Urgent Task 1

Single-Subject Research: Itching (Pruritus)

Denise Evans

Kaplan Online

Abstract

Single-subject research assumes a very significant part in the improvement of evidence-based practice when it comes to offering special education. The major characteristics of single-subject research are given a presentation, the supports of single-subject research for teaching special education are revised, and a specified suggestion are presented for the utilization of single-subject research to make documentations of evidence-based practices. This paper will give insights on a given scholarly single subject research study from a recognized source on itching; a pertinent matter of concern in psychology as a discipline. Itching is a matter of concern because teachers need to know how to handle affected students in a specialized manner. Itching refers to the infinite need to scratch irritating skin, perhaps it is more psychological rather than physical.

Single-subject research refers to an involving, systematic approach that is utilized for the definition of basic behavioral principles and a later establishment of evidence-based procedures. A lengthy and dynamic history has been in existence whereby single-subject research has made provisions of useful evidence for special education as a discipline. Ever since the practice was principally made operational over four decades ago, single-subject research has been confirmed to be mainly important for the definition of educational practices at the level of all individual learners. With respect to individuals plagued by the enduring itching, single-subject research gives invaluable insights on how teachers, parents and even doctors can make students with the condition deal with their predicament; this is atop the provision of knowledge with regard to what has worked effectively in the past and what is bound to be effective in the future.

Hypothesis

For students and the other individuals at large; that are affected by chronic itching, the blocking of serotonin is not commendable because it fights pain and carries out other functions; this is what exists at the moment. There is however a need to block the communication between serotonin and neurons in the spine that transmit itching signals; thus stopping pruritus and according better care to students affected.

Methodology

The purpose of this study is to find a long lasting solution to cases of itching such that both teachers and students have an easier time in the classroom; especially with regard to the delivery of content. In addition to that, parents too need to find peace that their children are doing good. Finally, doctors are looking to find new drugs and therapies that would suppress the need to scratch an itch; with this quest there is need to collaborate with parents and teachers to find out if whatever medications used are effective.

Quality Indicators within Single-Subject Research

For the above mentioned, itch based single-subject research to be deemed relevant, it has to satisfy several standards . The said standards act as a checklist to determine the applicability of any given study to real life scenarios and settings. Below are some of them:

Participant and Setting Description

The setting is a typical classroom in middle schools in the United States; this is especially because special education teachers have a need to understand what goes on in the lives of students affected by a chronic itching (Seeley, 2011). Chronic itching affects both male and female students and thus they will all be deemed participants. Atop male and female students, all teachers involved are participants to such a study together with researchers and doctors who are always eager to find out how effective their prescriptions are. The age of middle school teachers can range from anywhere between 27 and 50 years (when retirement clocks in). On the other hand, middle school students are in their early teenage years and their age bracket is characterized by age 12 to 15. I personally do not like refer to itching or any other infirmity as a disability but as a condition; one that can be controlled with therapy and medication. In most cases of chronic itching, resolution through suppression has been found. Research is underway to determine what would best befit the need for an official itching (pruritus) drug; one that would even be a one time or over the counter prescription. For teachers dealing with chronic itching, a talk with the respective parent or guardian is necessary just as a diagnosis from an accredited practicing physician. Participants of the single-subject research were selected randomly within inter-states so as to cover a wide area. The physical setting is any school that is competent enough to handle cases of minors with special needs and with well-abled teachers.

Dependent Variable

The dependent variable in an itching based single-subject research is the condition in and of itself; this is because all other factors succeed the condition and pruritus is often a non-permanent condition. Once a student is diagnosed with pruritus, the steps to handle the disease follow suit; parents or guardians are advised; teachers are informed; all in an effort to create a conducive learning environment for the student in question (Seeley, 2011). Such advice is offered by professionals in the field of medicine. If pruritus is deemed as a dependent variable, it can be measured repeatedly over time to determine whether a given affected student is getting better or worse with respect to medication. Information on any student with itching is collected on the consistency of inter-observer agreements; doctors/psychologists, parents/guardians and teachers.

There are three sets of experimenters with regard to Pruritus and special education; they include doctors, teachers and parents. These individuals work together so as to find viable ways of handling chronic itching and making it less of a hindrance when it comes to offering specialized care and education to students (Association, 2013).

A baseline condition refers to an environmental aspect throughout which a specific conduct gives stabilized rate of responses prior to the introduction of therapeutic or experimental conditions. Therapy in the case of Pruritus (itching) includes therapy and medication offered to patients, whereas the experimental aspect comes about when teachers and parents do everything within their capacities to accord equal learning opportunities to students affected with chronic itching.

Experimental Control/internal Validity

Experimental control or internal validity refers to an observation or experiment designed to lessen the effects of a given variable; in this case Pruritus, as opposed to the constant characteristic of a single independent variable (the patient). This results in an increase in reliability of outcomes; many a times through comparisons between well-defined control measurements.

