7. RESEARCH METHODS (Case Studies) Flashcards
What is a case study in psychology?
A case study is a detailed study of a single individual, group, institution, or event. It is usually idiographic, focusing on individualistic and in-depth data, and often conducted over a long period (longitudinal).
What is the primary aim of case studies in psychological research?
Case studies aim to provide a rich, in-depth understanding of unusual behaviours or complex psychological phenomena by using systematic and objective methods.
What are some common techniques used in case studies?
Common techniques include:
* IQ testing
* Personality testing
* Observations
* Interviews (individual, family, friends)
* Questionnaires
* Medical case notes
* Experiments to test abilities
What type of data is typically gathered in a case study?
Case studies often gather both qualitative data (e.g., themes, personal experiences) and quantitative data (e.g., psychological test scores).
Why is confidentiality important in case studies?
Confidentiality is important to protect the identity of the individual being studied. Researchers ensure privacy by using pseudonyms or initials and avoiding sharing specific personal details such as addresses or school names.
Can you name some famous examples of case studies?
Famous case studies include:
* Henry Molaison (HM)
* Clive Wearing
* Little Hans
* Genie
* Phineas Gage
What is a strength of case studies in terms of data collection?
Case studies provide rich, in-depth data, allowing researchers to gather a large amount of information over a long period, which offers detailed insights into complex behaviours and interactions.
Why are case studies beneficial for studying rare behaviours or experiences?
Case studies are useful for studying rare or unique behaviours (e.g., severe childhood deprivation or brain injuries), as they provide valuable insights into phenomena that would be unethical or impossible to study experimentally.
How do case studies contribute to ecological validity?
Case studies are often longitudinal and conducted in natural settings, which enhances ecological validity by reflecting real-life behaviours and experiences in familiar environments.
Why are case studies important for investigating unethical or impractical topics?
Case studies allow researchers to study naturally occurring behaviours and events (e.g., brain injuries or rare psychological conditions) that would be unethical or impractical to manipulate experimentally.
What is a limitation of case studies regarding generalization?
It is difficult to generalize the findings from case studies because they focus on unique individuals or events, and their results may not apply to broader populations.
What ethical concerns are associated with case studies?
Ethical concerns include maintaining confidentiality, ensuring informed consent (which may not be possible for participants like HM or Little Hans), and preventing psychological harm due to repeated testing or probing.
How can self-report data affect the validity of case studies?
Self-report data can be unreliable because participants may misremember past events or provide socially desirable answers, which reduces the internal validity of the findings.
What is a limitation of case studies in terms of replication?
Case studies are unique and difficult to replicate, which makes it challenging to test the external reliability or generalizability of the findings to other cases.
How might researcher bias impact a case study?
Researchers may develop a close relationship with the participant over the course of a longitudinal study, which could lead to a loss of objectivity and potential researcher bias, reducing the internal validity of the study.
