Year 7 SQA Psychology: Case Study Practical Exercises | 案例分析实战演练

📚 Year 7 SQA Psychology: Case Study Practical Exercises | 案例分析实战演练

Welcome to your practical guide to case studies in psychology. In this article, you will learn what a psychological case study is, why it matters, and how to analyse one step by step. We will work through real examples and common mistakes, helping you build confidence for your SQA assessments. Whether you are new to the topic or revising for a test, these exercises will turn you into a smarter thinker about human behaviour.

欢迎来到心理学案例研究实战指南。本文将带你了解什么是心理学案例研究、它为何重要，以及如何一步步展开分析。我们会通过真实案例和常见错误进行演练，帮助你在SQA评估中建立信心。无论你是刚接触这个主题还是正在复习备考，这些练习都会让你更聪明地思考人类行为。

1. What Is a Case Study in Psychology? | 什么是心理学中的案例研究？

A case study is an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, or event. In psychology, researchers use case studies to explore rare or unusual phenomena that cannot be replicated in a laboratory. The aim is to gather rich, detailed information through interviews, observations, and records, then build a full picture of the person or situation.

案例研究是对单个个体、群体或事件的深入调查。在心理学中，研究者使用案例研究来探索那些无法在实验室中复制的罕见或异常现象，目的是通过访谈、观察和档案记录收集丰富详尽的信息，从而构建出对这个人或情境的完整画像。

For example, studying a child with an extraordinary memory gives us clues about how memory works in all of us. Sigmund Freud’s case of ‘Little Hans’ and the famous patient ‘H.M.’ are classic examples that have shaped modern psychology.

例如，研究一个拥有非凡记忆力的孩子能让我们了解所有人的记忆机制。西格蒙德·弗洛伊德的“小汉斯”案例和著名患者“H.M.”都是塑造现代心理学的经典案例。

2. Why Are Case Studies Important? | 为什么案例研究很重要？

Case studies allow psychologists to investigate situations that would be unethical or impossible to create experimentally. They provide detailed qualitative data, which reveals the complexity of real human experience. This richness often leads to new hypotheses and deeper understanding.

案例研究让心理学家能够探究那些在伦理上无法或不可能通过实验创造的情况。它们提供详细的定性数据，揭示了真实人类体验的复杂性。这种丰富信息往往会催生新的假设和更深入的理解。

Moreover, case studies can challenge existing theories. If one unusual case contradicts a widely accepted theory, scientists must rethink their ideas. For instance, the case of ‘Genie’ showed how critical early language exposure is, reshaping theories about language development.

此外，案例研究可以挑战现有理论。如果一个异常案例与广泛接受的理论相矛盾，科学家就必须重新思考他们的观点。例如，“吉妮”的案例显示了早期语言接触有多么关键，从而重塑了关于语言发展的理论。

3. Key Features of a Good Case Study | 优质案例研究的关键特征

A strong case study is characterised by several features: it is longitudinal (follows the subject over time), uses multiple data sources (e.g. interviews, diaries, medical records), and provides rich, detailed descriptions. It should also clearly state the background of the individual or group being studied.

一个强有力的案例研究具备几个特征：它是纵向的（跟踪被试一段时间），使用多种数据来源（如访谈、日记、医疗记录），并提供丰富详细的描述。它还应该清楚说明被研究个体或群体的背景。

To make a case study reliable, researchers often use triangulation – comparing data from different sources to check for consistency. For example, a child’s reported anxiety might be confirmed by parent interviews, school reports, and direct observation.

为了让案例研究可靠，研究者通常采用三角验证法——比较不同来源的数据以检查一致性。例如，一个孩子报告的焦虑可能通过家长访谈、学校报告和直接观察得到证实。

Longitudinal tracking | 纵向跟踪
Multiple data sources | 多种数据来源
Detailed description | 详细描述
Clear background context | 清晰的背景信息

4. Steps in Conducting a Case Study | 进行案例研究的步骤

While each case study is unique, there is a general process that psychologists follow. These steps help maintain rigour and ethical standards.

虽然每个案例研究都是独特的，但心理学家普遍遵循一个大致流程。这些步骤有助于保持严谨和伦理标准。

Step 1: Identify a research question and the case. For example, ‘How does brain injury affect memory?’ might lead to selecting a patient with amnesia.

步骤1：确定研究问题和案例。例如，“脑损伤如何影响记忆？”可能会引导你选择一名失忆症患者。

Step 2: Collect background information through records, interviews, and questionnaires. This gives context to the behaviour being studied.

步骤2：通过记录、访谈和问卷收集背景信息。这为所研究的行为提供了背景。

Step 3: Gather data over time using observations, tests, and sometimes brain scans. The aim is to capture changes and patterns.

步骤3：使用观察、测试甚至脑部扫描，随着时间推移收集数据。目的是捕捉变化和模式。

Step 4: Analyse the data for themes and links to existing theories. The psychologist looks for explanations that fit the evidence.

步骤4：分析数据中的主题以及与现有理论的联系。心理学家寻找符合证据的解释。

Step 5: Write up the case study, being careful to protect the participant’s identity and maintain confidentiality.

