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Format of case study

psychology (Delhi Public School, Damanjodi)

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Format of case study


1. Front Page : Case study[Heading in capital bold letters], your name, class and section,
board roll no. and name of the school
2. Acknowledgement by the student
3. Certificate
• School logo
• This is to certify that _____________ [your name] of class XII 3 A/B [your
class and section] has completed this case study under my supervision and this
case study may be considered as a part of the practical exam of AISSCE 2022-
2023 conducted by CBSE.

Ms. Malti Naidu


[Department of psychology]
4. Index

S.No. Particular Remarks Signature

1. Introduction to Case study

2. Tools and techniques used

3. Objective of a case study

4. Identification of Data

5. Family History

6. Medical History

7. Habits, interests and talents

8. Interview with the subject

9. Interview with Significant Others

10 Sinha`s Comprehensive Anxiety test

11 Self Concept Questionnaire

12 Adjustment Inventory for School Students

13 Conclusion and suggestions

14 Bibliography

5. Introduction of case study


• Define Psychology, mental processes, experiences and behaviour [class XI
book]

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• Define Psychological test : Standardisation, objectivity, reliability and its


types, validity and norms [Class XI book]
• Define case study

A case study is an in-depth study of the individual in terms of his/her psychological


attributes, psychological history in the context of his/her psycho-social and physical
environment. Case studies are analyses of persons, events, decisions, periods, projects,
policies, institutions, or other systems that are studied holistically by one or more method.
The case that is the subject of the inquiry will be an instance of a class of phenomena that
provides an analytical frame 4 an object 4 within which the study is conducted and which
the case illuminates and explicates.
Case studies are widely used by clinical psychologists, case analyses of the lives of great
people can also be highly illuminating for those willing to learn from their life experiences.
The case study method often involves simply observing what happens to, or reconstructing 8the
case history9 of a single participant or group of individuals (such as a school class or a specific
social group), i.e. the idiographic approach. Case studies allow a researcher to investigate a
topic in far more detail than might be possible if they were trying to deal with a large number
of research participants (nomothetic approach) with the aim of 8averaging9.

The case study is not itself a research method, but researchers select methods of data collection
and analysis that will generate material suitable for case studies such as qualitative
techniques (unstructured interviews, participant observation, diaries), personal notes (e.g.
letters, photographs, notes) or official document (e.g. case notes, clinical notes, appraisal
reports).

The data collected can be analysed using different theories (e.g. grounded theory, interpretative
phenomenological analysis, text interpretation (e.g. thematic coding) etc. All the approaches
mentioned here use preconceived categories in the analysis and they are ideographic in their
approach, i.e. they focus on the individual case without reference to a comparison group.

Case studies are widely used in psychology and amongst the best known were the ones carried
out by Sigmund Freud. He conducted very detailed investigations into the private lives of his
patients in an attempt to both understand and help them overcome their illnesses.

The main characteristics of the case study

1. A descriptive study

a. (I.e. the data collected constitute descriptions of psychological processes and events, and of
the contexts in which they occurred (qualitative data).

b. The main emphasis is always on the construction of verbal descriptions of behaviour or


experience but quantitative data may be collected.

c. High levels of detail are provided.

2. Narrowly focused.

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a. Typically a case study offers a description of only a single individual, and sometimes about
groups.

b. Often the case study focuses on a limited aspect of a person, such as their psychopathological
symptoms.

3. Combines objective and subjective data

a. i.e. the researcher may combine objective and subjective data: All are regarded as valid data
for analysis, and as a basis for inferences within the case study.

i. The objective description of behaviour and its context

ii. Details of the subjective aspect, such as feelings, beliefs, impressions or interpretations. In
fact, a case study is uniquely able to offer a means of achieving an in-depth understanding of
the behaviour and experience of a single individual.

4. Process-oriented.

a. The case study method enables the researcher to explore and describe the nature of processes,
which occur over time.

b. In contrast to the experimental method, which basically provides a stilled 8snapshot9 of


processes, which may be continuing over time like for example the development of language
in children over time.

