case studies

• case studies tend to take place over a long period of time (longitudinal) and may involve gathering data from family and friends of the individual as well as the person themselves. They often involve analysis of unusual individuals or events, such as a person with a rare disorder. The data collected is mainly qualitative as researchers will construct a case history of the individual/event using interviews, observations or questionnaires or a combination of these
• strengths of case studies:

  • rich, detailed insights- preferred to the more 'superficial' forms of data that might be collected. Such detail is likely to increase the validity of the data collected
  • enables study of unusual behaviour- some behaviours/conditions are very rare like HM and cannot be studies using other methods. In addition some cases can help understanding of 'typical' functioning
• limitations of case studies:

  • prone to researcher bias- conclusions are based on the subjective interpretation of the researcher and personal accounts. This may reduce the validity of the study
  • small sample- sample may be one event/individual with unique characteristics. This makes it difficult to make generalisations (low external validity)