4.2.3.T5 Case studies Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 2

The 20 questions

1. A case study is best described as:

   • A large survey of many people across the country, using a standard questionnaire
   • An in-depth investigation of a single individual or a small group
   • A statistical analysis of secondary data from many studies pooled together
   • A controlled experiment with random allocation of participants to each condition

2. A major strength of case studies is that they provide:

   • Data that are always quantitative and easy to compare across many cases
   • Rich, detailed data about an individual that other methods might miss
   • Precise control over all extraneous variables through random allocation
   • Results that generalise to the whole population, so the findings apply to everyone equally

3. A major limitation of case studies is:

   • Lack of any qualitative data, so the findings are reduced to numbers only
   • Excessive control over the variables, which makes the case artificial and rigid
   • Low generalisability, because one case may not represent others
   • Too many participants to analyse, so the data set becomes unmanageable

4. Case studies are particularly useful for studying:

   • Trends in national statistics that are collected each year by government bodies
   • Rare conditions or unusual cases, such as a specific type of brain damage
   • Large populations with random sampling across a wide range of different regions
   • Behaviour in controlled laboratory conditions only, using set tasks for every participant

5. Case study data are often retrospective. What is the main concern with this?

   • Retrospective data are always more accurate than current data, since they are settled
   • Retrospective data eliminate all ethical concerns, since the events have already passed
   • Memory can be inaccurate or reconstructed, which may distort the data
   • Retrospective data cannot be used in psychology, because it is always too unreliable

6. Case studies are generally low in control because:

   • The participants are always in a laboratory, where every variable is strictly controlled
   • The researcher cannot manipulate or hold constant the many variables affecting a single case
   • The researcher always controls the independent variable, setting each level precisely in turn
   • The researcher always uses random allocation, so the variables are balanced across cases

7. A case study of a patient with a rare memory disorder is conducted. Which feature makes this a case study?

   • It uses a random sample of the population from a register
   • It manipulates an IV across several conditions in a controlled laboratory setting
   • It compares two large groups of participants with a control design
   • It focuses in depth on one individual over time

8. A researcher studies a child with limited exposure to language to examine how language develops. What is this an example of?

   • A correlational study with a large sample
   • A case study
   • A cross-sectional survey
   • A laboratory experiment

9. A case study can be used to generate a hypothesis for later testing. What does this mean?

   • The case study measures the hypothesis directly, using random allocation of the case
   • The case study proves the hypothesis is true, so no further testing is ever needed
   • The case may suggest ideas that can then be tested in more controlled studies
   • The case study replaces the need for any further research on the topic at all

10. A case study based on a sample of one has which key problem?

    • Findings must be presented as numerical data only
    • Findings are always more reliable than in large samples
    • Findings may not be generalisable to other people
    • Findings will show a causal relationship automatically

11. A case study uses interviews, school records and diaries to build a detailed account. What is this approach called?

    • Counterbalancing of the conditions used in the study design
    • Random allocation of data to different groups in the analysis
    • Operationalisation of the key variables into measurable terms
    • Triangulation of multiple data sources

12. What is a key limitation of case studies when attempting to establish cause-and-effect?

    • They always show causes with certainty, because every detail of the case is recorded
    • They never use any qualitative information, since the focus is entirely on measured numbers
    • They cannot manipulate variables or use random allocation, so causal claims are weak
    • They can only be carried out with children, because adult cases are too complex to study

13. A researcher's interpretation of a case study may be biased by their own expectations. What is this an example of?

    • Researcher bias in interpreting the data
    • Operational definition problems with the key measures
    • Random sampling error in the selection of the cases
    • Counterbalancing failure across the conditions studied

14. A single well-documented case shows that a claim is false. Why is this valuable?

    • A single case always proves a claim is true, since one example is enough to confirm it
    • A single counterexample can disprove a universal claim
    • A single case cannot affect any scientific claim, however well it is documented
    • A single case shows the claim applies to everyone in the population studied

15. Ethical guidelines require that case study participants' identities are protected. Which principle does this reflect?

    • Standardisation
    • Confidentiality
    • Counterbalancing
    • Random allocation

16. Which statement distinguishes a case study from a correlational study?

    • A case study always uses random sampling of many cases, unlike correlations, which look at a single person in depth over a long period
    • A case study describes one individual in depth, while a correlation measures the relationship between two variables across many cases
    • Both methods involve manipulating an independent variable, which the researcher sets at each level chosen in advance of the data collection
    • A correlation studies one individual in depth, while a case study measures two variables across a large group of cases over the same period

17. A researcher reports detailed findings from one patient and claims they apply to all patients with the same condition. What is the main weakness?

    • Insufficient detail in the qualitative data that was collected from the patient
    • Excessive use of control in the study, which restricted what could be observed
    • Lack of any ethical approval for the report, which was never submitted to a committee
    • Unjustified generalisation from one atypical case

18. Which evaluation of case studies is most accurate?

    • They offer depth and insight into rare cases but limited generalisability and causal evidence
    • They are the only method suitable for testing causation, because they manipulate variables directly
    • They offer generalisable results and strong causal evidence across many different populations
    • They offer large samples and precise statistical control over every variable in the study

19. What is a major limitation of a case study of one person with a rare brain injury?

    • The findings may be unique to that individual and may not reflect the wider population
    • No ethical issues can arise in the study, because the individual is only being described
    • The sample is too large to analyse in any detail, so the data must be summarised in full
    • The findings are always too precise to be meaningful for the individual or anyone else

20. Which method would a researcher most likely combine with a case study to strengthen its data?

    • Interviews with family members and examination of medical records
    • A randomised controlled trial with 1000 participants allocated to several conditions
    • A correlation calculated on secondary census data from the national archive
    • A laboratory experiment with random allocation to two conditions in a controlled room

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