strengths of case studies in cognitive psychology

Case Study Research Method in Psychology

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Educator, Researcher

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years experience of working in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

Case studies are in-depth investigations of a person, group, event, or community. Typically, data is gathered from various sources and by using several different methods (e.g., observations & interviews).

The case study research method originated in clinical medicine (the case history, i.e., the patient’s personal history). In psychology, case studies are often confined to the study of a particular individual.

The information is mainly biographical and relates to events in the individual’s past (i.e., retrospective), as well as to significant events which are currently occurring in his or her everyday life.

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.

Case studies are widely used in psychology, and amongst the best known were the ones carried out by Sigmund Freud, including Anna O and Little Hans .

Freud (1909a, 1909b) conducted very detailed investigations into the private lives of his patients in an attempt to both understand and help them overcome their illnesses.

Even today, case histories are one of the main methods of investigation in abnormal psychology and psychiatry.

This makes it clear that the case study is a method that should only be used by a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist, i.e., someone with a professional qualification.

There is an ethical issue of competence. Only someone qualified to diagnose and treat a person can conduct a formal case study relating to atypical (i.e., abnormal) behavior or atypical development.

The procedure used in a case study means that the researcher provides a description of the behavior. This comes from interviews and other sources, such as observation.

The client also reports detail of events from his or her point of view. The researcher then writes up the information from both sources above as the case study and interprets the information.

The research may also continue for an extended period of time, so processes and developments can be studied as they happen.

Amongst the sources of data the psychologist is likely to turn to when carrying out a case study are observations of a person’s daily routine, unstructured interviews with the participant herself (and with people who know her), diaries, personal notes (e.g., letters, photographs, notes) or official document (e.g., case notes, clinical notes, appraisal reports).

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 .

The interview is also an extremely effective procedure for obtaining information about an individual, and it may be used to collect comments from the person’s friends, parents, employer, workmates, and others who have a good knowledge of the person, as well as to obtain facts from the person him or herself.

Most of this information is likely to be qualitative (i.e., verbal description rather than measurement), but the psychologist might collect numerical data as well.

The data collected can be analyzed using different theories (e.g., grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, text interpretation, e.g., thematic coding).

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.

Interpreting the information means the researcher decides what to include or leave out. A good case study should always clarify which information is the factual description and which is an inference or the researcher’s opinion.

• Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information.
• Provides insight for further research.
• Permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations.

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’.

Because of their in-depth, multi-sided approach, case studies often shed light on aspects of human thinking and behavior that would be unethical or impractical to study in other ways.

Research that only looks into the measurable aspects of human behavior is not likely to give us insights into the subjective dimension of experience, which is important to psychoanalytic and humanistic psychologists.

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

• Lacking scientific rigor and providing little basis for generalization of results to the wider population.
• Researchers’ own subjective feeling may influence the case study (researcher bias).
• Difficult to replicate.
• Time-consuming and expensive.
• The volume of data, together with the time restrictions in place, impacted the depth of analysis that was possible within the available resources.

Because a case study deals with only one person/event/group, we can never be sure if the case study investigated is representative of the wider body of “similar” instances. This means the conclusions drawn from a particular case may not be transferable to other settings.

Because case studies are based on the analysis of qualitative (i.e., descriptive) data , a lot depends on the psychologist’s interpretation of 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.

For example, Freud has been criticized for producing case studies in which the information was sometimes distorted to fit particular behavioral theories (e.g., Little Hans ).

This is also true of Money’s interpretation of the Bruce/Brenda case study (Diamond, 1997) when he ignored evidence that went against his theory.

Diamond, M., & Sigmundson, K. (1997). Sex Reassignment at Birth: Long-term Review and Clinical Implications. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , 151(3), 298-304

Freud, S. (1909a). Analysis of a phobia of a five year old boy. In The Pelican Freud Library (1977), Vol 8, Case Histories 1, pages 169-306

Freud, S. (1909b). Bemerkungen über einen Fall von Zwangsneurose (Der “Rattenmann”). Jb. psychoanal. psychopathol. Forsch ., I, p. 357-421; GW, VII, p. 379-463; Notes upon a case of obsessional neurosis, SE , 10: 151-318.

Further Information

• Case Study Approach
• Case Study Method
• Enhancing the Quality of Case Studies in Health Services Research
• “We do things together” A case study of “couplehood” in dementia
• Using mixed methods for evaluating an integrative approach to cancer care: a case study
• SAVE ARTICLE

Sharing is Caring

Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!

Strengths and Weaknesses of Case Studies

There is no doubt that case studies are a valuable and important form of research for all of the industries and fields that use them. However, along with all their advantages, they also have some disadvantages. In this article we are going to look at both.

Advantages of Case Studies

Intensive Study

Case study method is responsible for intensive study of a unit. It is the investigation and exploration of an event thoroughly and deeply. You get a very detailed and in-depth study of a person or event. This is especially the case with subjects that cannot be physically or ethically recreated.

This is one of the biggest advantages of the Genie case. You cannot lock up a child for 13 years and deprive them of everything. That would be morally and ethically wrong in every single way. So when the opportunity presented itself, researchers could not look away. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about feral children.

Genie was a feral child. She was raised in completed isolation, with little human contact. Because of the abuse she withstood, she was unable to develop cognitively. From infancy she was strapped to a potty chair, and therefore never acquired the physicality needed for walking, running and jumping.

If Genie made a noise, her father beat her. Therefore, she learned to not make a noise. Once she was found, researchers studied her language skills, and attempted to find ways to get her to communicate. They were successful. While she never gained the ability to speak, she did develop other ways to communicate. However, the public soon lost interest in her case, and with that, the funds to conduct the study.

However, her case was extremely important to child development psychology and linguistic theory. Because of her, we know that mental stimulation is needed for proper development. We also now know that there is a "critical period" for the learning of language.

Developing New Research

Case studies are one of the best ways to stimulate new research. A case study can be completed, and if the findings are valuable, they can lead to new and advanced research in the field. There has been a great deal of research done that wouldn't have been possible without case studies.

An example of this is the sociological study Nickel and Dimed. Nickel and Dimed is a book and study done by Barbara Ehrenreich. She wanted to study poverty in America, and did so by living and working as a person living on minimum wage.

Through her experiment, she discovered that poverty was almost inescapable. As soon as she saved a little money, she was hit with a crisis. She might get sick, or her car might break down, all occurrences that can be destructive when a person doesn't have a safety net to fall back on.

It didn't matter where she lived or what she did. Working a minimum wage job gave her no chances for advancement or improvement whatsoever. And she did the experiment as a woman with no children to support.

This study opened a lot of eyes to the problem of the working poor in America. By living and working as the experiment, Ehrenreich was able to show first-hand data regarding the issues surrounding poverty. The book didn't end with any solutions, just suggestions for the reader and points for them to think about.

Using this case study information, new studies could be organized to learn better ways to help people who are fighting poverty, or better ways to help the working poor.

