Strengths and Limitations of the Case Study Method of Psychology

Psychology is a study and profession highly driven by research. Through research psychologists are able to formulate theories about an individual's behaviors, treatment methods, and therapy techniques. Through research, they are also able to go back and revise a theory, treatment, or therapy method, based on outcomes of observation. However, the type of observational research a psychologist chooses is also central to the knowledge being sought. Among different forms of observational research are unsystematic observation, naturalistic observation, controlled observation, and case studies. The latter is the specific form to be discussed within this text.

A case study is study conducted using an individual client or patient (terminology depending on the psychological viewpoint used) who is undergoing treatment (Trull, 2005, pp. 87). This method of psychological research has long been regarded as one of a clinicians most valuable resources in gaining understanding of a patient's condition, and further research direction. Such cases as "The Case of Dora (Freud, 1905/1953a)," "The Case of Little Hans (Freud, 1909/1955)," "The Three Faces of Eve (Thigpen and Cleckley, 1957)," "The Mask of Sanity (Cleckley, 1964)", and "Cases in Behavior Modification (Ullman and Krasner, 1965)" have all given clinicians a critical and crucial look into the behaviors and lives of different abnormal minds.*