case studies

Question 1

What is a case study?

Answer 1

A detailed study of an individual or small group of people

Question 2

what are case studies called because they are carried out over a long period of time?

Answer 2

Longitudinal

Question 3

what type of data do case studies usually collect?

Answer 3

qualitative data

Question 4

Why do case studies usually collect qualitative data?

Answer 4

Because they use methods such as naturalistic observations and interviews

Question 5

How can case studies collect quantitative data?

Answer 5

Through IQ test etc such as in Dibs

Question 6

What is action research?

Answer 6

Where they are actually trying to change a behaviour such as Hans’ fear of horses

Question 7

Main strength of case studies regarding origins of behaviour?

Answer 7

Good at revealing origins of abnormal behaviour and attempting to change that behaviour such as reducing little Hans’ fear of horses

Question 8

Strength regarding qualitative and sometime quantitative data?

Answer 8

provide in-depth descriptions producing rich qualitative data.
-Therefore provide a very valid picture of the P’s life

Question 9

Strength regarding ecological validity+Validity?

Answer 9

they relate to real life and usually gather data directly concerned with the person without interference from the researcher.

Question 10

Weakness regarding 1 P’s

Answer 10

• Have to be careful generalising
• even though it was believed little hans was experiencing the Oedipus complex his relationship with his mum and dad may not be typical of other children
• Dibs was not a usual child either as he was a genius

Question 11

Weakness regarding reliability and control?

Answer 11

almost impossible to repeat case studies in a similar way so can not test for reliability

• Also little control over variables so cannot identify causes of behaviour
• In dibs it may not have been play therapy that cured him it could have been a different variable
• It would be necessary to carry out a control group to see if play therapy does actually work