Lesson 18 - Case Studies

Question 1

Case Studies

Answer 1

Involve detailed investigation of a single individual/group/institution
Provide rich, detailed qualitative data compared to other research methods
Involve several methods which allows for consistency
Can be longitudinal

Question 2

Case Studies Evaluation Points

Answer 2

Validity
Insight
Findings
Control
Reliability
Generalisation

Question 3

Case Studies Evaluation
Validity
Positive

Answer 3

Create opportunities for a rich yield of data

Depth of analysis can bring high levels of validity

Question 4

Case Studies Evaluation
Insight
Positive

Answer 4

Studying abnormal psychology can give insight into how something works when it is functioning correctly, such as brain damage on memory

Question 5

Case Studies Evaluation
Findings
Positive

Answer 5

Detail collected on a single case may lead to interesting findings that conflict with current theories, and stimulate new paths for research

Question 6

Case Studies Evaluation
Control
Negative

Answer 6

Little control over a number of variables in case studies

Difficult to confidently establish causal relationship between variables

Question 7

Case Studies Evaluation
Reliability
Negative

Answer 7

Unusual by nature
Poor reliability
Being able to replicate is unlikely

Question 8

Case Studies Evaluation
Generalisation
Negative

Answer 8

Small sample size

Therefore unlikely that any findings from a case study can be generalised to the wider population