Case Studies

    Cards (2)

    • Case Studies
      • Use many research methods
      • Detailed data (in-depth analysis)
      • Individuals or small groups with unique circumstances
      • Atypical brain, rare to have identical brain damage cases
      • Combine primary and secondary data
      • Observations, PET scans, and experimental methods, allowing for comparison by triangulation and studying over long period
    • Case Study Evaluation
      Strengths:
      • Measurements of brain damage (neuroimaging techniques - MRI, PET) are objective, easily replicated, therefore scientific
      • Brain-damaged patients are often tested in lab conditions with high experimental control; Schmolk et al (2002)
      Weaknesses:
      • Gathers qualitative subjective data and may be unscientific; also relies on very unique, idiographic cases so results are ungeneralisable to wider populous
      • No ‘baseline’ data so cause and effect are difficult to establish; some may have been lacking before damage
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