Question 1: Define a case study in the context of psychological research.

Answer: A case study is an in-depth investigation of an individual or a specific group to explore their behaviors, experiences, or mental processes in detail.

Question 2: Identify two strengths of using case studies in psychological research.

Answer: Strengths include providing detailed and rich data about rare or unique cases, and allowing researchers to explore complex phenomena in real-life contexts.

Question 3: Identify two limitations of case studies.

Answer: Limitations include limited generalisability of findings to the wider population and the potential for researcher bias influencing interpretations.

Question 4: Describe a scenario where a psychologist might choose to use a case study method.

Answer: A psychologist studying a rare psychological disorder, such as a person with an unusual form of amnesia, might use a case study to gather detailed information about their symptoms and history.

Question 5: Explain why case studies often involve multiple sources of evidence, such as interviews, observations, and psychological tests.

Answer: Multiple sources of evidence help build a comprehensive understanding of the case, increase data validity, and reduce the risk of biased conclusions.

Question 6: Discuss ethical considerations that must be taken into account when conducting a case study.

Answer: Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, avoiding harm, and ensuring the participant's right to withdraw at any time.

Question 7: Compare case studies with experiments in terms of control over variables.

Answer: Case studies typically have less control over variables because they focus on real-life cases, whereas experiments manipulate variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 8: Sketch a diagram illustrating the process of collecting data in a case study. Label the key stages such as data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Answer: A flowchart or cycle diagram showing stages: 1. Data Collection (interviews, observations, tests), 2. Data Analysis (qualitative or quantitative), 3. Conclusions and Reporting.

Question 9: Imagine you are conducting a case study on a person who has undergone a traumatic event. List three types of data you would collect and justify why.

Answer: 1. Personal interviews to understand their subjective experience; 2. Psychological tests to assess mental health status; 3. Observations of behavior changes to see how they cope post-trauma. These provide comprehensive insights into their condition.

Question 10: Explain how a case study can contribute to developing new hypotheses in psychology.

Answer: A case study can reveal unique phenomena or patterns that suggest new avenues for research, leading to hypotheses that can be tested further in broader studies.