Introduction to Case Studies
Welcome to the study of Case Studies! In Psychology, while we often look at large groups of people to find general rules, sometimes the most interesting discoveries come from looking very closely at just one person. Think of a case study as a "deep dive" or a "biography" of a person’s psychological experience. It allows us to understand unique behaviors that we might miss in a big laboratory experiment.
In this chapter, we will explore what makes a case study unique, how to evaluate them, and how you might plan one yourself for your Paper 2 exam.
What is a Case Study?
A case study is an in-depth, detailed investigation of a single individual, a small group, or sometimes an organization. Instead of looking at 100 people briefly, a researcher looks at one person for a long time, often using many different methods to collect data.
Key Characteristics:
1. Idiographic Approach: This means focusing on the individual rather than trying to create general laws for everyone.
2. Rich Detail: Researchers collect vast amounts of qualitative data (descriptions, feelings, and thoughts).
3. Longitudinal Potential: Case studies often take place over weeks, months, or even years, allowing researchers to see how a person changes over time.
Analogy: If an experiment is like taking a quick snapshot of a crowd, a case study is like filming a full-length documentary about one person's life.
Planning a Case Study (Paper 2 Requirements)
When you are asked to plan a case study in your exam, the syllabus identifies four specific things you must include. Don't worry if this seems like a lot; just remember these four "building blocks":
1. Participant Details
Since you are only studying one person (or a very small group), you must describe them clearly. You should mention their age, gender, and any relevant background information (e.g., "a 9-year-old boy with a specific phobia").
2. Information Collected
What exactly are you trying to find out? Are you looking at their early childhood memories? Their current symptoms? Their daily habits? You must be specific about the type of psychological data you want to gather.
3. Two or More Techniques
To make a case study "comprehensive," you shouldn't just use one method. You might use:
- Interviews (asking them questions about their life).
- Observations (watching how they behave in certain situations).
- Diaries (asking them to write down their thoughts every day).
- Psychometric Tests (using a standardized scale to measure something like anxiety).
4. Analysis and Triangulation
Triangulation is a fancy word for a simple idea: comparing different types of data to see if they support each other. For example, if the participant says they aren't scared in an interview, but you observe them shaking, your data doesn't match! Comparing these different sources makes the study more valid.
Evaluating Case Studies
Every research method has its ups and downs. Here is how we weigh up case studies:
Strengths
Highly Valid: Because case studies look at people in their real lives and get so much detail, the findings are often very true to life (high ecological validity).
Studying Rare Phenomena: Some things are too rare to find a big group for. For example, if someone has a very specific type of brain damage, a case study is the only way to learn about it.
Holistic: They look at the "whole person" rather than just one tiny variable.
Weaknesses
Lack of Generalisability: This is the biggest problem! Because you only studied one person, you cannot be sure that your findings apply to anyone else. Your participant might be unique or "one in a million."
Researcher Bias (Subjectivity): Researchers often spend so much time with the participant that they might lose their objectivity. They might become friends with the participant or start seeing what they "expect" to see.
Ethics: It is very hard to keep a participant anonymous in a case study because their story is so unique. People who know them might recognize them from the report.
Reliability: It is almost impossible to replicate a case study exactly because no two people are the same.
Core Study Example: Saavedra and Silverman (2002)
The best example of a case study in your syllabus is the study of button phobia.
- Participant: A 9-year-old Hispanic American boy.
- Information Collected: His history with the phobia and his ratings of distress (Feelings Thermometer).
- Techniques: They used interviews, observations, and self-report scales.
- Findings: They discovered that evaluative learning (disgust) was a huge part of his phobia, not just fear.
Quick Review: Tips for Success
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse "Case Study" with "Longitudinal Study." While many case studies take a long time (longitudinal), a longitudinal study can involve hundreds of people. A case study is defined by its depth and small sample size, not just its length.
Memory Trick: Remember the "3 Ds" of Case Studies:
1. Detail (Rich qualitative data).
2. Deep (In-depth investigation).
3. Difficult to Generalise (Only one person!).
Key Takeaway: Case studies are the "detective work" of psychology. They give us the "why" and the "how" behind human behavior, even if they can't tell us what everyone does.