Today we will

1
Today we will

• Recall what a case study is and some examples
  from cognitive psychology
• Examine what is involved in compiling a case
  study
• Discuss how a psychologist might select
  information for a case study
• Consider how case studies may contribute to
  psychological research

psychlotron.org.uk
2
Case studies

• Which case studies do you know?
• From cognitive psychology
• HM anterograde amnesia following surgery to
  reduce epilepsy
• KF STM deficits following head injury
• Clive Wearing retrograde anterograde amnesia
  following viral brain infection

psychlotron.org.uk
3
Case studies

• In depth study of
• An individual or small group
• A specific environment
• Draws on a range of sources of data according to
  the purpose e.g.
• Clinical psychology
• Educational psychology
• Sports psychology

psychlotron.org.uk
4
Whats in a case study?

• Case history
• Description ( diagnosis) of problem/issue
• Record of treatment/intervention
• Record of outcomes

psychlotron.org.uk
5
Whats in a case study?

• Biographical information (e.g. interviews)
• Observations
• Psychological test results
• Pre-existing records (e.g. school, employment,
  medical)
• Reports from others

psychlotron.org.uk
6
Case studies

• Strengths
• Rich, qualitative data provides in-depth
  understanding (non-reductive)
• Can track and describe change over time (not just
  a snapshot)

• Weaknesses
• Heavy reliance on retrospective self-report
  data
• Non-standardised methods may be difficult to
  replicate
• Lack of generalisability

psychlotron.org.uk
7
Case studies and other research

• Generate new theoretical ideas
• Test out existing theories
• Develop new measuring instruments and research
  techniques

psychlotron.org.uk