Research Methods - Case Studies

Question 1

Case studies

Answer 1

an in-depth examination of an individual, group, event
-collected via interviews, observations, tests and archival records
-used to explore complex issues, generate insights and develop understanding of a subject

Question 2

What are the key characteristics of a case study?

Answer 2

in-depth analysis
Focus on 1 person
Multiple data sources
Contextual understanding
Predominantly qual but may use quant data
Idiographic approach

Question 3

in-depth analysis

Answer 3

specific details of the cases that help you find patterns, causes and events that aren’t evident in surveys and experiments

Question 4

focus on one person (or small group)

Answer 4

… who have an abnormality

Question 5

multiple data sources

Answer 5

variety of data collection to get a rich, complete understanding of the case

Question 6

contextual understanding

Answer 6

context in which the subject operates - family accounts can be used to understand any influence of environment, background and situational events

Question 7

predominantly qual data (but can use quant)

Answer 7

quant can enhance depth of analysis

Question 8

idiographic approach

Answer 8

focus on understanding the individual without needing to make general laws on the behav

Question 9

strengths of case studies

Answer 9

in-depth analysis high validity
abnormal psych can give insight to how it should look normally
detail on single case can lead to interesting finds that conflict with current theories

Question 10

limitations of case studies

Answer 10

little control over variables makes it hard to identify rels
unique so have poor reliability
small sample mean they cannot be generalised
bias can be found E.G. little hans - freud