본 연구에서는 1998년부터 2004년 사이에 발간된 우리나라 유아특수교육 분야의 실험 사례연구 논문 35편을 분석하여 연구의 일반적 특성과 질적 수준, 연구되고 있는 중재전략에 대해 알아보았다. 연구결과 연구에 참여한 아동은 언어장애와 발달지체 아동이 많았고, 중재환경은 치료실과 특수학급이 가장 많았다. 연구 설계는 중다기초선 설계가 가장 높은 비율로 나타났고, AB설계가 다음으로 많이 사용되고 있었다. 연구방법의 질적 수준분석 결과, 대상과 측정, 환경에 대한 기술이 미비하였고, 유지에 대한 측정은 비교적 충실한 편이나 중재충실도와 일반화, 사회적 타당도 측정은 부족하였다. 국내에서 충분히 연구가 되어 효과가 있는 것으로 고려할 만한, 기준(n>9)에 부합하는 중재전략은 구조화된 놀이활동과 반응촉진법이었으며, 중재의 효과가 입증되어 가는 과정에 있다고 볼 수 있는, 4-6편의 연구결과의 보고가 제시된 중재 전략은 자연적 교수와 기능평가·긍정적행동지원, 언어청각적 중재, 강화, 가족참여, 보조공학이었다. 그러나 실험조건간의 반복측정 수는 논문 한 편당 평균 2.0으로, 아직 심도 있는 반복연구를 통해 중재의 효과를 규명하는 데는 제한점이 있는 것으로 나타났다.
The purpose of this research was to examine the quality features of experimental case studies in early childhood special education in Korea through contents and methodology analysis. For this, 35 experimental case studies that were published from 1998 to 2004 in eight journals were reviewed. Studies were analysed according to participants' characteristics and settings, and contexts of methodology and quality features. The effectiveness of practices was examined according to the criterion of the American Psychological Association. The quality features of study that were assessed included research designs, fidelity of intervention, maintenance, generalization of effect, and social validity.The results of this study were as follows: first, the primary participants were children with developmental delays and language disorders, and the research was mostly conducted in clinical or segregated settings such as theraputic rooms and special classrooms. The descriptions of subjects and settings were insufficient. Second, the research studies primarily employed multiple baseline experimental designs, though AB design was also popular. Third, the analysis of quality features found insufficient fidelity of intervention procedures and evidence of generalization effect and social validity, and relative sufficiency with regard to the evidence of effectiveness and maintenance. Fourth, practices with well-established evidence of effectiveness were play activities structured and response prompting. Probably efficacious practices included functional assessment and positive behavior support, reinforcement, linguistic and acoustic approaches, naturalistic teaching approaches, family participation, and assistive technology.It is suggested that researchers should provide detailed descriptions of participants and settings, use a variety of research designs, measure independent variables and fidelity of intervention, evidence of intervention generalization, and social validity. We need more researchers in Korea, who are interested in investigating current practices or intervention strategies that are recommended in early childhood special education. It is necessary to introduce new practices to the field, which have well-established evidence of effectiveness. We also need research in inclusive settings to support young children with disabilities and provide comprehensive services to them.