Experimental single-subject research design constitutes an important methodology alternative for issues related to intervention research developed in Special Education. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize theses and dissertations that employed single-subject research design in the Graduate Program of Special Education at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), from the implementation of the referred program, in 1978, up to 2004. Initially, titles, abstracts, and other pre-text elements were scanned in theses and dissertations to identify the ones that employed single-subject research design. Next, information was collected about the characterization of the targeted public, the theme, and methodological procedures: type of design, dependent and independent variables, to be found in the introduction, method, and results of the selected theses and dissertations. The results showed that among the 21 theses and dissertations that employed single-subject design, most used A-B and multiple baseline designs, in a total of 43% and 38%, respectively. The other theses and dissertations (19%) used ABA and multiple probe designs. In conclusion, single-subject research design can effectively demonstrate experimental control and impact of interventions. Their use in Special Education research can minimize the gap in knowledge of this theme.
researcher formation; scientific methodology; student scientific production; single-subject research design