Strengths of Case Studies


• Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information.
• Provides insight for further research.
• Permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations.
Case studies give psychological researchers the possibility to investigate cases, which could
not possibly be engineered in research laboratories. For example, the Money Case Study.

Case studies are often used in exploratory research. They can help us generate new ideas (that
might be tested by other methods). They are an important way of illustrating theories and can
help show how different aspects of a person's life are related to each other. The method is
therefore important for psychologists who adopt a holistic point of view (i.e. humanistic
psychologists).
Limitations of Case Studies
• Can9t generalize the results to the wider population.
• Researchers own subjective feeling may influence the case study (researcher bias).
• Difficult to replicate.
• Time consuming.
Because a case study deals with only one person/event/group we can never be sure whether
conclusions drawn from this particular case apply elsewhere. The results of the study are not
generalizable because we can never know whether the case we have investigated is
representative of the wider body of "similar" instances

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Because they are based on the analysis of qualitative (i.e. descriptive) data a lot depends on
the interpretation the psychologist places on the information she has acquired. This means
that there is a lot of scope for observer bias and it could be that the subjective opinions of the
psychologist intrude in the assessment of what the data means.

Types of case study

On the basis of number of individuals:

• Person/individual: The study of one single individual, generally using several


different research methods. Since there is only one individual, it emphasizes analysis
in depth. Such individual case study is a time honoured procedure in the field of
medicine and medical researchers.
• Group/Community: The study of a single distinctive set of people, such as a family
or small group of friends. Such a case study is a thorough observation and analysis of
a group of people who are living together in a particular geographical territory. It tries
to deal with various elements of the community life such as economic activity,
climatic and natural resources, historical development, social life values, health and
education etc.

On the basis of purpose:

• Deviant Case analysis: The researchers starts with difference already found
between two people or groups and his/her task is to read backwards, to deduce the
condition that might have produced the differences.
• Isolated Clinical Case Analysis: Related to individual units with respect to some
analytical problems, such studies have become popular in psychoanalysis.

Methods used in Case study

• Observation of behaviour, characteristics and social qualities of the unit by the


researcher
• Use of questionnaires, opinions, inventories, checklists and other psychological
tests
• Analysis of recorded data from schools, clinics, courts, newspapers and similar
sources
• Interviewing the subject`s friends, relatives and significant others.

• Participant observation: Involves the researcher actually serving as a participant in


events and observing the actions and outcomes.

6. Tools and techniques used


• Observation : define, types, advantages and disadvantages
• Experimental method : define [also write about variables with independent and
dependent variables], advantages and disadvantages
• Psychological Testing : define, advantages and disadvantages
• Survey : define, advantages and disadvantages
• Case study : define, advantages and disadvantages
• Correlation : define, advantages and disadvantages

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S.No. Method Define Advantages Disadvantages


1. Observation

2. Experimental method

3. Psychological Testing

4. Survey

5. Case study

6. Correlation

7. Objective of a case study


The case study is a research method involving an up-close, in-depth, and detailed examination
of a subject of study, as well as its related contextual conditions. It involves assessment of
individual`s psychological, physical, social, and emotional dimensions with the help of specific
psychological tools and techniques.
8. Identification of Data [Picture of the subject]
• Biographical data
• Name
• Age
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Gender
• Height
• Weight
• Religion
• Educational Qualification
• Institute associated with
• Place of education
• Personal History [Paragraph about the subject`s general life, talk about
school/college life, what she/he wants to do in future, any particular change in life,
attitude about life, schooling, friends etc.]

9. Family History
• Family Tree
• Family arrangement: Joint family/ nuclear family with its advantages and
disadvantages.( As per the subject’s perception)
• Family details
• Name of the father:
• Age:
• Qualification:
• Occupation:
• Designation:

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• Name of the mother:


• Age:
• Qualification:
• Occupation:
• Designation:

• Interview with the Parents (Father/Mother/Both)


• Please note if the subject is in a single parent set up the interview to be conducted
with the parent the child is living with or else with both the parents separately.

How are you feeling at this moment?