Contradicting Established Ideas or Theories

Oftentimes there are theories that may be questioned with case studies. For example, in the John/John case study, it was believed that gender and sexual identity were a construct of nurture, not nature.

John-John focused on a set of twin boys, both of whom were circumcised at the age of 6 months. One of the twin's circumcisions failed, causing irreparable damage to the penis. His parents were concerned about the sexual health of their son, so they contacted Dr. John Money for a solution.

Dr. Money believed that sexuality came from nurture, not nature, and that the injured baby, Bruce, could be raised as a girl. His penis was removed and he was sexually reassigned to become a girl. Bruce's name was changed to Brenda, and his parents decided to raise him as a girl.

In this case, Dr. Money was dishonest. He believed that gender could be changed, which has since been proven false. Brenda's parents were also dishonest, stating that the surgery was a success, when in fact that wasn't the case.

As Brenda grew up, she always acted masculine and was teased for it at school. She did not socialize as a girl, and did not identify as a female. When Brenda was 13 she learned the truth, and was incredibly relieved. She changed her name to David, and lived the rest of her life as a male.

This case proved that the general theory was wrong, and is still valuable, even though the study author was dishonest.

Giving New Insight

Case studies have the ability to give insight into phenomena that cannot be learned in any other way. An example of this is the case study about Sidney Bradford. Bradford was blind from the age of 10 months old, and regained his sight at the age of 52 from a corneal transplant.

This unique situation allowed researchers to better learn how perception and motion changes when suddenly given sight. They were able to better understand how colors and dimensions affect the human process. For what it is worth, Bradford continued to live and work with his eyes closed, as he found sight too stimulating.

Another famous study was the sociological study of Milgram.

Stanley Milgram did a study from 1960 to 1974 in which he studied the effects of social pressure. The study was set up as an independent laboratory. A random person would walk in, and agree to be a part of the study. He was told to act as a teacher, and ask questions to another volunteer, who was the learner.

The teacher would ask the learner questions, and whenever he answered incorrectly, the teacher was instructed to give the learner an electric shock. Each time the learner was wrong, the shock would be increased by 15 volts. What the teacher didn't know was that the learner was a part of the experiment, and that no shocks were being given. However, the learner did act as if they were being shocked.

If the teachers tried to quit, they were strongly pushed to continue. The goal of the experiment was to see whether or not any of the teachers would go up to the highest voltage. As it turned out, 65% of the teachers did.

This study opened eyes when it comes to social pressure. If someone tells you it is okay to hurt someone, at what point will the person back off and say "this is not ok!" And in this study, the results were the same, regardless of income, race, gender or ethnicity.

This study opened up the sociological world of understanding the divide between social pressure and morality.

Disadvantages of Case Studies

Inability to Replicate

As demonstrated with the Genie case study, many studies cannot be replicated, and therefore, cannot be corroborated. Because the studies cannot be replicated, it means the data and results are only valid for that one person. Now, one could infer that that results of the Genie study would be the same with other feral children, without additional studies we can never be 100% certain.

Also, Genie was a white, American female. We do not know whether someone with a different gender, race or ethnicity would have a different result.

Key Term! Hawthorne Effect

The effect in which people change their behavior when they are aware they are being observed.

Researcher Bias

When conducting a case study, it is very possible for the author to form a bias. This bias can be for the subject; the form of data collection, or the way the data is interpreted. This is very common, since it is normal for humans to be subjective. It is well known that Sigmund Freud, the father of psychology, was often biased in his case histories and interpretations.

The researcher can become close to a study participant, or may learn to identify with the subject. When this happens the researcher loses their perspective as an outsider.

No Classification

Any classification is not possible due to studying a small unit. This generalization of results is limited, since the study is only focusing on one small group. However, this isn't always a problem, especially if generalization is not one of the study's goals.

Time Intensive

Case studies can be very time consuming. The data collection process can be very intensive and long, and this is something new researchers are not familiar with. It takes a long period of time to develop a case study, and develop a detailed analysis.

Many studies also require the authors to immerse themselves in the case. For example, in the Genie case, the lead researchers spent an abnormal amount of time with Genie, since so few people knew how to handle her. David Rigler, one of the lead researchers, actually had Genie live with him and his family for years. Because of this attachment, many questioned the veracity of the study data.

Possibility of Errors

Case study method may have errors of memory or judgment. Since reconstructing case history is based on memory, this can lead to errors. Also, how one person perceived the past could be different for another person, and this can and does lead to errors.

When considering various aspects of their lives, people tend to focus on issues that they find most important. This allows them to form a prejudice and can make them unaware of other possible options.

Ethical Issues

With small studies, there is always the question of ethics. At what point does a study become unethical? The Genie case was riddled with accusations of being unethical, and people still debate about it today.

Was it ethical to study Genie as deeply as she was studied?

Did Genie deserve to live out her life unbothered by researchers and academics trying to use her case to potentially further their careers?

At what point does the pursuit of scientific knowledge outweigh the right to a life free from research?

Also, because the researchers became so invested in the study, people questioned whether a researcher would report unethical behavior if they witnessed it.

Advantages and Disadvantages in Real-Life Studies

Two of these case studies are the Tylenol Scandal and the Genie language study.

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of these two studies.

Genie – Advantages

Uniqueness of study – Being able to study a feral child is a rare occurrence.

Genie – Disadvantages

Ethics - The lead researcher David Rigler provided a home for Genie, and was paid for being a foster parent. This is often seen as unethical, since Rigler had a financial interest in Genie and her case.

Tylenol – Advantages

Uniqueness of study – What happened to Tylenol was very unique and rare. While companies face crisis all the time, a public health crisis of this magnitude is very unique.

Tylenol – Disadvantages

• Course Catalog
• Group Discounts
• Gift Certificates
• For Libraries
• CEU Verification
• Medical Terminology
• Accounting Course
• Writing Basics
• QuickBooks Training
• Proofreading Class
• Sensitivity Training
• Excel Certificate
• Teach Online
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy

Join us after half-term for A-Level Strong Foundations workshops. Coming to Birmingham, Leeds, London and Manchester Learn more →

Reference Library

Collections

• See what's new
• All Resources
• Student Resources
• Assessment Resources
• Teaching Resources
• CPD Courses
• Livestreams

Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more!

Psychology news, insights and enrichment

Currated collections of free resources

Browse resources by topic

• All Psychology Resources

Resource Selections

Currated lists of resources

Study Notes

Case Studies

Last updated 22 Mar 2021

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share by Email

Case studies are very detailed investigations of an individual or small group of people, usually regarding an unusual phenomenon or biographical event of interest to a research field. Due to a small sample, the case study can conduct an in-depth analysis of the individual/group.

Evaluation of case studies:

- Case studies create opportunities for a rich yield of data, and the depth of analysis can in turn bring high levels of validity (i.e. providing an accurate and exhaustive measure of what the study is hoping to measure).

