Type of psychology: Psychological methodologies
Psychological methodologies
Field of study: Descriptive methodologies
Descriptive methodologies
Case-study methodologies include a number of techniques for studying people, events,
or other phenomena within their natural settings. Typically, case studies involve careful
observations made over an extended period of time in situations where it is not possible
to control the behaviors under observation. The results and interpretation of the
data are recorded in narrative form.
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Key concepts
• extraneous variable
• independent variable
• laboratory setting research
• naturalistic observation
• quasi-experiments
According to social scientist Robert Yin, case-study research is one of the
most frequently misunderstood methods used to study behaviors. Yin, in his
book Case Study Research: Design and Methods (1984), points out that misconceptions
have come about because of the limited coverage that case-study research
receives in the average textbook on research methods. In addition,
most texts typically confuse the case-study approach with either qualitative
research methods or specific types of quasi-experimental designs (experiments
that do not allow subjects to be assigned randomly to treatment conditions).
Yin defines a case study as a method for studying contemporary phenomena
within their natural settings, particularly when the behaviors under
study cannot be manipulated or brought under the experimenter’s control.
Thus, unlike studies that are performed in the sometimes rigidly sterile laboratory
setting (in which phenomena are studied in an artificial environment
with rigorous procedures in place to control for outside influences),
the case-study approach collects data where the behaviors occur, in real-life
contexts. Although behavior in natural settings can lead to a wealth of data
waiting to be mined, case-study methodology also has its drawbacks. Someone
using this approach needs to recognize that the lack of control over extraneous
variables can compound the difficulty associated with trying to
identify the underlying variables that are causing the behaviors. Extraneous
variables can be defined as those that have a detrimental effect on a research
study, making it difficult to determine if the result is attributable to the variable
under study or to some unknown variable not controlled for. Despite
this concern, case-study methods are seen as valuable research tools to help
unlock the mysteries behind events and behaviors. The approach has been
used by psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, historians,
and economists, to name a few.
Case Study Research: Design and Methods (1984), points out that misconceptions
have come about because of the limited coverage that case-study research
receives in the average textbook on research methods. In addition,
most texts typically confuse the case-study approach with either qualitative
research methods or specific types of quasi-experimental designs (experiments
that do not allow subjects to be assigned randomly to treatment conditions).
Yin defines a case study as a method for studying contemporary phenomena
within their natural settings, particularly when the behaviors under
study cannot be manipulated or brought under the experimenter’s control.
Thus, unlike studies that are performed in the sometimes rigidly sterile laboratory
setting (in which phenomena are studied in an artificial environment
with rigorous procedures in place to control for outside influences),
the case-study approach collects data where the behaviors occur, in real-life
contexts. Although behavior in natural settings can lead to a wealth of data
waiting to be mined, case-study methodology also has its drawbacks. Someone
using this approach needs to recognize that the lack of control over extraneous
variables can compound the difficulty associated with trying to
identify the underlying variables that are causing the behaviors. Extraneous
variables can be defined as those that have a detrimental effect on a research
study, making it difficult to determine if the result is attributable to the variable
under study or to some unknown variable not controlled for. Despite
this concern, case-study methods are seen as valuable research tools to help
unlock the mysteries behind events and behaviors. The approach has been
used by psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, historians,
and economists, to name a few.
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