External Validity

External validity refers to the extent that the outcome of a study can be applied to the world at large. When one type of therapeutic itch experiment works perfectly for a given number of patients, the procedures involved are applied across the board to all sufferers of similar conditions. The experiments in this case refer to medication, therapies, teaching methods, nutritional steps, counselling and any other aides that Pruritus patients are predisposed to. It is worth mentioning that experimental effects are simulated transversely among patients, settings, and other forms of therapy to establish external validity. At any given time, it is estimated that a whooping nine percent of the world population is itching; children top the list, then women, and finally men when it comes to giving in to itching. Currently, the drugs used to treat pruritus include corticosteroid creams, Calcineurin inhibitors, oral antihistamines and antidepressants. All the same doctors are still looking for a permanent solution to itching and ways to diagnose the underlying causes to itching. Supposing a certain hospital is renowned for its successful treatment of chronic itching cases or a certain middle school offers highly specialized care, parents are likely to take their children to such a facility for best results.

Social Validity

Chronic itching or pruritus is socially important; not because it does any one individual good but because it is an issue that needs to be resolved (Seeley, 2011). Research has time and again proven the relevance of interventions made by doctors, teachers and parents in dealing with Pruritus cases in the quest to help students. The above mentioned efforts have paid off significantly since considerable changes i.e. recovery cases have been witnessed in patients who have been well taken care of. Implementation of specialized care is not cheap or expensive for individuals with chronic itching cases, all the same a lot of processes come in handy when there is a need to restore the wellbeing of an individual. Social validity is heightened through the application of independent variables over extended periods of time by archetypal agents of intervention, in typical social and physical contexts. It is also worth mentioning that social validity comes in the sharing of knowledge and creation of awareness on pruritus; this helps determine the best approach of caring for victims such that cost effectiveness can be achieved.

Appropriateness of Research Questions

Even though some physicians recommend the blocking of serotonin as a solution to itching, there are more answers to the challenges brought about by itching. Itching may result from factors within an individual’s body or the external environment within which the said individual resides. Some of the environmental factors include contact irritants like soaps, parasites, atopic dermatitis, and dry skin among others. The main challenge lies in the internal factors/diseases that act as a precursor to itching. These may range from kidney disease, liver disease, among others. Overall, there is a need for a generalized efficiency in treating pruritus cases regardless of the cause; thus the relevance of the aforementioned hypothesis.

Conclusion

The main cause of itching (pruritus) is not known yet. All the same, whenever an individual has an annoying itch, scratching brings about blissful relief-at the start. But the more an individual scratch him/herself, the more he/she itches, in a vicious cycle that eventually becomes more of a frustration as opposed to a satisfying experience.

Hi Denise,

I could only award you points in the writing categories for this assignment.  The reasons points were withheld are in rubric below, and there are further comments on your paper. I know you must be distressed about your grade for this assignment, and I too am sorry to see this result.

Dr. Nevel 

Assignment Rubrics

Grading Criteria Unit 7 Assignment	% - Points	210
Course Content
Provides a scholarly single subject research study from a credible source on a relevant topic of interest in the field of psychology. Ensures that the source is current (within the last 10 years).	0-10	0 You have not provided a single subject research study from the field of psychology.
Provides the following details: 1. A brief description of the research question(s) and hypothesis 2. the method, setting, and subjects 3. A summary of the results 4. the conclusions as reported by the study author(s)	0-60	0      You could not meet any of these criteria because you did not discuss a research study. Please see my comments on your paper for further detail.
Provides the following details: 1. a critical analysis of the quality of the study based on the seven criteria outlined in the reading for this unit, with each bullet point for all seven criteria discussed b. Provides a clear rationale as to why the student believes the chosen study meets quality standards for each of the criteria listed above, with sufficient references and citations to the text to support your opinion.	0-100	0          You could not provide a critical analysis of the quality of a single research study based on the criteria in the unit 7 reading because you did not discuss a single subject research study. Please see my comments on your paper for further detail.
Writing
APA Style: Formatted correctly using APA style. Provides references to support conclusions. Paraphrased correctly and accurately; direct quotes used minimally.	0-20	20
Style and Mechanics: Clear and logical organization; paragraphs and sentences are well developed. Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Meets length requirements of 4-6 pages.	0-20	20
Total	210	40
An explanation of the points earned, as well as where the assignment could be strengthened will be included with your grade.

References

Association, A. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Seeley, R. (2011). Seeley’s anatomy and physiology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

�You have not evaluated a single subject research study in the filed of psychology based on the quality standards and criteria in the weekly reading for Unit 7 (Horner, et a, 2005) as required by the assignment instructions.

�This does not state or evaluate a hypothesis or research question.

�What study?

�You have not described a single-subject research study

�This could be true, but you have not described a single subject research study investigating pruritus in this paper.

�The question is not whether the effects of a medication on itching could be measured repeatedly over time, it is obvious that it could be. But you were required to evaluate a study in the field of psychology according to the specific criteria for quality single subject research proposed by Horner et al (2005). You have not described or cited a single subject research study, much less evaluated one.

�True, and you were required to discuss the baseline in a study you selected and evaluate it in based on specific criteria mentioned in the unit 7 reading, which you did not do.

�This doesn’t say anything remotely related to the assignment instructions. (A patient would not be an independent variable, an intervention would.)

�The experiments in what case?

�You were required to discuss whether the study you selected met the criteria for quality research proposed in Horner et al (2005).

�Neither on of these is a single-subject research study in the field of psychology.