Holism: The principle that an individual cannot be understood by looking at isolated variables; instead, the entire life history and environmental context must be considered.
The 'Normal' through the 'Abnormal': By studying individuals with rare conditions or unique experiences, researchers can infer how psychological processes function in the general population.
Depth over Breadth: Unlike experiments that seek to find average behaviors across many people, case studies prioritize the richness and complexity of a single instance.
| Feature | Case Study | Lab Experiment |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Size | Usually or a small group | Large groups for statistical power |
| Control | Low control over variables | High control over extraneous variables |
| Data Type | Primarily qualitative/descriptive | Primarily quantitative/numerical |
| Goal | In-depth understanding of a case | Establishing cause-and-effect laws |
Identifying Case Studies: Look for scenarios involving unique individuals, long-term tracking, or the use of multiple different data collection methods on one person.
Evaluation Logic: When asked to evaluate, always balance the high validity (rich detail) against the low generalizability (unique nature of the participant).
Objectivity Check: Mention the risk of researcher bias; because these studies last a long time, researchers may lose their professional distance and interpret data subjectively.
Ethical Considerations: Remember that because the participant is often unique, maintaining anonymity is much harder than in large-scale studies.
The Generalization Trap: A common mistake is assuming that because a case study found a specific result, it applies to everyone. In reality, the findings are technically only applicable to that specific case.
Method vs. Framework: Students often think a case study is just an interview. It is vital to emphasize that it is a triangulated approach using various tools.
Causality Errors: Because variables are not controlled as they are in experiments, a case study can show a relationship but cannot definitively prove cause and effect.
