title: Enhancing the hermeneutic single-case efficacy design: Bridging the research-practice gap.
abstract: Systematic case study designs are emerging as alternative paradigm strategies for psychotherapy and social science research. Through enhanced sensitivity to context, these designs examine idiographic profiles of causal processes. We specifically advocate the use of the hermeneutic single-case efficacy design (HSCED). HSCED has recently been used to investigate the efficacy of an existing therapy with a new population (Observed and Experiential Integration for athlete performance barriers) and an emerging therapy (Lifespan Integration Therapy). We describe innovations in HSCED that were implemented for these studies. These developments include (a) integrating psychotherapists as case developers, (b) incorporating multiple cases in one investigation, and (c) tailoring the repertoire of assessment tools. These extensions strategically incorporated principles of contextual paradigms in HSCED, thus complementing single-case designs that neglect idiographic contexts. We discuss recommendations for using HSCED in practice-based research, highlighting its potential as a bridge to address the research-practice gap.
authors.affiliation: a Counselling Psychology , Trinity Western University , Langley , BC , Canada.|b Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: Jessie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: a Counselling Psychology , Trinity Western University , Langley , BC , Canada.
authors.forename: Janelle L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.affiliation: a Counselling Psychology , Trinity Western University , Langley , BC , Canada.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: a Counselling Psychology , Trinity Western University , Langley , BC , Canada.
authors.forename: Marvin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D066297:Hermeneutics; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards
keywords: Observed and Experiential Integration; and Lifespan Integration Therapy; hermeneutic single-case efficacy design; psychotherapy research; systematic case studies