Case Studies

• What is a case study?

  A case study is a detailed study into the life of a person.
• What type of data does a case study provide?

  A case study provides qualitative data.
• What are the key features of a case study?

  • Detailed examination of an individual's life
  • Analysis of past and present behavior
  • Builds a case history
• What is an example of a case study from psychology?

  The case study of HM from the memory topic.
• What did HM's case study reveal about his memory?

  HM's procedural memory was intact, but his episodic memory wasn't.
• What does HM's case study suggest about long-term memory?

  It suggests that there are different types of long-term memory stored in different parts of the brain.
• Which case study did Freud use as evidence for the Oedipus complex?

  The case study of Little Hans.
• What are the strengths of case studies?

  • Detailed insights into individual cases
  • Forms basis for future research
  • Inferences about normal behavior from unusual cases
  • Investigates unethical or impractical situations
• What are the limitations of case studies?

  • Not generalizable to wider populations
  • Various interviewer biases (social desirability, interpretative)
  • Retrospective studies may rely on inaccurate memory
  • Time-consuming and difficult to replicate