A bridge between nomothetic and idiographic methodologies: An introduction to single-case experimental designs

Single-case experimental designs encompass a diverse set of experimental methods designed to examine interventions' effects using a small number of participants. These methods address several limitations of the nomothetic and idi- ographic methodologies, enabling researchers to effectively bridge experimental psychology with applied practice. In this article, the authors aim to introduce the methodology of single-case experimental designs to Czech researchers and psychology experts as a suitable, supplementary or even alternative methodological approach to controlled trials and case description studies. In particular, the study focuses on five basic designs - ABk design, alternating treatment de- sign, multiple-baseline design, multiple-probe design, and changing criterion design - for which the examples from applied research are provided. The contribution also addresses the strengths and limitations of the method and in- troduce available standards and guidelines for the methods.