Case Studies in Clinical Psychology : Luke and Agoha

• What do case studies in clinical psychology focus on?

  Specific or unique experiences in mental illness
• What type of behavior do case studies examine?

  Naturally occurring behaviors after the event
• What are the types of data used in case studies?

  • Primary data: obtained by the researcher (e.g., interviews)
  • Secondary data: pre-existing data for different purposes (e.g., hospital records)
• What was the BMI of Amy in Luke and Agoha's study?

  11.8
• What symptoms were identified in Amy's case?

  Calorie restriction and excessive exercise
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of using case studies?

  Strengths:

  • Triangulation increases validity
  • Deeper understanding of complex behaviors

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Lack of generalizability
  • Findings may not represent other demographics
• How is qualitative data expressed?

  In words and rich in detail
• How is quantitative data collected?

  Through psychometric tests or closed questionnaires
• At what age was Amy diagnosed with anorexia?

  Age 13
• What was Amy's BMI after three months of hospitalization?

  17.25 kg/m²
• What is a strength of obtaining objective measurements like BMI?

  Data is free from bias and easily compared
• What is a weakness of subjective interpretations in case studies?

  They may lower internal validity of findings
• What does a longitudinal study measure?

  • Changes in behavior over time
  • Can span months or years
• How long was Amy's progress measured in the study?

  Over a long period of time
• What does following Amy's progress allow psychologists to do?

  Measure changes in behavior over time
• What is a weakness of not studying behavior before the onset of a disorder?

  It makes establishing cause and effect difficult
• What are the implications of Amy's case study for understanding anorexia and culture?

  • Highlights individual experiences with anorexia
  • Suggests cultural factors may influence symptoms
  • Indicates limitations in generalizing findings