Case Studies

Question 1

What are case studies?

Answer 1

An in depth investigation and analysis of individual, a group or an event

psychologists cannot manipulate as would be unethical

QUALITATIVE data collected by researchers through interviews, observations and questionnaires

QUANTITATIVE data collected if they do psychological testing

OVER A LONG LERIOD OF TIME ask family + friends

NO VARIABLES MANIPULATED

E.g. Phineas Gage (survived iron rod) and Clive Wearing (memory)

Question 2

AO3: a strength para of Case Studies

Prompt= offers an insight …

Answer 2

P: They offer rich, detailed insights on unusual behavior

E: for example ‘Genie’ shows impact of maternal deprivation

E: This allows greater understanding of human behaviour in detail

Question 3

AO3: strength of Case Studies

Prompt= generates _ for future…

Answer 3

P: Case Studies may generate hypothesis for future studies

E: e.g. ‘Genie’ teaches importance of human contact for children

E: led to us knowing children shouldn’t be isolated of moved from care homes

Question 4

AO3: weakness of Case Studies

Prompt: involves a small group…

Answer 4

P: Case Studies have a single person or a small group

E: e.g. ‘Genie’

E: Meaning we can’t generalise their behaviour to others (children) as their cases are unique

Question 5

AO3: weakness of Case Studies

Prompt: researchers became involved…

Answer 5

P: Researchers must become involved but this reduces validity

E: over a long period of time, they become close e.g. Genie’s researchers adopted her

E: meaning they become more bias and subjective e.g. Genies researchers may have only looked at 1 behavior type

Question 6

AO3: weakness of Case Studies

Prompt: hard to replicate…

Answer 6

P: They are hard to replicate as these events are so unusual

E: It’s unethical to force someone into those same conditions e.g. Genie

E: It’s unethical to replicate but no replication = less valid