How much time do you spend in interacting with your child?
What are the things that you want to improve in your child?
What are the things that you like about your child?
Does he/she have frequent change in behaviour or mood swings?
Does she share her/his problems and opinions with you?
What are the behavioural qualities in your child which make you proud of him/her?
Which career option is the ideal one for your child and why?

Subject`s relation with his/her father/mother /both parents [your observation]

Interview with the Mother


How are you feeling at this moment?
How much time do you spend in interacting with your child?
What are the things that you want to improve in your child?
What are the things that you like about your child?
Does he/she have frequent change in behaviour or mood swings?
Does she share her/his problems and opinions with you?
What are the behavioural qualities in your child which make you proud of him/her?
Which career option is the ideal one for your child and why?
Subject`s relation with his/her mother [your observation]

• Interview with Sibling

How are you feeling at this moment?


How much time do you spend in interacting with your brother/sister?
Do you stay in the same room? Are you comfortable with this arrangement?
What are the things that you like about your brother/sister?
Does he/she have frequent change in behaviour or mood swings?
Do you spend time with your brother`s/sister`s friends?
What are your siblings’ strengths and weaknesses?
Any advice which you think you think you can /would like to offer to your sibling?

Subject`s relation with his/her sibling [your observation]

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10. Medical History( Any significant medical ailnments)

Subject:
Father:
Mother:
Siblings:
11. Habits, interests and talents [One Page]

12. Interview with the subject

How are you feeling at this moment?


Tell me about yourself.
What do your friends say about you?
What are your strengths?
What are your areas of improvement?
What do you like about yourself
Do you have someone you can share your difficulties with?
Do you feel/think your home is a comfortable space to be in?
Do you agree with the core beliefs of your family members? What are these and are
there any areas where your hold different opinions? Elaborate upon these.
What motivates you?

Summary of the interview: [your observation and conclusion of the interview]

13. Interview with Significant others: [One friend and one teacher]

How are you feeling at this moment?


How much time do you spend in interacting with your friend/student/relative?
What are his/her areas of improvement?
What are the things that you like about him/her?
Does he/she have frequent change in behaviour or mood swings?
Do you think he/she is an aggressive person?
Any other significant information which you would like to mention about him/her

15. Psychological Tests conducted on the subject [Front Page Heading]

• Sinha`s Comprehensive Anxiety test


• Self Concept Questionnaire
• Adjustment Inventory for School Students
Note: Just write the score and result of the test

For e.g.

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[My subject scored a total of 50 in Sinha`s Comprehensive Anxiety test, her scores relates to 99
percentile on the scoring table of the SCAT scoring manual. This indicates an extremely high level of
anxiety which leads to development of emotional and even physical consequential issues like
feelings of disturbance and lack of attention in situations of stress. The subject is unable to deal with
highly stressful situations with a calm attitude and ends up in high anxiety and physically fatigued.]

16. Conclusion and suggestions [atleast two pages]


For e.g.

I conducted my Case profile on _____________________ [Name] aged _________ years from


_______________[School/College Name]. It was a wonderful experience and taught me a
great deal in terms of knowing the subject and applying the techniques of assessment learned
in psychology class. I conducted the following tests on him/her:

• Sinha`s Comprehensive Anxiety test


• Self Concept Questionnaire
• Adjustment Inventory for School Students
Assessment was done on the basis of behavioral observation, psychometric testing based on
self report, interview with the subject and significant others from his/her life and two
projective tests.

My subject score _____________ in SCAT which indicates _________________. [interpretation


with test score]

My subject score _____________ in AISS which indicates __________________. [interpretation


with test score]

My subject score _____________ in SCQ which indicates __________________. [interpretation


with test score]

Also write about the behavioral observation that you have done through interview with the
subject and significant others.

If there is discrepancy in test scores and your observation, then write it and the reasons.
Suggest strategies if the subject has high anxiety or emotionally unstable.

17. Bibliography
• NCERT Class XII Psychology Book
• NCERT Class XI Psychology book
• http://www.simplypsychology.org/case-study.html
• Psychology Test manuals

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