Non-Experimental Methods of Investigating Behaviour - Case Studies

Question 1

All research begins with…

Answer 1

• an aim

Question 2

What is an aim?

Answer 2

• what the researcher intends to find out in their research
• is a general question about some aspect of human behaviour that the researcher has noticed needs answering

Question 3

How can a researcher go about investigating their aim?

Answer 3

• deciding to use an experimental method of investigation
  OR
• deciding to use an non-experimental method of investigation

Question 4

What is an experiment?

Answer 4

• a situation where people’s behaviour is measured in response to a particular task

Question 5

Why can cause and effect be established?

Answer 5

• because an independent variable is deliberately manipulated so that we can see its effect on the dependent variable

Question 6

What does a non-experimental method involve?

Answer 6

• involves finding out about people’s behaviour but without the manipulation of an independent variable
• just asking what they think

Question 7

What is a case study?

Answer 7

• an in-depth detailed analysis of one person / a small group of people over an extended period, meaning that they are longitudinal

Question 8

How do case studies explain behaviour?

Answer 8

• by using information taken from a variety of secondary sources
  eg school reports, medical records, prison records, archives etc.
• also use primary resources
  eg interviews or questionnaires with people

Question 9

Case studies provide a ______ understanding of behaviour because…

Answer 9

• case studies provide a HOLISTIC understanding of behaviour
• because of their ability to gather lots of rich, in-depth complex information