- Studying abnormal psychology can give insight into how something works when it is functioning correctly, such as brain damage on memory (e.g. the case study of patient KF, whose short-term memory was impaired following a motorcycle accident but left his long-term memory intact, suggesting there might be separate physical stores in the brain for short and long-term memory).

- The detail collected on a single case may lead to interesting findings that conflict with current theories, and stimulate new paths for research.

- There is little control over a number of variables involved in a case study, so it is difficult to confidently establish any causal relationships between variables.

- Case studies are unusual by nature, so will have poor reliability as replicating them exactly will be unlikely.

- Due to the small sample size, it is unlikely that findings from a case study alone can be generalised to a whole population.

- The case study’s researcher may become so involved with the study that they exhibit bias in their interpretation and presentation of the data, making it challenging to distinguish what is truly objective/factual.

• Case Studies

You might also like

A level psychology topic quiz - research methods.

Quizzes & Activities

Case Studies: Example Answer Video for A Level SAM 3, Paper 1, Q4 (5 Marks)

Topic Videos

Research Methods: MCQ Revision Test 1 for AQA A Level Psychology

Example answers for research methods: a level psychology, paper 2, june 2018 (aqa).

Exam Support

Our subjects

• › Criminology
• › Economics
• › Geography
• › Health & Social Care
• › Psychology
• › Sociology
• › Teaching & learning resources
• › Student revision workshops
• › Online student courses
• › CPD for teachers
• › Livestreams
• › Teaching jobs

Boston House, 214 High Street, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, LS23 6AD Tel: 01937 848885

• › Contact us
• › Terms of use
• › Privacy & cookies

© 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. Company Reg no: 04489574. VAT reg no 816865400.

Find Study Materials for

Business studies, combined science, computer science, english literature, environmental science, human geography, macroeconomics, microeconomics.

• Social Studies
• Browse all subjects
• Exam Revision
• Career Advice for Students
• Student Life
• Study Guide
• University Advice
• Read our Magazine

Create Study Materials

Select your language

Are you intrigued by the ways psychologists investigate the multifaceted human mind? One of their crucial tools is case studies, particularly when studying rare or unusual phenomena, or processes unfolding over time. In this exploration, we'll guide you through what case studies are in psychology, illustrate them with distinct examples,…

Explore our app and discover over 50 million learning materials for free.

