RM case studies

Question 1

Case study

Answer 1

Involves the in-depth and detailed study of an individual or group

It is often used to study unique examples of phenomena, which may support or criticise psychological theories

Question 2

Strength 1

Answer 2

Unlike laboratory experiments, where research is performed in a controlled and artificial setting, a strength is that they allow researchers to investigate behaviour that would be unethical to study in controlled conditions

This is because case studies analysis makes use of naturally occurring variation in the IV

For example, it would be unethical to cause brain damage in participants so researchers make use of naturally occurring cases of brain damage in patients to investigate its effects (e.g. KF)

Question 3

Strength 2

Answer 3

They allow researchers to test existing theories

This is because case studies analysis makes use of a naturally occurring variation in the IV meaning, they can be used to test for things which cannot be artificially recreated

This means that the results of case studies can be used as examples or cause the revision of existing theories

Question 4

Limitation 1

Answer 4

Unlike laboratory experiments, where the research has control over extraneous variables in a controlled setting, a limitation is that there is no control over extraneous variables

Which is when variables not controlled by the experimenter randomly affect the DV

This is because case studies make use of naturally occurring changes in the IV and so do not have full control over confounding variables, such as a third unknown variable that could cause observed changes in the DV

Question 5

Limitation 2

Answer 5

They have low population validity

Which is when the findings cannot be successfully generalised to wider population, lowering external validity of research

This is because they only study one, or small groups of individuals

Question 6

Limitation 3

Answer 6

Unlike laboratory experiments, which make use of standardised procedures, a limitation is that they are low in reliability

Which is the extent to which a method produces similar findings when repeated

This is because they make use of one-off cases and so cannot be replicated to check for reliability