case studies

• retrospective CS

  • looks at historical info

  ideographic

  • occur when an individual allows psychologists to understand more than what is initially obvious to study
  • study that cannot be controlled in a lab
• nomothetic case studies

  • unexpected results, followed up with questionnaire
• prospective case studies

  • observe an individual or group of people in order to determine what happens to them
• instrumental case studies

  • occur when an individual allows psychologists to understand more than what is initially obvious to study
  • something that cannot be manipulated in a lab experiment
• use a mixture of mechanisms

  • collect qualitative data
  • mix qualitative approach with questionnaires + biological measures