• Case Studies Psychology
• Explanations
• StudySmarter AI
• Textbook Solutions
• Addiction Treatment Theories
• Aversion Therapy
• Behavioural Interventions
• Drug Therapy
• Gambling Addiction
• Nicotine Addiction
• Physical and Psychological Dependence
• Reducing Addiction
• Risk Factors for Addiction
• Six Stage Model of Behaviour Change
• Theory of Planned Behaviour
• Theory of Reasoned Action
• Tolerance and Withdrawal Syndrome
• Behaviour Modification
• Biological Explanations for Bullying
• Bullying Behaviour
• Cortisol Research
• Deindividuation
• Ethological Explanations of Aggression
• Evolution of Human Aggression
• Fixed Action Patterns
• Frustration Aggression Hypothesis
• Gender and Aggression
• Genetic Origins of Aggression
• Genetic Research on Serotonin
• Genetical Research on Testosterone
• Genetics of Aggression
• Innate Releasing Mechanisms
• Institutional Aggression in The Context of Prisons
• Limbic System
• Media Influences on Aggression
• Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression
• Serotonin Research
• Social Psychological Explanation of Aggression
• Sykes Deprivation Model
• Testosterone Research
• The Hydraulic Model of Instinctive Behaviour
• The Importation Model
• Violent Video Games and Aggression
• Warrior Gene
• Bandura Bobo Doll
• Behaviourism
• Biological Approach
• Classical Conditioning
• Cognitive approach
• Comparison of Approaches Psychology
• Defence Mechanisms
• Emergence of Psychology as a Science
• Forty Four Juvenile Thieves
• Free Will and Self-Actualisation
• Genetic Basis of Behaviour
• Genotype and Phenotype
• Humanistic Psychology
• Id Ego Superego
• Learning Approaches
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• Operant Conditioning
• Origin of Psychology
• Psychodynamic Approach
• Psychosexual Stages Of Development
• Raine et al 1997
• Rogers Client-Centred Therapy
• Social Learning Theory
• The Case Of Little Hans
• The Self Congruence and Conditions of Worth
• Twin Studies Gottesman
• Wundt and Introspection
• Ainsworth's Strange Situation
• Alternatives To The Medical Model
• Animal Studies of Attachment
• Attachment Figures
• Attachment and Later Relationships
• Auditory Attention
• BBC Prison Study
• Behaviour Strategies For Autism
• Biological Explanations for Autism
• Bowlby Theory of Maternal Deprivation
• Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory
• Caregiver Infant Interactions
• Categorising Mental Disorders
• Classic and Contemporary Research into Memory
• Classic and Contemporary Research into Obedience
• Cognitive Approach to Depression
• Cognitive Interview
• Conformity to Social Roles
• Contemporary Research - Language of Psychopaths
• Context-Dependent Memory
• Cross-Cultural Altruism
• Cue-Dependent Forgetting
• Cultural Variations in Attachment
• Definitions of Abnormality
• Deprivation Privation and Separation
• Developmental Pattern of Digit Span
• Developmental Psychology in Memory
• Developmental Psychology in Obedience/Prejudice
• Disobedience and Whistle-Blowing
• Dispositional Factors Social Influence
• Explanations for Prejudice
• Explanations of Attachment
• Eyewitness Identification under Stress
• Eyewitness Testimony
• Features of Memory
• Forgetting in Psychology
• Gould Bias in IQ Testing
• Hazan and Shaver
• History of Mental Health
• Inattentional Blindness
• Individual Differences In Autism
• Individual Differences In Memory
• Individual Differences in Ideological Attitudes and Prejudice
• Informational Social Influence
• Issues and Debates in the Context of Obedience/Prejudice
• Learning Theory
• Long-Term Memory
• Measuring Individual Differences
• Medical Model
• Milgram Experiment
• Milgram’s Variation Studies
• Minority Influence and Social Change
• Multi-Store Model of Memory
• Normative Social Influence
• Phobia Treatment
• Piliavin Subway Study
• Prosocial Behaviour And Altruism
• Psychopathology
• Realistic Conflict Theory
• Reconstruction From Memory in Naturalistic Environments
• Reconstructive Memory
• Resistance to Social Influence
• Rethinking the Psychology of Tyranny
• Romanian Orphan Studies
• Schema Theory
• Semantic Knowledge in Patient HM
• Short-Term Memory
• Situational Influence
• Social Identity Theory
• Social Impact Theory
• Social Influence
• Stages of Attachment
• Stanford Prison Experiment
• Studies on Interference
• The Robbers Cave Experiment
• Theories of Autism
• Working Memory Model
• Biological Influences on Drug Use
• Defining consciousness
• Functions of the Cerebral Cortex
• Heritability
• Influences on Drug Use
• Lesioning Research
• Neural Fluidity
• Neural Plasticity
• Psychoactive Drugs
• Psychological Influences on Drug Use
• Sleep Deprivation
• Sleep Disorders
• States of Consciousness
• The Cerebral Cortex
• The Limbic System
• Theories of Dreams
• Theories of Sleep
• Types of Psychoactive Drugs
• Biological Rhythms
• Blakemore and Cooper
• CAT and PET Scan
• Circadian, Infradian and Ultradian Rhythms
• Electroencephalogram (EEGs) and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)
• Evolution and Behavior
• Fight-or-Flight Response and The Role of Adrenaline
• Functional Magnetic Resonance
• Hemispheric Lateralisation
• Localisation of Function in the Brain
• Motor Area of Brain
• Nervous System Divisions
• Neuron Structure and Function
• Neurotransmitters
• Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the Brain After Trauma
• Post Mortem Examination
• Process of Synaptic Transmission
• Sleep Wake Cycle
• The Function of the Endocrine System - Glands and hormones
• Ways of Studying the Brain
• Mental Health Careers
• Political Psychology
• Psychologist Education Requirements
• Abnormal Behavior
• Alternative Therapies
• Anxiety Disorders
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Behavioral Therapies
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Biomedical Procedures
• Biomedical Therapy
• Bipolar Disorder
• Brain Abnormalities in Schizophrenia
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Categories of Disorders
• Causes of Eating Disorders
• Client Centered Therapy
• Cognitive Therapy
• Cultural Considerations in Therapy
• Depressive Disorder
• Diagnosing Psychological Disorders
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Dissociative Disorders
• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Effectiveness of Therapy
• General Anxiety Disorder
• Group and Family Therapy
• History of Mental Health Treatment
• Humanistic Therapy
• Insight Therapy
• Intellectual Disability
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Panic Disorders
• Personality Disorders
• Preventive Mental Health
• Psychoanalytic Therapy
• Psychological Disorders
• Psychological Perspectives and Etiology of Disorders
• Psychological Perspectives in the Treatment of Disorders
• Psychotherapy
• Schizophrenic Disorders
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Self-Help Groups
• Somatic Symptom Disorders
• Somatic and Dissociative Disorders
• Subtypes of Schizophrenia
• The Rosenhan Study - The Influence of Labels
• Treatment of Psychological Disorders
• Types of Personality Disorders
• Types of Therapy
• Bartlett War of the Ghosts
• Brain Development
• Bruner and Minturn Study of Perceptual Set
• Computation
• Conservation of Number Piaget
• Constructive Processes in Memory
• Correlation
• Data handling
• Depth Cues Psychology
• Designing Research
• Developmental Research
• Dweck's Theory of Mindset
• Ethical considerations in research
• Experimental Method
• Factors Affecting Perception
• Factors Affecting the Accuracy of Memory
• Formulation of Hypothesis
• Gibson's Theory of Direct Perception
• Gregory's Constructivist Theory of Perception
• Gunderson et al 2013 study
• Hughes Policeman Doll Study
• Issues and Debates in Developmental Psychology
• Language and Perception
• McGarrigle and Donaldson Naughty Teddy
• Memory Processes
• Memory recall
• Nature and Nurture in Development
• Normal Distribution Psychology
• Perception Research
• Perceptual Set
• Piagets Theory in Education
• Planning and Conducting Research
• Population Samples
• Primary and Secondary Data
• Quantitative Data
• Quantitative and Qualitative Data
• Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
• Research Procedures
• Serial Position Effect
• Short-term Retention
• Structures of Memory
• Tables, Charts and Graphs
• The Effects of Learning on Development
• The Gilchrist and Nesberg study of motivation
• Three Mountains Task
• Types of Variable
• Types of bias and how to control
• Visual Cues and Constancies
• Visual illusions
• Willingham's Learning Theory
• Baillargeon Explanation of Early Infant Abilities
• Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
• Moral Development in Childhood
• Piaget Theory of Cognitive Development
• The Development of Social Cognition
• Theory of Mind
• Vygotsky´s theory of cognitive development
• Animal Cognition
• Animal Thinking and Language
• Animals and Language
• Biological Bases of Memory
• Children's Language Acquisition
• Cognition and Learning
• Cognitive Bias
• Concepts of Thinking
• Conditioning
• Creative Thinking
• Criticism of Intelligence Testing
• Dynamics of Intelligence
• History of Intelligence Testing
• Improve Memory
• Influences on Intelligence
• Intellectual Giftedness
• Intelligence
• Intelligence Testing
• Learning Methods
• Operant Conditioning Applications
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Theories of Intelligence
• Thinking and Language
• Analysis and Interpretation of Correlation
• Binomial Sign Test
• Content Analysis
• Descriptive Statistics
• Distribution Psychology
• Inferential Testing
• Levels of Measurement
• Measures of Central Tendency Psychology
• Measures of Dispersion
• Non-Parametric Tests
• Observed Values and Critical Values
• Presentation of Quantitative Data
• Probability and Significance
• Scientific Data Analysis
• Statistical Tests
• Thematic Analysis
• Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test
• Adolescence
• Adulthood and Aging
• Application of Classical Conditioning
• Biological Factors in Development
• Childhood Development
• Cognitive Development in Adolescence
