What does a case study involve?

• Uses a variety of methods such as interviews, observations,

questionnaires but can still be seen as an overall research
method
• They gather mainly qualitative data from a range of methods
but may also gather quantitative data
• They involve the study of a small group or individual- usually
a unique case
What do clinical case studies involve?
• The study of one (or a small group) of participants, perhaps
suffering from a certain disorder.
• They might be used to monitor the course of the illness and
the impact upon functioning, daily activities etc but may also
look for success of treatments and how the disorder
develops/ changes over time
• The ultimate aim therefore would be to provide insight into
a disorder and an understanding of causes and treatment
Idiographic versus nomothetic
• Idiographic = focusing in detail on specific individuals
• Nomothetic = looking for general rules/ laws in behaviour
focusing on large numbers

• Which applies to the case study?

Data gathered
• Data can come from a range of sources so therefore
includes both qualitative and quantitative data
• In terms of clinical psychology, psychologists may make
observations of the patient and comment on symptoms,
interactions with others etc
• They may also gather quantitative data in terms of weight
gain/ loss in anorexic patients
• Other qualitative data may come from clinical interviews
where patients are asked to discuss symptoms and progress
Triangulation
• Triangulation is the gathering of data from different
sources and checking whether the data agree.
• If the data are gathered using different means then the
data will be reliable.
• This also makes it more likely to be valid if you are using
different measures to assess behaviour
• This adds credibility to a study if they use a range of
research gathering techniques
Generalisability
• P: Low
• E: Use…. (make a clinical link here)
• E: Therefore this may not represent how other patients
respond to treatment/ represent other patients’
experiences of a disorder…
Reliability
• P: Low
• E: As they involve a very unique case they are unlikely to
occur again in the same format
• Therefore…

• However, how can the use of triangulation help establish

internal reliability?
Application
• P: High
• E: What is the ultimate aim of case studies in clinical
psychology?
• E: Therefore…
Validity
• P: High
• E: Use of triangulation means a range of…
• E: Therefore

• P: High
• E: Patients are often studied in their natural environment
• E Therefore…
Validity
• P: Potential bias
• E: Patients are likely to be studied closely by one or multiple
researchers. This means the researchers tend to get to know the
patient very well
• E: This may make it hard to avoid…

• P: Patients may not divulge all info

• E: Case studies in clinical psychology tend to use clinical
interviews within their method
• E: Therefore, there may be issues with…
Ethics
• P: Likely to be ethical
• E: When working with patients, clinical psychologists must
follow the ___________ guidelines to ensure… Patients also
likely to be given a _______________. Ultimate aim of
such case studies??
• E: Therefore, patients are not subject to… Cost benefit???
Luk & Agoha (2014)
Read the word document on my moodle!
Data collection
• Sample- 15 year old Chinese American adolescent.
• She first presented at 13 with severe calorific restriction and excessive exercise. She
developed amenorrhea and cold intolerance; she also suffered body image distortions.
• Once she stabilised she was transferred to an inpatient child psychiatric unit where she
was involved with a mixture of individual therapy, group therapy, daily weigh ins and
monitoring of meals.
• She was discharged from a 3 month hospitalisation and readmitted within 6 months as
she could not maintain body weight. She did not eat the food her mother/ family
prepared and she made her own meals. There was a difficult relationship between her
and her mother.
• After her third hospitalisation, Amy was assigned an in-home therapist who regularly
visited with a nutritionist and psychiatrist (weekly). The in-home therapist was of the
same cultural background and helped with the tension around family meals.
• 10 months after discharge, Amy visited China. She discontinued her SSRIs and the
support from therapists was withdrawn. Her BMI was higher on return and her progress
continued from this point.
Data analysis and conclusions
• Once adequate nutrition had been reinstated and maintained,
Amy’s dysphoric symptoms (eg state of dissatisfaction).
• Dysfunctional eating patterns remained and her perception of
her mother as overbearing and controlling.
• Amy did not express a desire for thinness in any therapy
sessions; her reasons for not eating food centred around her
disgust for the food options her mother offered.
• The nutritionist and in-home therapist helped with balanced food
choices and cultural divide.
• The trip to China = a resolution of her symptoms. Amy now had a
sense of self-determination and autonomy.
Evaluation
• Generalisability to other AN sufferers?
• Replicability? Think unique case.
• Application? What does the study demonstrate in terms of AN
and how could we use this in the real world to help other
sufferers?
• Validity? Where was Amy largely studied? What sort of data
were gathered- think qual and quant.
• Ethical? What was the ultimate aim of the research? What did
the parents and Amy both give?