Case study (psychology)

Case study in psychology refers to the use of a descriptive research approach to obtain an in-depth analysis of a person, group, or phenomenon. A variety of techniques may be employed including personal interviews, direct-observation, psychometric tests, and archival records. In psychology case studies are most often used in clinical research to describe rare events and conditions, which contradict well established principles in the field of psychology. Case studies are generally a single-case design, but can also be a multiple-case design, where replication instead of sampling is the criterion for inclusion. Like other research methodologies within psychology, the case study must produce valid and reliable results in order to be useful for the development of future research. Distinct advantages and disadvantages are associated with the case study in psychology. The case study is sometimes mistaken for the case method, but the two are not the same.

Advantages

One major advantage of the case study in psychology is the potential for the development of novel hypotheses for later testing. Second, the case study can provide detailed descriptions of specific and rare cases

Pros and Cons of case study in psychology

The case study definition in psychology is connected with a deep investigation of the various behavioral factors that surround individuals or group of individuals. It enables the scientist to conduct the investigation in details rather than deal with a great number of participants. Case study covers all aspects of individual's life including the behavior. It enables to generalize information and gather general results.

Case study enables researchers to carry on investigations that cannot be conducted in a lab. It helps to create the research of every aspect of the patient’s behavior. This will give an insight into picture of the problem.

Basically, the case study is not a method itself. Researchers implement such methods and ways of data collection and relevant analysis that will collect the material relevant to the case study. In most cases, data that the researcher uses include the direct observation of the daily routine of the particular individual, the interviewing with the participant, some personal notes or formal documents. Consequently, the gathered information may be analyzed with the help of many theories. The most widely known are text interpretation, thematic coding, and grounded theory. However, these theories are quite subjective because they analyze only one particular case without providing parallel with the group. It seems to be one of the most crucial cons of the psychological case studies. Any scientist does not know for sure whether it is possible to apply the same observation to another patient. All the research and investigation are formed on the qualitative data. A certain part in the research depends on the researcher's interpretation. It means that a lot of information is quite subjective and may be biased as well.[1]

Famous case studies in psychology

• Harlow - Phineas Gage
• Breuer & Freud (1895) - Anna O.
• Cleckley's (1941) case studies of psychopathy (The Mask of Sanity) and Multiple Personality Disorder (The Three Faces of Eve) (1957)
• Freud and Little Hans
• Freud and the Rat Man
• John Money and the John/Joan case
• Genie (feral child)
• Piaget's studies
• Rosenthal's book on the murder of Kitty Genovese
• Washoe (sign language)

See also

• Case study
• Research method

References

^ Schultz & Schultz, Duane (2010). Psychology and work today. New York: Prentice Hall. pp. 201–202. ISBN 0-205-68358-4.