• Cognitive Development in Adulthood
• Cognitive Development in Childhood
• Cognitive Development in Infants
• Continuity vs Discontinuity
• Death and Dying
• Environmental Factors in Development
• Erikson's Psychosocial Stages of Development
• Gender Development
• Gender and Sexuality
• Infant Development
• Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Reasoning
• Language Development in Infancy
• Language Disorders
• Language and the Brain
• Moral Development
• Newborn Characteristics
• Parenting Styles
• Physical Development in Adolescence
• Physical Development in Adulthood
• Physical Development in Childhood
• Physical Development in Infancy
• Prenatal Development
• Prenatal Physical Development
• Social Development in Adolescence
• Social Development in Adulthood
• Social Development in Early Childhood
• Stability vs Change
• The Law of Effect
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Anorexia Treatments
• Disinhibition
• Food Preferences
• Psychological Explanations for Obesity
• Psychology behind Dieting
• Social Learning Theory Anorexia
• Cannon Bard Theory
• Concept of Motivation
• Conflict Theory
• Drive Reduction Theory
• Emotional Expression
• Health and Happiness
• Hunger Motivation
• Instinct Theory
• James Lange Theory
• Lazarus Theory of Emotion
• Optimal Arousal Theory
• Primary Emotions
• Schachter-Singer Theory
• Sexual Motivation
• Social Motivation
• Specific Motivation
• Stress Definition
• Theories of Emotion
• Theories of Motivation
• Zajonc and LeDoux
• Abraham Maslow
• Albert Bandura
• Alfred Adler
• Benjamin Whorf
• Carl Wernicke
• Charles Darwin
• David Wechsler
• Dorothea Dix
• Edward Thorndike
• Elizabeth Loftus
• Ernst Weber
• Francis Galton
• Hermann Ebbinghaus
• Howard Gardner
• Ivan Pavlov
• Jean Piaget
• John Watson
• Lev Vygotsky
• Lewis Terman
• Margaret Floy Washburn
• Martin Seligman
• Roger Sperry
• Sigmund Freud
• Solomon Asch
• Stanley Milgram
• Ulrich Neisser
• Wilhelm Wundt
• Anger Management and Restorative Justice Programmes
• Atavistic Form
• Biological Evidence
• Biological Theories of Crime
• Custodial Sentencing
• Differential Association Theory
• Eysenck's Theory of Personality
• Genetic Explanations of Offending Behaviour
• Level of Moral Reasoning and Cognitive Distortions
• Measuring Crime
• Offender Profiling
• Psychodynamic Theories and The Moral Component
• Psychological Evidence
• Psychological Theories of Crime
• Psychology in the Courtroom
• Bem Sex Role Inventory
• Cognitive Explanations of Gender Development
• Gender Dysphoria
• Gender Identity
• Gender Schema Theory
• Klinefelter and Turner Syndrome
• Kohlberg Theory
• Oedipus and Electra Complex
• Sexual Orientation
• Social Learning Theory Gender
• The Role of Chromosomes And Hormones In Gender
• Preventive Mental Health Care
• Cognitive Theory of Emotion
• Emotion Research
• Motivation Across Cultures
• Negative Emotions
• Positive Emotions
• Culture Bias and Sub-Culture Bias
• Current Debates in Psychology
• Ethics and Socially Sensitive Research
• Ethics of Neuroscience
• Ethnocentrism
• Free Will and Determinism
• Gender Bias
• Idiographic and Nomothetic Approaches
• Interactionist approach
• Nature Vs Nurture Debate
• Nature-Nurture Methods
• Philosophical Debates in Psychology
• Positive Psychology
• Reductionism and Holism
• Behavioral Theory of Personality
• Biological Theory of Personality
• Humanistic Theory of Personality
• Introduction to Personality
• Measuring Personality
• Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality
• Social Cognitive Theory of Personality
• The Big Five
• Theories of Personality
• Trait Theories of Personality
• Behavioural Therapy
• Dream Analysis
• Mindfulness Psychology
• Positive Psychology Therapy
• Psychodynamic Treatments
• Psychosurgery
• Quality of Life Therapy
• Absence of Gating
• Duck's Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown
• Equity Theory
• Factors affecting attraction
• Parasocial Relationships
• Physical Attractiveness
• Romantic Relationship
• Rusbult's Investment Model
• Self-Disclosure in Virtual Relationships
• Sexual Relationships
• Sexual Selection
• Social Exchange Theory
• The Absorption Addiction Model
• The Attachment Theory Explanation
• The Filter Theory
• Virtual Relationships in Social Media
• Aims and Hypotheses
• Causation in Psychology
• Coding Frame Psychology
• Correlational Studies
• Cross Cultural Research
• Cross Sectional Research
• Ethical Issues and Ways of Dealing with Them
• Experimental Designs
• Features of Science
• Field Experiment
• Independent Group Design
• Lab Experiment
• Longitudinal Research
• Matched Pairs Design
• Meta Analysis
• Natural Experiment
• Observational Design
• Online Research
• Paradigms and Falsifiability
• Peer Review and Economic Applications of Research
• Pilot Studies and the Aims of Piloting
• Quality Criteria
• Questionnaire Construction
• Repeated Measures Design
• Research Methods
• Sampling Frames
• Sampling Psychology
• Scientific Processes
• Scientific Report
• Scientific Research
• Self-Report Design
• Self-Report Techniques
• Semantic Differential Rating Scale
• Snowball Sampling
• Biological Explanations for Schizophrenia
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Explanations for Schizophrenia
• Diagnosis and Classification of Schizophrenia
• Dysfunctional Family
• Family Therapy
• Interactionist Approach Schizophrenia
• Neural Correlates
• Psychological Explanations for Schizophrenia
• Psychological Therapies for Schizophrenia
• Reliability and Validity in Diagnosis and Classification of Schizophrenia
• Role of Cannabis
• Schizophrenia Genetics
• The Dopamine Hypothesis
• Token Economy
• Treatment and Therapies for Schizophrenia
• Typical and Atypical Antipsychotics
• Ventricular Size
• Applied Research In Psychology
• Behaviorism
• Biopsychosocial Model Psychology
• Evolutionary Perspective in Psychology
• Gestalt Psychology
• Helping Professions
• Introducing Psychology
• Introspection
• Multiple Perspectives in Psychology
• Psychoanalysis
• Psychological Perspectives
• Psychology as a Science
• Schools of Thought
• Sociocultural Perspective in Psychology
• Structuralism and Functionalism in Psychology
• Subfields of Psychology
• Correlation Coefficients
• Displaying Statistical Data
• Ethical Guidelines in Psychology
• Focus Groups in Qualitative Research
• Frequency Distribution
• Graphs for Qualitative Data
• Random Sampling
• Reliability and Validity
• Research Design Psychology
• Research Techniques
• Sampling Methods
• Scatter Plots
• Scientific Method
• Standardization and Norms
• Statistical Significance
• Stratified Sampling
• Body Senses
• Chemical Senses
• Gestalt Principles of Perception
• Gustatory System
• Influences on Perception
• Kinesthesis
• Olfactory System
• Sensory Adaptation
• Sensory Processing Disorders
• Sensory Threshold
• Sensory and Perceptual Processing
• Skin Senses
• The Five Senses
• Vestibular Sense
• Vision Psychology
• Visual Anatomy
• Visual Perception
• Activation Synthesis Theory
• Addiction Treatment
• Adornos Theory
• Altered States of Consciousness
• An introduction to mental health
• Anger Management Programmes
• Antidepressant Medications
• Asch Conformity Experiments
• Autonomic Nervous System in Psychology
• Bickman Obedience Study
• Biological Explanation of Depression
• Body Language
• Brain During Sleep
• Brain Structure
• Brain and Neuropsychology
• Bystander Effect
• Caspi et al 2003
• Characteristics of Addiction
• Characteristics of Mental Health
• Clinical Depression
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Collective Behaviour
• Community Sentencing
• Concepts of the Self
• Crime Punishment
• Crime and Culture
• Criminal Psychology
• Depression Treatment
• Depression VS Sadness
• Dispositional Factors
• Drug Abuse vs Addiction
• Erikson's Stages Of Development
• Ethical Issues in Social Influence Research
• Eye Contact
• Fight-or-Flight Response
• Flow States
• Freud Wolfman Study
• Freud's Theory of Dreaming
• Functions of Sleep
• Hebbs Theory
• How Crime is Measured
• Human Language and Animal Communication
• Humanistic Theory of Self
• Identity and Free Will
• Improving Sleep
• Language and Thought
• Language, Thought And Communication
• Lateralisation
• Localisation of Brain Function
• Majority and Minority Influence
• Management of Insomnia
• Milgrams Agency Theory
• Nervous System
• Neuroimaging Techniques
• Neurological Damage on Behaviour
• Neuropsychology
• Non Verbal Communication
• Non-Verbal Behaviour
• Penfield's Study of The Interpretive Cortex
• Personal Space
• Personality Scales
• Personality Types
• Piaget vs Vygotsky
• Prosocial Behaviour
• Psychological Problems
• Rehabilitation
• Restorative Justice
• Self Report
• Self-Management Psychology
• Siffre Cave Study Psychology
• Sleep Hygiene
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Sleep and Zeitgebers
• Social Effects
• Stages of Sleep
• Studying the brain
• Symptoms of Schizophrenia
• The James Lange Theory
• Theories of Depression
• Theories of Schizophrenia
• Theories of addiction
• Trait Theory of Personality
• Tulving's Gold Memory Study
• Types of crime
• Understanding Crime
• Altruism Psychology
• Attitudes and Behavior
• Attribution Theory
• Attributions
• Cognitive Dissonance Theory
• Cultural Differences in Relationships
• Diffusion of Responsibility
• Discrimination
• Gender Roles in Society
• Group Behavior
• Group Dynamics
• Human Factors in Psychology
• Individual Behavior and Group Behavior
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Interpersonal Attraction
• Organizational Psychology
• Person Perception
• Personnel Psychology
• Psychology at Work
• Self-Concept and Behavior
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Social Diversity
• Social Power Structures
• Social Psychology Experiments
• Daily Hassles
• Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal System
• Illness Caused by Stress
• Individual Differences in Stress
• Measuring Stress
• Physiology of Stress
• Self Report Scales
• Sources of Stress
• Stress Management
• Sympathomedullary Pathway
• The Social Readjustment Rating Scale
• Workplace Stress

