Case studies

• What is a case study?

  A indepth study of a person, group or institution which takes place over a long period of time.

  They are idiographic and individualistic

  Carried out in real world settings
• What is a weakness of case studies?

  Hard to generalise data to others (everyone has their individual trauma= unique to them)

  Based on retrospective data

  Difficult to replicate
• How can a psychologist maintain confidentiality?

  use a fake name or number when refering to particpant

  Ensure that they are unidentifiable
• What techniques can used when conducting a case study?

  open interview (with person and their family)= helps to get more detail around early life

  psychological tests= IQ testing

  Observations
• Characteristics of a case study

  One person / group of people

  Idiographic

  Individualist