Case Studies

Question 1

Definition of case studies:

Answer 1

• an indepth investigation that gathers a lot of info and detail about one person or a small group of people (e.g. clive wearing)
• gathers data using a variety of different research methods including interviews, observations, questionnaires, self-reports, experiments
• can also look at secondary data like case history
• case studies are often longitudinal that allow us to see development and changes in behaviour

Question 2

Strengths of case studies:

Answer 2

+ produces a lot of rich indepth data. Helps identify patterns and trends and gives you a better insight/ understanding of behaviour compared to lab research. more valid data
+ case study is often the best method to examine unique experiences and situations. case studies often involve damage to brain or behaviour which cannot be manipulated or replicated due to unethical reasons, so case studies provide an ethical way of studying unique - circumstances

Question 3

Weaknesses of case studies:

Answer 3

• case studies lack population validity. the findings from case studies are ungeneralisable and cannot be applied to the wider population because it focuses only on one person or a small group with a unique characteristic/ experience
• researcher bias. case studies are longitudinal and gather indepth data from the participant - researcher may develop a bond with participant-bias in interpretation of behaviour. Primary data is usually qualitive descriptions which are open to subjective interpretation
• lack of replicability in case studies. case studies focus on unique one off-cases/ events and therefore the data that is obtained is unique. therefore we cannot replicate research to check for consistency or reliability
• case studies often rely on retrospective data. case study may misremember or forget information from the past, making the results of research innaccurate - reducing validity.