Save the explanation now and read when you’ve got time to spare.

Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persönlichen Lernstatistiken

Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen.

Are you intrigued by the ways psychologists investigate the multifaceted human mind? One of their crucial tools is case studies, particularly when studying rare or unusual phenomena, or processes unfolding over time. In this exploration, we'll guide you through what case studies are in psychology, illustrate them with distinct examples, and outline the detailed methodology behind them. Finally, we'll evaluate their effectiveness.

What are Case Studies Psychology?

Some of the most famous studies in psychology are case studies, which we will cover in this explanation. First, let's fully define what we mean by case studies. According to the American Psychological Association¹, case studies are:

A case study in psychology is an in-depth investigation of a single individual, family, event, or other entity. Multiple types of data (psychological, physiological, biographical, environmental) are assembled, for example, to understand an individual’s background, relationships , and behaviour

Case studies are a common research method used when exploring new research areas, as researchers want a detailed understanding of a new phenomenon. Case studies are occasionally used to form new theories, hypotheses or research questions.

Case Studies Examples in Psychology Research

Phineas Gage is a famous example of a case study. Researchers wanted to understand the effects of the accident on his cognitive functions and behaviours. Not many people survive such an injury, so this was an opportunity to examine how the brain deals with significant damage.

Phineas had an accident at work where a metal rod went through his skull and pierced through his frontal lobe (front part of the brain ).

After the accident, Gage was observed and completed several cognitive and psychometric tests over a long time. The case study aimed to see if and how damage to the frontal lobe may cause behavioural changes.

The case study results showed that Gage initially had a decline in cognitive abilities. However, over time these started to increase. The researchers noted that Gage's intelligence returned to a 'normal level'. Gage's friends stated that his personality had changed and that he was no longer the same person; he became vulgar and aggressive.

This is an important finding in psychology. It shows that other brain areas may take over and compensate for deficiencies caused by brain damage. But, there may be a limit to how much or what skills and attributes can be compensated for.

As Phineas Gage's case was unique and his conditions could not be replicated using the experimental method (against ethical standards of research), a case study was the only appropriate method to use. The research was also explorative as little was known about the frontal lobe's function. Therefore, it may have been difficult to form hypotheses.

Hypotheses are formed based on existing knowledge; researchers cannot randomly make a hypothesis based on what they think will happen. Researchers do not believe that this is a scientific way to theorise research.

Case Study Methodology

When conducting a case study, the first step is forming a hypothesis. These hypotheses aim to identify research areas and concepts that the researcher is interested in.

This is different to experimental research as experimental research tends to define and state expected results. In contrast, the case study's hypotheses may be broader.

Next, the researcher will identify the best method that should be used to measure the variables that the researcher is interested in. When doing case studies, sometimes multiple research methods can be used.

This concept is known as triangulation.

A case study may use questionnaires and interviews when researching mental health in indigenous people.

As with all forms of research, the next stage is data analysis once the research has been conducted. As case studies may use various research methods , the type of analysis used depends on which method is used. The case studies aim to provide in-depth knowledge. Therefore, case studies favour qualitative research, such as unstructured interviews and observations. Open-ended questions allow for further exploration, as is used in qualitative research.

Case studies also sometimes use quantitative research methods. Therefore statistical analyses may also be used in case studies.

The final stage of the case study methodology is to report the data. Case studies usually produce qualitative data.

Qualitative data is non-numerical, detailed findings.

Case studies are usually written in the form of detailed reports. The report should include all the findings found throughout the study and how these were measured.

Evaluation of Using Case Studies

Let's now discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using case studies in research.

Advantages of using case studies

The advantages of case studies are:

• It provides detailed qualitative data that allows researchers to understand phenomena. This can help researchers uncover new concepts that can be later investigated in controlled environments (the experimental method).
• It is typically considered explorative research. For example, when researchers do not know much about a phenomenon, a case study is used to help derive hypotheses that will be used in later research.
• it can be used to research unique situations which are usually gatekept by ethical issues.

Researchers cannot physically harm participants to observe what happens to them. Case studies are useful to investigate this.

Phineas Gage suffered brain damage due to an accident, presenting an opportunity to researchers to investigate the effects of such damage on the brain. This would otherwise be impossible, as researchers cannot damage a person's brain intentionally to find out what happens as a result (fortunately for us!)

Disadvantages of using case studies

The disadvantages of using case studies are:

• They are extremely difficult to replicate. So, it is difficult to compare the results from a case study to another study; therefore, this research design has low reliability.
• It uses a small, selective sample the results are usually not generally representative of the population. Therefore, the results tend to be non-generalisable.
• It can be quite time-consuming to carry out and analyse case studies.

