Nowadays, it is essential to study what is truly interesting and potentially necessary. Any search or research method can help you uncover the essence of the question being asked or the problem at hand. A psychological case study has been a frequent topic of discussion in recent years. Let’s dive into how to write such articles on this topic.
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What is a psychology case study?
A case study is a type of human cognitive activity. It can be spontaneous and scientific. The basis for the development of cognitive as a discipline is conceptual models, on which procedural and empirical models are built. Psychological research assumes a conscious choice of the purpose of the paper and its means (methodology, approaches, methods, techniques) and the orientation of the review on the reproducibility of results. Such works are often mentioned in various articles that are published.
Why are psychology case studies important?
The topic of a case study has always been relevant. Many people suffer from minor moral instabilities, so it is worth studying them to help prevent or cope with the consequences. Moreover, the early work of those who have already investigated this area can form the basis for potential future case study help, allowing for a broader view of the conclusions reached in the past. So don’t underestimate the importance of research.
Types of psychology case studies
If we elaborate on types, then the experts in this field distinguish only three different versions of psychological research:
- Theoretical case study: The main goal of a theoretical investigation is to obtain general knowledge about a certain phenomenon. The basis of such research is descriptions and explanations of facts about mental health, hypotheses, and assumptions available in science.
- An empirical case study aims to obtain facts, further generalized by theory or used for applied purposes. Empirical research methods include observation, experiments, testing, interviews, interviews, and modeling. Thanks to these forms of obtaining information, you will be able to achieve the desired results.
- Applied case study: The purpose of applied research is to obtain practical results in specific life situations. Such research is usually commissioned by interested parties. The final result contains formulated recommendations, the implementation of which should lead to the expected effect.
How to write a psychology case study
It happens very often that different institutions may be tasked with preparing a report or a scientific work. Here you need to approach the question in a responsible and structured way. So let’s take a look at how you can become the best at writing a perfect research paper that will be not only unique but also useful for future receivers. See below for the required steps.
1. Gather information to create a profile for a subject
Before you begin an in-depth analysis of the topic, gather more information and general data about the research topic. It is very important to have more facts on hand, the opinions of psychologists, to get an overall picture of reality and then start to go deeper into the work. If you do the basic, structure, and detailed process at the beginning, it will then be very easy and simple for you to put all the puzzles together and gain a perfectly written case.
2. Choose a case study method
Experts generally distinguish two main methods used in their work: the prospective method and the retrospective method. If we talk about the first option, you will be able to draw conclusions based on observation of a particular person or group of people. Everything will happen in real-time so that the results will be up-to-date.
Retrospective case studies use information from the subject’s past, such as diagnosis, to determine what factors throughout his or her life may have affected the subject’s health.
3. Collect information regarding the subject’s background
In principle, this paragraph should obtain basic and standard information about the research subject: age, gender, employment status, health status, family members, marital status, and more. Such data will be very useful in a detailed investigation.
4. Describe the subject’s symptoms or problems
Here you need to be careful to specify as many of the possible types of symptoms as possible: emotional, physical, or sensory symptoms. All of these can be very important in determining the outcome.
5. Analyze the data and establish a diagnosis
It is very important to analyze the data and make an accurate diagnosis properly. To explain your conclusions in case studies, be prepared to demonstrate all the data and information you collected initially. Also, don’t forget to base everything on the symptoms that the subject has.
6. Choose a treatment approach
As a result of any case study finding, you have to offer options for treatment, and sometimes it is even preferable to give examples. Many experts, based on their experience, highlight the following options: cognitive-behavioral approach, humanistic approach, psychoanalytic approach, and pharmacological approach. In this case, on the fact of the above conclusions, you can safely highlight the approach that you think is correct.
7. Describe treatment goals and processes
When you already know exactly what approach you’re going to use in treatment, then you need to highlight further the goals of treatment and the process itself, which will help you to achieve the necessary results. It is important to note that be prepared to write down every little detail for future work.
8. Write a discussion section
Finally, let’s delve deeper into writing the discussion section. Even more, this is the final part, where you can summarize everything, see the progress of your work and the results, and reveal whether you were able to realize the study’s goals.
Tips for writing a psychology case study
On a final note, it is necessary to mention a few simple but significant tips when writing a psychological case study:
- Under no circumstances should the real names of study participants be given. You should choose other pseudonyms not to reveal the subject’s identity (unless he himself wishes to do so).
- One must always go back to history. That is, you should base your work not only on the medical data of, for example, the person you are researching but also go back to previous papers that have been done before you.