Psychology: Case Study
Triangulation - Using multiple methods of study to explore the same phenomenon
Case Study -
Non Experiment
Qualitative research Method
A detailed study of one’s case which a lot of information is collected about a person,
group, or event
How is a case study conducted? -
Interviews, Psychological tests, observations and experiments
From people who were involved such as family/friends
One information is collected it is analyzed to get the "full picture"
What kind of data is collected? -
Qualitative and maybe Quantitative
Strengths of case study -
Can provide rich, in depth data.
Provide information that may be overlooked in other research methods
Can be used to investigate instances of human behavior that are rare or cases which could
not possibly be created
Complex interaction of many factors can be studies, in contrast with experiments where
variables are held constant and controlled
Weakness of Case Study -
Take a long time for collection and analysis
Difficult to generalize from individual cases
Often necessary to use recollection of past evens , may be unreliable because of peoples
memories
Lack objectivity
Ethical issues like confidentiality and anonymity
What triangulation does -
Gives researchers an opportunity to take different perspectives
