Case studies

• Case Studies


  A detailed investigation of a single instance, usually just one person. The data is detailed and in-depth, and can be used to for looking at rare cases.
• Case Studies


  • Can be highly valid, as the individual is explored in great depth
  • Data can be gathered from the patient, as well as from friends and family
• Case Studies


  • Researchers might develop a close relationship, making them subjective, and decreasing validity
  • The level of detail could be a threat to the patient's anonymity (ethical issues)
  • Poor reliability - as only one patient and one researcher
• Case Study


  An in-depth study that gathers a lot of detail about one person or a small group
• Research Methods


  • Case Studies
  • Questionnaires
  • Interviews
  • Experiments
  • Secondary Data
  • Case Histories