Applying Single-Case Design Innovations to Research in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to illustrate how two innovations in single-case research design, the range-bound changing criterion and the distributed criterion designs, have recently emerged and how these designs might apply to sport and exercise psychology and sport performance. Both design innovations appear most suited to interventions that use, or include, common psychological skills training techniques, such as self-talk and goal-setting, together with more general behavioral self-management approaches. Investigators are encouraged to consider applying these two design innovations to contexts where researchers are interested in shaping or developing behaviors within sport and exercise participants.