Why Develop a Case Study?
People have several reasons for wanting to develop a case study. For example, a technology company might want to learn why certain members of the population buy certain products. Or a psychologist might want to understand what is the best type of therapy for veterans with PTSD. To accomplish this, both would want to develop a case study.
Let's use our psychologist as an example.
A psychologist wants to begin offering specialized treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD. She currently has many veterans as patients, and she has determined that some therapeutic methods are more effective than others. She wants to use the information she is gaining to develop a track record for which methods are most effective. To do this, she will develop a case study.
The psychologist will use data and information from her current patients (using strict privacy rules), as well as professional resources, to develop her case study. This case study could accomplish many things.
- Pilot Research - If the psychologist wants to do large-scale research, starting with a few case studies is a great way to go. If the case studies show any patterns or trends, that information can be used to determine the best way to do advanced research.
- Develop New Theories or Ideas - The psychologist may have her own ideas going into the study. Perhaps she believes that a combination of talk and group therapy is the best treatment for veterans with PTSD. Or maybe, through her case study, she realizes that group therapy is often effective alone. If she develops a new theory, she can test it with additional research.
- Change Existing Theories or Ideas - In psychology, ideas and treatments often change with time or new information or research. While conducting the case study, the psychologist might discover that older ideas are not as effective as newer treatments. If the psychologist feels current professional protocol is not as effective as newer treatments, a case study could be developed to challenge those ideas.
Intrinsic Case Study - A study on a topic that is unique in itself. An example of this would be the study of Genie, the feral child.
Instrumental Case Study - A study on a more general phenomenon, or similarity. An example of this would be a study to determine what therapies are most effective for war veterans with PTSD.
Types of Case Studies
There are generally five different types of case studies, and the subjects that they address. These are:
- Person - This type of study focuses on one particular individual. This case study would use several types of research to determine an outcome.
- Group - This type of study focuses on a group of people. This could be a family, a group or friends, or even co-workers.
- Location - This type of study focuses on a place, and how and why people use the place.
- Organization/Company - This type of study focuses on a business or an organization. This could include the people who work for the company, or an event that occurred at the organization.
- Event - This type of study focuses on an event, whether cultural or societal, and how it affects those that are impacted by it.
What kind of case study is the "Genie" study? What kind of case study is the "Tylenol Scandal" study? ]]>