INTRODUCTION OF CASE STUDY
A case study is an in-depth study of the individual in terms of his/her psychological
attributes, psychological history in the context of his/her psycho-social and physical
environment. Case studies are analyses of persons, events, decisions, periods, projects,
policies, institutions, or other systems that are studied holistically by one or more method.
The case that is the subject of the inquiry will be an instance of a class of phenomena that
provides an analytical frame — an object — within which the study is conducted and which
the case illuminates and explicates.
Case studies are widely used by clinical psychologists, case analyses of the lives of great
people can also be highly illuminating for those willing to learn from their life experiences.
The case study method often involves simply observing what happens to, or reconstructing
‘the case history’ of a single participant or group of individuals (such as a school class or a
specific social group), i.e. the idiographic approach. Case studies allow a researcher to
investigate a topic in far more detail than might be possible if they were trying to deal with a
large number of research participants (nomothetic approach) with the aim of ‘averaging’.
The case study is not itself a research method, but researchers select methods of data
collection and analysis that will generate material suitable for case studies such as qualitative
techniques (unstructured interviews, participant observation, diaries), personal notes (e.g.
letters, photographs, notes) or official document (e.g. case notes, clinical notes, appraisal
reports).
The data collected can be analyzed using different theories (e.g. grounded theory,
interpretative phenomenological analysis, text interpretation (e.g. thematic coding) etc. All
the approaches mentioned here use preconceived categories in the analysis and they are
ideographic in their approach, i.e. they focus on the individual case without reference to a
comparison group.
Case studies are widely used in psychology and amongst the best known were the ones
carried out by Sigmund Freud. He conducted very detailed investigations into the private
lives of his patients in an attempt to both understand and help them overcome their illnesses.
The main characteristics of the case study
1. A descriptive study
a. (I.e. the data collected constitute descriptions of psychological processes and events, and of
the contexts in which they occurred (qualitative data).
b. The main emphasis is always on the construction of verbal descriptions of behaviour or
experience but quantitative data may be collected.
c. High levels of detail are provided.
2. Narrowly focused.
a. Typically a case study offers a description of only a single individual, and sometimes about
groups.
b. Often the case study focuses on a limited aspect of a person, such as their
psychopathological symptoms.
3. Combines objective and subjective data
a. i.e. the researcher may combine objective and subjective data: All are regarded as valid
data for analysis, and as a basis for inferences within the case study.
i. The objective description of behaviour and its context
ii. Details of the subjective aspect, such as feelings, beliefs, impressions or interpretations. In
fact, a case study is uniquely able to offer a means of achieving an in-depth understanding of
the behaviour and experience of a single individual.
4. Process-oriented.
a. The case study method enables the researcher to explore and describe the nature of
processes, which occur over time.
b. In contrast to the experimental method, which basically provides a stilled ‘snapshot’ of
processes, which may be continuing over time like for example the development of language
in children over time.
Strengths of Case Studies
Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information.
Provides insight for further research.
Permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations.
Case studies give psychological researchers the possibility to investigate cases, which could
not possibly be engineered in research laboratories. For example, the Money Case Study.
Case studies are often used in exploratory research. They can help us generate new ideas (that
might be tested by other methods). They are an important way of illustrating theories and can
help show how different aspects of a person's life are related to each other. The method is
therefore important for psychologists who adopt a holistic point of view (i.e. humanistic
psychologists).
Limitations of Case Studies
Can’t generalize the results to the wider population.
Researchers own subjective feeling may influence the case study (researcher bias).
Difficult to replicate.
Time consuming.
Because a case study deals with only one person/event/group we can never be sure whether
conclusions drawn from this particular case apply elsewhere. The results of the study are not
generalizable because we can never know whether the case we have investigated is
representative of the wider body of "similar" instances
Because they are based on the analysis of qualitative (i.e. descriptive) data a lot depends on
the interpretation the psychologist places on the information she has acquired. This means
that there is a lot of scope for observer bias and it could be that the subjective opinions of the
psychologist intrude in the assessment of what the data means.
Types of case study
On the basis of number of individuals:
Person/individual: The study of one single individual, generally using several
different research methods. Since there is only one individual, it emphasizes analysis
in depth. Such individual case study is a time honoured procedure in the field of
medicine and medical researchers.
Group/Community: The study of a single distinctive set of people, such as a family
or small group of friends. Such a case study is a thorough observation and analysis of
a group of people who are living together in a particular geographical territory. It tries
to deal with various elements of the community life such as economic activity,
climatic and natural resources, historical development, social life values, health and
education etc.
On the basis of purpose:
Deviant Case analysis: The researchers starts with difference already found
between two people or groups and his/her task is to read backwards, to deduce the
condition that might have produced the differences.
Isolated Clinical Case Analysis: Related to individual units with respect to some
analytical problems, such studies have become popular in psychoanalysis.
Methods used in Case study
Observation of behaviour, characteristics and social qualities of the unit by the
researcher
Use of questionnaires, opinions, inventories, checklists and other psychological
tests
Analysis of recorded data from schools, clinics, courts, newspapers and similar
sources
Interviewing the subject`s friends, relatives and significant others.
Participant observation: Involves the researcher actually serving as a participant in
events and observing the actions and outcomes.
Tools and techniques used
Observation : define, types, advantages and disadvantages
Experimental method : define [also write about variables with independent and
dependent variables], advantages and disadvantages
Psychological Testing : define, advantages and disadvantages
Survey : define, advantages and disadvantages
Case study : define, advantages and disadvantages
Correlation : define, advantages and disadvantages
Objective of a case study
The case study is a research method involving an up-close, in-depth, and detailed
examination of a subject of study, as well as its related contextual conditions. It involves
assessment of individual`s psychological, physical, social, and emotional dimensions with the
help of specific psychological tools and techniques.
