How to Write a Psychology Case Study

At some point in your study of psychology, you may be required to write a case study. These are often used in clinical cases or in situations when lab research is not possible or practical. In undergraduate courses, these are often based on a real individual, an imagined individual, or a character from a television show, film, or book.

The specific format for a case study can vary greatly. In some instances, your case study will focus solely on the individual of interest. Other possible requirements include citing relevant research and background information on a particular topic. Always consult with your instructor for a detailedoutlineof your assignment.

What Is a Case Study?

A case study is an in-depth study of one person, group, or event. Much ofFreud's workand theories were developed through the use of individual case studies. Some great examples of case studies in psychology includeAnna O,Phineas Gage, andGenie.

The hope is that learning gained from studying one case 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.

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. The case study of Genie, for example, allowed researchers to study whether language could be taught even after critical periods for language development had been missed.

In Genie's case, her horrific abuse had denied her the opportunity to learn a 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 otherwise impossible to reproduce phenomena.

Types

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 of people.
• Descriptive case studies: These involve starting with a descriptive theory. The subjects are then observed and the information gathered is compared to the pre-existingtheory.
• Explanatory case studies: Theseare often used to do causal investigations. In other words, researchers are interested in looking at factors that may have actually caused certain things to occur.
• Exploratory case studies:这些是有时用作prelude to further, more in-depth research. This allows researchers to gather more information before developing their research questions andhypotheses.
• 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'sobservations of his own children are good examples of how an intrinsic cast study can contribute to the development of a psychological theory.

Case Study Methods

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.

Sources of Information Used

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

• Archival records: Census records, survey records, and name lists are examples of archival records.
• 直接观察: This strategy involves observing the subject, often in anatural 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: Interview are one of the most important methods for gathering information in case studies. An interview can involve structured survey-type questions or more open-ended questions.
• Participant observation:当研究者作为一个参与者在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 appropriateDiagnostic and Statistical Manualcode. 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: The Intervention

The second section of your paper will focus on the intervention used to help the client. Your instructor might require you to choose from a particular theoretical approach or ask you to summarize two or more possible treatment approaches.

Cognitive-Behavioral Approach

Explain how a cognitive-behavioral therapist would approach treatment. Offer background information oncognitive-behavioral therapyand 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 ahumanisticapproach that could be used to treat your client, such asclient-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 thepsychoanalytic approachand cite relevant references. Explain howpsychoanalytic therapywould be used to treat the client, how the client would respond to therapy, and the effectiveness of this treatment approach.

Additional Case Study Tips

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, use his or her name or a pseudonym.
• Read examples of case studies to gain an idea about the style and format.
• Remember to useAPA formatwhenciting 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 can be 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.