DISCUSSION FORUM

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Mar 10, 2019

What do you think of these new names?

"N-of-1 study" and "SCED" can describe both individual and aggregated studies. This can be confusing.

What about meta N-of-1 studies for aggregated N-of-1 studies and meta SCEDs for meta-analysis of SCEDs?

Or do you have an alternative suggestion/s?

Let us know what you think.....

patrick.onghena

Mar 11, 2019

I agree that we have to distinguish single-case studies and multiple-case studies. Suppose that the approach is experimental, then I would make the distinction between a "single-case experiment" and "replicated single-case experiments". The term "meta" has a connotation of "meta-analysis" and suggests that the focus is on "the study of the studies" with the aim of aggregation or synthesis at the group level. However, some replicated single-case experiments maintain the focus on the individual case(s) and use a replication logic to arrive at the conclusions.

uqjnikle

Mar 11, 2019

Thanks Patrick

Multi N-of-1 studies? Pooled N-of-1 studies?

Any other suggestions?

patrick.onghena

Mar 11, 2019

@uqjnikle

My pleasure, Jane. Any term will do, as long as it is clear what you mean and what your purpose is (e.g., pooling in the case of "Pooled N-of-1 studies"). For example, I like the term "Replicated N-of-1 Randomized Controlled Trials" if the studies qualify for this characterization. In a medical context, I would definitely avoid the term "case series" because it is an ambiguous term, and usually refers to merely descriptive studies. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_series.