How to Write a Psychology Case Study

How to Write a Psychology Case Study Student Resources APA Style and Writing Print How to Write a Psychology Case Study By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 17, 2017 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 19, 2020 Verywell / Colleen Tighe More in Student Resources APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips Careers In This Article Table of Contents Expand Overview Types Methods Sources Case History Intervention View All Back To Top 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 detailed outline of your assignment. What  Is a Case Study? A case study is an in-depth study of one person, group, or event. Much of  Freuds  work and theories were developed through the use of individual case studies. Some great examples of case studies in psychology include  Anna O,  Phineas Gage, and  Genie. In a case study, nearly every aspect of the subjects life and history is analyzed to seek patterns and causes of behavior. 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 Genies 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: Explanatory case studies  are 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  are sometimes used as a prelude to further, more in-depth research. This allows researchers to gather more information before developing their research questions and hypotheses.Descriptive case studies  involve starting with a descriptive theory. The subjects are then observed and the information gathered is compared to the pre-existing theory.Intrinsic case studies  are a type of case study in which the researcher has a personal interest in the case. Jean Piagets observations of his own children are good examples of how an intrinsic cast study can contribute to the development of a psychological theory.Collective case studies  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.In strumental case studies  occur when the individual or group allows researchers to understand more than what is initially obvious to observers. Methods There are also different methods that can be used to conduct a case study: 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  are those that 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 individuals 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: Direct observation:  This strategy involves observing the subject, often in a natural setting. While an individual observer is sometimes used, it is more common to utilize a group of observers.Interviews:  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.Documents:  Letters, newspaper articles, administrative records, etc.Archival records:  Census records, survey records, name lists, etc.Physical artifacts:  Tools, objects, instruments and other artifacts often observed during a direct observation of the subject.Participant observation:  Involves the researcher actually serving as a participant in events and observing the actions and outcomes. Section 1: A Case History This section will have the following structure and content: Background InformationThe first section of your paper will present your clients 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 ProblemIn 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 DiagnosisProvide your diagnosis and give the appropriate Diagnostic and Statistical Manual code. Explain how you reached your diagnosis, how the clients 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. Some of the possible treatment approaches you might choose to explore include: Psychoanalytic ApproachDescribe how a psychoanalytic therapist would view the clients problem. Provide some background on the psychoanalytic approach and cite relevant references. Explain how psychoanalytic therapy would be used to treat the client, how the client would respond to therapy, and the effectiveness of this treatment approach.Cognitive-Behavioral ApproachExplain how a cognitive-behavioral therapist would approach treatment. Offer background information on cognitive-behavioral therapy and 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 ApproachDescribe a humanistic approach that could be used to treat your client, such as client-centered therapy. Provide information on the type of treatment you chose, the clients reaction to the treatment, and the end result of this approach. Explain why the treatment was successful or unsuccessful. Tips Do not refer to the subject of your case study as the client. Instead, use his or her name or a pseudonym.Remember to use APA format when citing references.Read examples of case studies to gain an idea about the style and format. 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.