Case studies

Cards (3)

  • 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