Before one starts to write this academic assignment, one should know the case study psychology definition. A case study in psychology is a comprehensive study of an individual, group, or situation. Its goal is to find out unique psychological phenomena. Writing a psychology case study requires clear thinking and rigorous investigation. The prime objective is to report the data accurately and make it readable.
Case studies are real. They show how people get their psychological problems and try to find the best solutions. Some famous case studies have nothing to do with the solutions. They show why neither doctors nor their patients could find the best way out. This means that this paper is never easy to write.
Luckily, you have found a detailed plan about how to write a psychology case study. Besides, a few specific cases and real people will be the best illustration.
Define the Types of Your Case Study
Various fields call for different types of case studies. These are the top seven types that most students deal with.
- Exploratory Case Studies. Here, students get something to ponder about, like a problem or occurrence. As a rule, the chosen case study topics are unexplored. Often it is the starting point for more study. Such a study looks at how various approaches might work for specific cases.
- Descriptive Case Studies. A paper needs to emphasize the characteristics of an issue or event. It includes neither examinations of relationships nor causes. For example, a case study about how one particular school used online learning to encourage students to stay active.
- Explanatory Case Studies. Its main intent is to fully explain the causes or the mechanisms behind a particular event. For example, a study on how different styles of leadership influence employee performance in startups.
- Intrinsic Case Studies. Results from such a case study are useful primarily as an end in themselves. They can hardly be a basis for generalizing from them. For example, a case study can concentrate on the obstacles one student with a rare learning disability runs into.
- Instrumental Case Studies. This Psychology paper uses a particular case to comprehend wider problems or theoretical concepts. For instance, one can take a case study on a community project that is successful in showing theories of social innovation in action.
- Collective Case Studies. It is a collection of several cases together that one studies simultaneously. One does it in order to compare and contrast what one learns. A good example is a study of a collection of small businesses to find out the best ways for sustainable businesses’ adoption.
- Critical Instance Case Studies. It concentrates on an instance that is unique or very important. Such a case study method concerns researching a major product recall to find systematic errors in quality control. These case studies cover a wide range – from exploratory to revelations.
All types of case studies require a specific attitude and writing procedure. One case study research method might be the following:
1. Take a Case
To write a case study psychology, the first step is to select what you’ll write on. It could be:
- a person who suffers a particular psychological disorder
- a small group sharing some psychological feature (for example, a family or a class)
- an event or situation that happens infrequently
For example, Phineas Gage is a famous patient in the psychological cycle. His case study was a top topic among outstanding psychologists. He survived a severe head injury that a few experts could explain in 1848. However, his behavior and personality changed after that. So, his case gave another reason for further research among behaviorists and psychologists.
The chosen psychology case study ideas must be true. You should ensure the cited source is credible to prevent misinformation issues.
2. Assess Thoroughly
The beginning of the authentic case study psychology gathers detailed and relevant data. This often includes:
- Clinical interviews. A psychologist may interview the subject. These questions help to understand their views, emotions, and conduct.
- Psychological testing. One uses a range of standardized tests. Their analyses assess people’s intelligence and aptitude, their personality traits, or other characteristics.
- Observations. Observing the subject in different settings can offer insights into conduct and interactions.
- Review of historical records. Medical notes, school reports or prior therapy records may produce useful background.
A person should discuss types of research methods with the mentor. One should not forget to take an official permit to request sources and publish them afterward.
3. Outlining Case History
The case history is a key part of any case study research. It conveys to readers the background of the chosen subject. A case study writing service online outlines:
- Demographic information. How old are the objects of the study? Are they male or female? What do they do?
- Medical history. Any physical or psychological problems, past or present.
- Family and social background. The individual’s relationships, hometown, friends, and so on.
- Life events. Key turning points in the subject‘s life. These are trauma, career transitions, or significant personal achievements.
- The subject‘s symptoms. How a composite view of symptoms of psychological illness affects an individual’s daily functioning.
This section lays the basis for understanding the problem. It defines what a researcher should focus on in the case study.
4. State the Issue or Diagnosis
Here, a psychology case study introduces specifically what psychological issues are at stake. It may also provide the prognosis about what the diagnoses might be. This part should include:
- Description of observed or reported symptoms
- DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition) criteria to diagnose any psychiatric ailment (if applicable)
- Detailed onset and course of the problem (When did its symptoms begin? How have they developed?)
It is important to be objective and rely on evidence. A researcher takes facts from observations, test findings, or material from interviews. They justify the diagnosis or psychological problem statements.
5. Talk About the Treatment Objectives or Intervention
In this section, researchers outline any treatment goals or interventions related to the subject. Depending on the case, a typical case might cover topics such as:
- Type of Therapeutic Method (such as CBT, psychoanalysis, or medication management)
- Time (How long treatment has been running and any major shifts)
- Challenges and adaptations (How did they fix difficulties in the chosen treatment approach?)
Some developmental case studies remain unexplored. Doctors could lack experience concerning the choice of medications or therapies. Some cases involve suicidal patients. They could not receive psychological and psychiatric support on time. In this case, one might use this section to suggest potential interventions. A writer can discuss how similar cases introduced resolutions to analogical health problems.
6. Analyzing and Discussing the Findings
Generally, researchers call this section “The results”. It expresses the outcome of the case. Did the therapy leave some impression on this person? What was the effect? This section can include:
- Short-term results. Have the subject’s symptoms or behaviors changed over time?
- Long-term outcome. What is there in store for this object?
- Connection with theory. One links the case study‘s findings to broader psychological theories or prior research. How does this case study affirm or challenge generally recognized psychological concepts?
Totally, this part discusses the depth psychology case study. They deal with the applied medical treatments and therapies.
7. Conclusion
Here, a researcher points out the significant results of the investigated psychology case study. It combines them with any insights into the subject or psychological phenomenon involved. One can suggest future research problems and mention case limitations.
8. Ethical Considerations
When psychologists write clinical case studies, they deal with personal information of a very private nature. One must stick to the following rules when introducing sensitive data:
- Confidentiality. Do not reveal real names or any identifying features. Use pseudonyms or speak of the subject in general Psychology research terms (e.g., “the victim”).
- Informed Consent. Subjects must agree to participate in the study and understand how a researcher will use the information.
- Ethical Integrity. Any part of the research method can involve an intervention or treatment. Be sure that it is ethical and follows professional guidelines.
Illegal sharing of treatment details contradicts the law’s fundamentals.
9. Formatting and Referencing Correctly
As a rule, most educational institutions ask students to use APA. American Psychological Association guidelines fit Psychology case studies. This formatting style involves:
- Headings and subheadings. A researcher organizes a paper using headers such as “Case History,” “Symptoms,” and “Treatment.”
- In-Text citations. Students mention any of the psychological theories, DSM criteria, or previous research in their papers. Their job is not to forget to cite them correctly in APA format.
- Reference list. At the end of the paper, one includes a properly formatted references list according to APA guidelines.
The final grade consists of the evaluation of the content and visual case presentation. Formatting belongs to the second criterion. So, a student must not forget to format and structure a Psychology case study accordingly.
