Case studies

• Case study


  An in-depth investigation of an individual or of a unique group
• Case studies

  • Carried out by professional psychologists who work in environments, such as hospitals, prisons, or therapy centres
  • Information can be from a number of sources, including interview details about the person's life, work records, school records, observations, and psychological tests
• Writing up a case study

  1. Description of the individual or group

  2. Interpretation of the information using psychological theory

  3. Deciding how to use the information collected, such as what treatment should be offered or how to support or challenge a theory
• Strengths of case studies

  • Provide detailed information about individuals rather than just a score on a test
  • Record behaviour over time, so changes can be seen
  • A single case study that shows a theory is not correct is very useful
• Weaknesses of case studies

  • Data collected can be very subjective, as it relies on the individual's memory and the psychologist's interpretations
  • The information cannot be applied to anyone else because it is unique
  • Ethical issues, especially of confidentiality, right to withdraw, and protection from harm
• The protection from harm might occur because very often the person being studied is someone who is suffering from psychological problems, meaning they could be vulnerable