Case Studies

Question 1

What is a case study

Answer 1

A range of data collected from an individual,group or institution
Data is mainly collected from interviews and observations

Question 2

What are examples case studies are conducted on

Answer 2

-psychologically unusual individuals
-unusual events ie violent football riot
-organisational practices(teaching at an outstanding school)’
-typical individuals( working class boys)

Question 3

Strengths of case studies

Answer 3

-method offers rich,in depth data information which provides insight into complex situations
-investigates unusual human behaviour and see what effects it ie emotional development in attachment
-gives highly valid insights and true reflection of a persons experience
-allows us to find and study unusual behaviour that can’t be replicated in a lab for ethical reasons so if case study method didn’t exist some research wouldn’t exist at all

Question 4

Weaknesses of case studies

Answer 4

-difficult to generalise from individual cases as each one has unique characteristics
-interviews are often used so memory may be inaccurate and also may lie to look good to the researcher which leads to socially desirable bias
-case studies are unique so unable to replicate
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