Case studies

• 
  

  Case studies: researchers gather a Range of data collected from an individual, group or institution. Manly data is collected using interviews and observations, but content analysis can be performed on written evidence and even experimental techniques can be included.
• Case studies collect a high level of detail on a individual or group
• Case studies tend to be investigations conducted on

  • Psychologically unusual people ( Clive wearing)
  • Unusual events
  • Organisational practice
  • Typical individuals within a demographic
• Qualitative data is usually collected

  (Words) However quantitative data can be included with the use of experimental techniques, observations and content analysis
• Duration of a case study

  Case studies that look at behaviour over a short period of time are known as a snapshot. Longitudinal case studies follow up participants over many years. These show changes in the behaviour of participants over time, however are difficult to continue over the long term due to funding and even researchers dying of old age!
• Case studies are used in clinical psychology

  Use in clinical psychology: the unusual behaviour of individuals with brain damage indicate the area that is damaged is in some way related to that behavioural function. Example: Tan (Louis Leborgne) was only able to communicate using the word Tan, his other functions such as intelligence and the ability to understand language was left unaffected. This case study helped to identify Broca's area, the location in the left hemisphere that is responsible for speech production.
• Freud use of case studies to develop psychodynamics 


  Use in psychodynamic psychology: Freud used a number of case studies including his own clients. He used these to develop and support his theory of psychodynamics. Example: Freud suggested little Hanz's fear of horses represented a fear of his father and used this case study as evidence in support of the Oedipus complex
• Use in childhood psychology: Children with unusual upbringings can be used as evidence for theories on childhood development. Example: Genie was deprived of care until the age of 13. Despite the best efforts of carers and psychologists, Genie never managed to develop normal communication and social skills. Genes case supports the idea of a critical period in development
• Strengths of case studies

  As case studies are in-depth, mostly qualitative investigations, the range of data collected results in realism. This holistic approach to conducting research is favoured by humanist psychologists, arguing the depth of detail gives highly valid insights and are a true reflection of a person's experience.
• Often the only way to investigate very unusual or extreme human behaviour, this research cant be replicated in the lab often for ethical reasons. So if it wasn't for the case study method, some research wouldn't exist at all. The results of one unusual case study can upend an established theory.
• Limitation-

  Interviews often form a large part of case studies, these depend on memory and these memories may be inaccurate. Also the subjects of a case study may lie to make themselves look good to the researcher (social desirability bias). Findings from one unusual individual's case study cannot be generalised, there may be other unknown factors that have resulted in a behaviour.
• As the subjects in case studies are unique, exact replications to check for the reliability of findings are not possible. Case studies can suffer from researcher bias, researchers decide which findings to include and exclude when writing up, potentially only including data that confirms a bias. The researcher may also lose the ability to think objectively about the subject of the case study due to working with them closely for an extended period of time.
• Strength

  Case studies can be used to generate a hypothesis that can then be tested experimentally. Such as testing for the existence of Broca's area with the use of highly controlled FMRI brain scant on large numbers of participants.