Lesson 2: Case Studies

Question 1

What is a case study?

Answer 1

Case studies involve the detailed investigation of a single individual, group or institution. They usually involve an unusual phenomenon or biological event of interest to a research field.

Question 2

What type of data do case studies provide?

Answer 2

Qualitative data

Question 3

Why are case studies referred to as longitudinal?

Answer 3

They are referred to as longitudinal as they can last weeks, months or years.
Researchers are able to observe changes over time

Question 4

Give THREE positive evaluations of case studies

Answer 4

+ Case studies create opportunities for a rich yield of data, and the depth of
analysis can in turn bring high levels of validity.

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

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

Question 5

Give THREE negative evaluations of case studies

Answer 5

• There is little control over a number of variables involved in a case study, so
  it is difficult to confidently establish any causal relationships between
  variables.
• Case studies are unusual by nature, so will have poor reliability as being able
  to replicate them exactly will be unlikely.
• Due to the small sample size, it is unlikely that findings from a case study
  alone can be generalised to the wider population.