Running Head: CASE STUDY 1
Luther M. Whitehead
Liberty University
Author Note
Luther M. Whitehead is a student of the Undergraduate-level program at Liberty University
Online, Lynchburg, Virginia. Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to
Luther Whitehead via Liberty webmail at lwhithead13@liberty.edu
Case Study Paper
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Case Study
Psychological researchers make use of various methods in order to research topics of
interest to include, though not limited to, non-experimental methods such as the Case Study
Method. This paper will outline the basic components involved in the design of a Case Study
commonly used by researchers. We will discuss what constitutes a case study and also
differentiate the advantages and disadvantages of this method of research; reasons for using the
case study method; explore how researchers can acquire information needed in conducting case
study research and lastly, we will offer some reasons why a researcher would make use of the
Case Study Methodology.
Case Study: Defined
In order to differentiate Case Studies from other methods used by researchers, it is
necessary to clearly define a Case Study. Case Study method uses a qualitative approach by
design as compared to quantitative approach (uses more in-depth means). According to
Crawford (2019), Case Studies are in-depth observations which may include animals,
individuals, treatment events or events. Case study methodology is commonly used within social
science research in the fields of psychology, science of education, sociology as well as political
science (Dumez, 2015) and according to APA (2010), case studies are comprised of reports based
upon case materials which is obtained by research involving individuals, organizations, groups
and/or communities and are designed to both identify and offer solution to a problem and/or shed
light on research that is needed pertaining to the specific topic of research, theoretical approach
or clinical applications pertaining to the subject of interest/research. In short, case studies are in-
depth investigations of a single individual, event, animal, etc. using a variety of research methods
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such as direct observations and/or personal interviews, as well as information derived from prior
research (archival research).
Advantages/Disadvantages of Case Study Methodology
One of the major advantages of using the case study approach is that this method
provides an opportunity for researchers to explore topics that would otherwise be unethical to
study. For example, the curious case of Phineas Cage is often cited within study materials of
psychology students. This case study serves as an important example in that Mr. Cage suffered
an accident which damaged a portion of his brain, as psychological research is concerned with
the study of human thoughts and behaviors, this the Cage Study provided an excellent
opportunity for researchers to explore how different parts of the human brain affect an
individuals’ personality. In this example, we can see that the case study method was ideal for the
case in that the in-depth study of an individual (Phineas Cage) offered an unprecedented
opportunity for researchers to seek knowledge and understanding of how brain
components/personality are linked. Case studies offer the advantage of being able to allow for
very individualized study as in the Cage case. According to Crawford (2019), case studies are
advantageous to researchers in that they allow for the study of rare events that would otherwise
be unethical to study (it would be unethical to replicate damage to a person’s brain to study the
effects on personality).
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to the case study methodology. In fact,
according to Crawford (2019), one disadvantage of case study methodology includes limitations
of the findings. For example, in the Case Study of Phineas Cage, there exists a limitation to the
findings in that his individual case study offers research findings pertaining to Cage and cannot
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scientifically state that the changes of personality that he exhibited would be present with other
individuals, even under the same circumstances, with the same damage to the brain, etc. While
useful for in-depth studies of individuals limitations do exist, but those limitations do not
diminish the value of using this approach yet dictates how the findings are evaluated.
Furthermore, additional disadvantages to the case study approach have to do with areas of
generalisation, role of theory and Authority. Case study results cannot necessarily be
generalized, it can be difficult to draw conclusions of cause/effect, and the selection of cases to
study can be biased. According to Rowley (2002), the question of generalization is addressed
and the Naturalistic Observation components in the use of case studies in that should case studies
be considered the norm (readers making their own interpretations/taking those ideas into their
own experiences). Secondly, in regard to the role of authority Rowley questions whether case
studies can be used as a basis for theory development and poses the question as to which theory
emerges during the research collection and analysis of that information and lastly, some would
argue that the very act of case study methodology (participant knowledge that research is being
done) changes the dynamics of the study.
Acquisition of Sources
Thus far, we have sought to define Case Studies, explored major advantages as
well as disadvantages to the methodology. We will now consider researcher’s acquisition of
source material in order to conduct a case study (i.e, where/in what ways are resource materials
available to researchers in order to conduct case studies). Researchers may rely upon personal
interviews, direct observations, archival records, and participant-participation as well as physical
artifacts. According to Crawford (2019), there are two suggested ways for researchers to obtain
credible source materials: through the use of scholarly resources (attend APA and APS
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conferences) as well as to make use of published research findings. Subscriptions to
academic/research journals, exploring resources such as university databases as well as published
materials (scholarly, peer-reviewed) findings are just a few of the ways in which researchers can
obtain research data/materials in an effort to compile case studies.
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References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
Crawford, A.R. (2019). Introduction to research: Less fright, more insight. (Custom 3rd ed.).
Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt.
Dumez, H. (2015). What Is a Case, and What Is a Case Study? Bulletin of Sociological
Methodology/Bulletin de Méthodologie Sociologique, 127(1), 43–57.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0759106315582200
Rowley, J. (2002). Using case studies in research. Management Research News, 25(1), 16-27.
doi:10.1108/01409170210782990
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