CASE STUDY

• What are case studies?

  • In-depth analysis of an individual, group, event, institution
  • Not a method in themselves- no procedure
  • Can be based past or present (ongoing) events / people 
  • May take place over a long period of time (longitudinal)
  • May get information from family, friends, people from work
  • Qualitative data obtained through interviews, observations, questionnaires 
  • Examples of case studies: Little Hans, Little Albert, Phineas Gage
• Strengths:

  • Provides rich qualitative info (detailed), can research 1 person 
  • Provides insight for further research- can identify unusual and atypical behaviours (unethical to study otherwise)
• Weaknesses:

  • Small sample size not representative, harder to generalise
  • Difficult to replicate- time-consuming & expensive
  • Can be low in validity- info from family / friends- may be inaccurate (memory decay)