Case Studies Psychology - Key Takeaways

• Case studies are a type of research design that is used when a researcher is investigating a single person, group or event/phenomenon.
• A case study in psychology is Phineas Gage; a case study was used because his conditions were unique and could not be replicated due to ethical issues. In addition, little was still known about the research area.
• Case studies can be used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data, however, they are quite useful for qualitative research.
• researchers can get an in-depth understanding, it can be used to help direct future research and it can be used to research unique situations or characteristics of people that cannot be replicated.
• they lack reliability and generalisability and are time-consuming and expensive.

1. VandenBos, G. R. (2007). APA dictionary of psychology . American Psychological Association.

Frequently Asked Questions about Case Studies Psychology

--> what is a case study.

Case studies are a type of research design that is used when a researcher is investigating a single person, group or event/phenomenon. 

--> What are some examples of case studies?

Some examples of case studies that are famous in psychology are:

• Patient H.M (brain damage and memory)
• Phineas Gage (brain damage and personality and cognitive skills) 
• Genie (deprivation and development) 

--> What are case studies used for?

Case studies are used to get in-depth information about a phenomenon. It is usually used as a design when doing explorative research such as trying to form theories, hypotheses or, research questions.

--> What is the most famous case study in psychology?

An infamous case study is Phineas Gage. He had an accident in which a rod went through his frontal lobe (front part of the brain). He survived the accident but he showed a decline in cognitive abilities and his personality changed. 

--> Why are case studies important in research?

Case studies are important in research because: 

• can gather data from multiple people and get differing perspectives 
• allows in-depth understanding that may be difficult to find in quantitative research 
• researchers can investigate unique situations that may not be able to be replicated because of ethical issues 

Final Case Studies Psychology Quiz

Case studies psychology quiz - teste dein wissen.

What is a case study? 

Show answer

Case studies are a type of research design that is used when a researcher is investigating a single person, group or event/phenomenon. This research method collects in-depth data on either of these. 

Show question

Which of the following are reasons that case studies are used in research?

They are always better than laboratory settings 

Why was a case study used to investigate Phineas Gage? 

As Phineas Gage's case was unique and his conditions could not be replicated using the experimental method (against ethical standards of research) a case study was the only appropriate method to use. As little was known about the function of the frontal lobe the research was also explorative. Therefore, it may have been difficult to form hypotheses.

Typically case studies use various methods to collect data, true or false?

What is triangulation? 

Triangulation is when researchers use multiple methods to collect data. 

What type of data do case studies favour? 

Qualitative 

What is a typical structure that case studies use for writing reports?

A structure that researchers may follow to report a case study is that they may identify key themes or findings. Then, evidence of this is included such as an extract from a transcribed interview as evidence. 

The data will likely include quantitative statistical data too 

Case studies can use what forms of analysis?

Content analysis

Thematic analysis

What are the advantages of using case studies? 

The advantages of using case studies are:

• researchers can get an in-depth understanding
• it can be used to help direct future research
• it can be used to research unique situations or characteristics of people that cannot be replicated

What are the disadvantages of using case studies? 

• they lack reliability
• they lack generalisability
• it is time-consuming 
• it can be expensive

Case studies collect qualitative data, true or false?

Case studies only investigate one person. Is this statement true? 

No, sometimes it can be done on a group of people who share a trait. 

Case studies are an                 investigation of a single individual, family, event, or other entity. 

Case studies are considered                 explorative in nature.

explorative

Case studies can be used to research unique situations which are usually gatekept by            issues.

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

Join the studysmarter app and learn efficiently with millions of flashcards and more.

Already have an account? Log in

Save explanations that you love in your personalised space, Access Anytime, Anywhere!

• Basic Psychology
• Issues and Debates in Psychology
• Eating Behaviour
• Social Context of Behaviour

of the users don't pass the Case Studies Psychology quiz! Will you pass the quiz?

How would you like to learn this content?

Free psychology cheat sheet!

Everything you need to know on . A perfect summary so you can easily remember everything.

More explanations about Cognition

Discover the right content for your subjects, engineering, no need to cheat if you have everything you need to succeed packed into one app.

Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan.

Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes.

Create and find flashcards in record time.

Create beautiful notes faster than ever before.

Have all your study materials in one place.

Upload unlimited documents and save them online.

Study Analytics

Identify your study strength and weaknesses.

Weekly Goals

Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them.

Smart Reminders

Stop procrastinating with our study reminders.

Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying.

Magic Marker

Create flashcards in notes completely automatically.

Smart Formatting

Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates.

Join millions of people in learning anywhere, anytime - every day

Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.

This is still free to read, it's not a paywall.

You need to register to keep reading, start learning with studysmarter, the only learning app you need..

Create a free account to save this explanation.

Save explanations to your personalised space and access them anytime, anywhere!

By signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy of StudySmarter.

StudySmarter bietet alles, was du für deinen Lernerfolg brauchst - in einer App!

Privacy overview.

• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Kids Mental Health
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Relationships in 2023
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2023 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

What Is a Case Study?

An in-depth study of one person, group, or event

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Cara Lustik is a fact-checker and copywriter.

Verywell / Colleen Tighe

Benefits and Limitations

Types of case studies, how to write a case study.

A case study is an in-depth study of one person, group, or event. In a case study, nearly every aspect of the subject's life and history is analyzed to seek patterns and causes of behavior. Case studies can be used in various fields, including psychology, medicine, education, anthropology, political science, and social work.

The purpose of a case study is to learn as much as possible about an individual or group so that the information can be generalized to many others. Unfortunately, case studies tend to be highly subjective, and it is sometimes difficult to generalize results to a larger population.

While case studies focus on a single individual or group, they follow a format similar to other types of psychology writing. If you are writing a case study, it is important to follow the rules of APA format .  

A case study can have both strengths and weaknesses. Researchers must consider these pros and cons before deciding if this type of study is appropriate for their needs.

One of the greatest advantages of a case study is that it allows researchers to investigate things that are often difficult to impossible to replicate in a lab. Some other benefits of a case study:

• Allows researchers to collect a great deal of information
• Give researchers the chance to collect information on rare or unusual cases
• Permits researchers to develop hypotheses that can be explored in experimental research

On the negative side, a case study:

• Cannot necessarily be generalized to the larger population
• Cannot demonstrate cause and effect
• May not be scientifically rigorous
• Can lead to bias

Researchers may choose to perform a case study if they are interested in exploring a unique or recently discovered phenomenon. The insights gained from such research can help the researchers develop additional ideas and study questions that might be explored in future studies.

However, it is important to remember that the insights gained from case studies cannot be used to determine cause and effect relationships between variables. However, case studies may be used to develop hypotheses that can then be addressed in experimental research.

