Research Methods: Case Studys Flashcards
What is a case study?
- A research method involving a detailed and intensive analysis of a single case study.
- It typically involves the collection of qualitative data. Therefore, makes use of methods such as unstructured interviews or thematic analysis.
- The ‘case’ tends to be the focus of interest in its own right.
What is a limitation of case study research?
It lacks external validity. Because case study research is conducted on a single case (sometimes a single individual), the sample sizes involved tend to be very small. Moreover, case study research often focuses on cases that are selected because they are unique. Both these factors mean that generalising from case study research can be difficult. This issue undermined
Freud’s psychodynamic theories, such as the psychosexual stages, as he attempted to make generalisations
from case study research (e.g., Little Hans) and formulate general laws. Case study researchers counter this
criticism by pointing out that case study research is not intended to be generalized. Rather, the purpose is to
understand a single case in its own right.
What is a strength of case study research?
It can be used to evaluate a theory. For example, case study research on Clive Wearing was used to challenge the validity of the multi-store
model’s claim that there is only one long-term memory store. This shows the utility of case study research as unique cases can be used to test hypotheses generated by
a theory. Therefore, case study research can play an important role in challenging current thinking and whilst
also guiding` the way to the development of new theoretical ideas. This also illustrates how the nomothetic
and idiographic approaches can work together. Because case study research seeks to understand a case in its
own right, it is often associated with the idiographic approach, which seeks to understand the uniqueness of
individuals. However, case study research can be used within nomothetic research too, as single cases can be used to evaluate the validity of general laws, as happened with the application of the case of Clive Wearing to the validity of the MSM (a nomothetic theory).
