Case studies

• Sources for case studies

  • Interviews
  • School records and medical records
  • Interviews with teachers/family/managers/co-workers
  • Attitude questionnaires
  • Psychometric tests
  • Physiological measures (MRI scans)
  • Tests of clinical symptoms
  • Observations of participants
  • Diaries letters or other biographical information
• Strengths of case studies

  • Investigate a unique characteristic
  • Triangulate data (different methods to gather data) so high in validity
  • Mainly qualitative data so stays rich
  • Ecological Valid as the focus is on real life
• Weaknesses of case studies

  • A relationship is built so subjectivity is hard to maintain reducing the validity - researcher effects
  • Validity reduced if being asked to recall the past
  • Studies are unique so cannot really be generalised
  • Difficult to replicate
  • Cannot establish cause and effect
  • Ethical issues