Case Study Examples

There have been a number of notable case studies in the history of psychology. Much of  Freud's work and theories were developed through the use of individual case studies. Some great examples of case studies in psychology include:

• Anna O : Anna O. was a pseudonym of a woman named Bertha Pappenheim, a patient of a physician named Josef Breuer. While she was never a patient of Freud's, Freud and Breuer discussed her case extensively. The woman was experiencing symptoms of a condition that was then known as hysteria and found that talking about her problems helped relieve her symptoms. Her case played an important part in the development of talk therapy as an approach to mental health treatment.
• Phineas Gage : Phineas Gage was a railroad employee who experienced a terrible accident in which an explosion sent a metal rod through his skull, damaging important portions of his brain. Gage recovered from his accident but was left with serious changes in both personality and behavior.
• Genie : Genie was a young girl subjected to horrific abuse and isolation. The case study of Genie allowed researchers to study whether language could be taught even after critical periods for language development had been missed. Her case also served as an example of how scientific research may interfere with treatment and lead to further abuse of vulnerable individuals.

Such cases demonstrate how case research can be used to study things that researchers could not replicate in experimental settings. In Genie's case, her horrific abuse had denied her the opportunity to learn language at critical points in her development.

This is clearly not something that researchers could ethically replicate, but conducting a case study on Genie allowed researchers the chance to study phenomena that are otherwise impossible to reproduce.

There are a few different types of case studies that psychologists and other researchers might utilize:

• Collective case studies : These involve studying a group of individuals. Researchers might study a group of people in a certain setting or look at an entire community. For example, psychologists might explore how access to resources in a community has affected the collective mental well-being of those living there.
• Descriptive case studies : These involve starting with a descriptive theory. The subjects are then observed, and the information gathered is compared to the pre-existing theory.
• Explanatory case studies : These   are often used to do causal investigations. In other words, researchers are interested in looking at factors that may have caused certain things to occur.
• Exploratory case studies : These are sometimes used as a prelude to further, more in-depth research. This allows researchers to gather more information before developing their research questions and hypotheses .
• Instrumental case studies : These occur when the individual or group allows researchers to understand more than what is initially obvious to observers.
• Intrinsic case studies : This type of case study is when the researcher has a personal interest in the case. Jean Piaget's observations of his own children are good examples of how an intrinsic cast study can contribute to the development of a psychological theory.

The three main case study types often used are intrinsic, instrumental, and collective. Intrinsic case studies are useful for learning about unique cases. Instrumental case studies help look at an individual to learn more about a broader issue. A collective case study can be useful for looking at several cases simultaneously.

The type of case study that psychology researchers utilize depends on the unique characteristics of the situation as well as the case itself.

There are also different methods that can be used to conduct a case study, including prospective and retrospective case study methods.

Prospective case study methods are those in which an individual or group of people is observed in order to determine outcomes. For example, a group of individuals might be watched over an extended period of time to observe the progression of a particular disease.

Retrospective case study methods involve looking at historical information. For example, researchers might start with an outcome, such as a disease, and then work their way backward to look at information about the individual's life to determine risk factors that may have contributed to the onset of the illness.

Where to Find Data

There are a number of different sources and methods that researchers can use to gather information about an individual or group. Six major sources that have been identified by researchers are:

• Archival records : Census records, survey records, and name lists are examples of archival records.
• Direct observation : This strategy involves observing the subject, often in a natural setting . While an individual observer is sometimes used, it is more common to utilize a group of observers.
• Documents : Letters, newspaper articles, administrative records, etc., are the types of documents often used as sources.
• Interviews : Interviews are one of the most important methods for gathering information in case studies. An interview can involve structured survey questions or more open-ended questions.
• Participant observation : When the researcher serves as a participant in events and observes the actions and outcomes, it is called participant observation.
• Physical artifacts : Tools, objects, instruments, and other artifacts are often observed during a direct observation of the subject.

Section 1: A Case History

This section will have the following structure and content:

Background information : The first section of your paper will present your client's background. Include factors such as age, gender, work, health status, family mental health history, family and social relationships, drug and alcohol history, life difficulties, goals, and coping skills and weaknesses.

Description of the presenting problem : In the next section of your case study, you will describe the problem or symptoms that the client presented with.

Describe any physical, emotional, or sensory symptoms reported by the client. Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions related to the symptoms should also be noted. Any screening or diagnostic assessments that are used should also be described in detail and all scores reported.

Your diagnosis : Provide your diagnosis and give the appropriate Diagnostic and Statistical Manual code. Explain how you reached your diagnosis, how the client's symptoms fit the diagnostic criteria for the disorder(s), or any possible difficulties in reaching a diagnosis.

Section 2: Treatment Plan

This portion of the paper will address the chosen treatment for the condition. This might also include the theoretical basis for the chosen treatment or any other evidence that might exist to support why this approach was chosen.

• Cognitive behavioral approach : Explain how a cognitive behavioral therapist would approach treatment. Offer background information on cognitive behavioral therapy and describe the treatment sessions, client response, and outcome of this type of treatment. Make note of any difficulties or successes encountered by your client during treatment.
• Humanistic approach : Describe a humanistic approach that could be used to treat your client, such as client-centered therapy . Provide information on the type of treatment you chose, the client's reaction to the treatment, and the end result of this approach. Explain why the treatment was successful or unsuccessful.
• Psychoanalytic approach : Describe how a psychoanalytic therapist would view the client's problem. Provide some background on the psychoanalytic approach and cite relevant references. Explain how psychoanalytic therapy would be used to treat the client, how the client would respond to therapy, and the effectiveness of this treatment approach.
• Pharmacological approach : If treatment primarily involves the use of medications, explain which medications were used and why. Provide background on the effectiveness of these medications and how monotherapy may compare with an approach that combines medications with therapy or other treatments.

This section of a case study should also include information about the treatment goals, process, and outcomes.

When you are writing a case study, you should also include a section where you discuss the case study itself, including the strengths and limitiations of the study. You should note how the findings of your case study might support previous research. 

In your discussion section, you should also describe some of the implications of your case study. What ideas or findings might require further exploration? How might researchers go about exploring some of these questions in additional studies?

Here are a few additional pointers to keep in mind when formatting your case study:

• Never refer to the subject of your case study as "the client." Instead, their name or a pseudonym.
• Read examples of case studies to gain an idea about the style and format.
• Remember to use APA format when citing references .

A Word From Verywell

Case studies can be a useful research tool, but they need to be used wisely. In many cases, they are best utilized in situations where conducting an experiment would be difficult or impossible. They are helpful for looking at unique situations and allow researchers to gather a great deal of information about a specific individual or group of people.

If you have been directed to write a case study for a psychology course, be sure to check with your instructor for any specific guidelines that you are required to follow. If you are writing your case study for professional publication, be sure to check with the publisher for their specific guidelines for submitting a case study.

Simply Psychology. Case Study Method .

Crowe S, Cresswell K, Robertson A, Huby G, Avery A, Sheikh A. The case study approach . BMC Med Res Methodol . 2011 Jun 27;11:100. doi:10.1186/1471-2288-11-100

Gagnon, Yves-Chantal.  The Case Study as Research Method: A Practical Handbook . Canada, Chicago Review Press Incorporated DBA Independent Pub Group, 2010.

Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods . United States, SAGE Publications, 2017.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.