providing direction vs. resignation.

Use of technology to increase access to mental health services in a rural Texas community.

The Leon County Health Resource Commission sought to increase access to mental health services for their rural community. The commission formed a network of partners who collaborated to increase free transportation to mental health services outside the community and developed a telehealth-based counseling program through a counseling psychology training program. Learning opportunities emerged during the development and implementation of these activities for both the students and the community in how to successfully utilize and sustain this service. This article describes the telehealth counseling model, presents lessons learned in the process, and presents recommendations for others interested in utilizing similar strategies.