步骤5：撰写案例研究报告，注意保护参与者身份并维持保密性。

5. How to Analyse a Case Study: The ABC Framework | 如何分析案例研究：ABC分析框架

When you are given a case study in an exam or assignment, you can use a simple framework: Antecedents (what happened before the behaviour), Behaviour (what the person did or felt), Consequences (what happened afterwards). This ABC model helps break down complex stories into understandable parts.

当你在考试或作业中拿到一个案例研究时，可以使用一个简单框架：Antecedent（行为前发生了什么）、Behaviour（这个人做了什么或感受到了什么）、Consequence（之后发生了什么）。这个ABC模型有助于将复杂的故事分解成易于理解的部分。

For example, if a teenager becomes aggressive after watching violent videos, the antecedent is watching the video, the behaviour is aggression, and the consequence might be getting into trouble at school. You can then discuss possible psychological explanations, such as social learning theory.

例如，如果一个青少年在观看暴力视频后变得有攻击性，前因是观看视频，行为是攻击性，后果可能是在学校惹上麻烦。然后你可以讨论可能的心理学解释，比如社会学习理论。

In SQA tasks, always link your analysis back to psychological knowledge: does the behaviour support a theory? Could there be other factors at play, like family environment or brain chemistry?

在SQA任务中，始终将你的分析与心理学知识联系起来：这种行为是否支持某个理论？是否可能存在其他因素，比如家庭环境或大脑化学物质？

6. Ethical Considerations in Case Studies | 案例研究中的伦理考量

Because case studies involve real people, ethical issues are paramount. The most important rule is confidentiality: the participant’s real name is never used. In famous cases, pseudonyms like ‘H.M.’ or ‘Genie’ were created to protect identity.

由于案例研究涉及真实的人，伦理问题至关重要。最重要的规则是保密性：绝不使用参与者的真实姓名。在著名案例中，使用“H.M.”或“吉妮”这样的化名来保护身份。

Informed consent is also crucial. The participant (or their guardian) must understand what the study involves and agree to take part. However, in classic older studies, consent was not always properly obtained, which is why we discuss them critically today.

知情同意也至关重要。参与者（或其监护人）必须理解研究涉及的内容并同意参与。然而，在早期的经典研究中，并非总是恰当地获得了同意，这就是我们今天要批判性地讨论它们的原因。

Researchers must also protect participants from psychological harm. If revisiting sensitive memories might cause distress, support such as counselling must be offered. In Year 7 psychology, you should always point out whether a case study met ethical standards and what could have been done better.

研究者还必须保护参与者免受心理伤害。如果回顾敏感记忆可能引起困扰，必须提供咨询等支持。在七年级心理学中，你应该始终指出某个案例研究是否符合伦理标准，以及可以如何改进。

7. Practice Example 1: Little Hans (Freud, 1909) | 实战案例一：小汉斯（弗洛伊德，1909年）

Little Hans was a 5-year-old boy who developed a phobia of horses. Freud used his father’s reports to interpret the phobia as a manifestation of the Oedipus complex – the unconscious desire for his mother and rivalry with his father. According to Freud, the horse represented his father, and the fear was displaced anxiety.

小汉斯是一个5岁的男孩，他患上了对马的恐惧症。弗洛伊德利用他父亲的报告，将这种恐惧症解释为俄狄浦斯情结的表现——对母亲的无意识渴望和对父亲的竞争。根据弗洛伊德的说法，马代表了他的父亲，恐惧是转移了的焦虑。

How to analyse this case: First, identify the behaviour (phobia of horses). Antecedents: Hans saw a horse fall down, and he had been fascinated by his own ‘widdler’ (penis). Consequences: he avoided streets with horses. Using psychodynamic theory, you could argue the case supports the idea of unconscious conflicts. However, you should also criticise it: the data came from Hans’s father, who was a supporter of Freud, so it may be biased. The interpretation is subjective and impossible to test scientifically.

如何分析这个案例：首先，识别行为（对马的恐惧）。前因：汉斯看到一匹马摔倒，他对自己的“小鸡鸡”（阴茎）着迷。后果：他避开有马的街道。运用心理动力学理论，你可以说这个案例支持无意识冲突的观点。然而，你也应该进行批判：数据来自汉斯的父亲，他是弗洛伊德的支持者，因此可能存在偏差。这种解释是主观的，无法进行科学检验。

8. Practice Example 2: Genie the Wild Child (Curtiss, 1977) | 实战案例二：野孩子吉妮（柯蒂斯，1977年）

Genie was discovered at age 13 after having been locked in a room and isolated from language for most of her childhood. Psychologists studied her to test the critical period hypothesis – the idea that there is a window of time during which language must be acquired. Despite intensive training, Genie never fully mastered grammar, providing some support for the hypothesis.

吉妮在13岁时被发现，此前她童年的大部分时间被锁在房间里，与语言隔绝。心理学家研究她以检验关键期假说——即存在一个必须在此期间习得语言的时间窗口。尽管接受了强化训练，吉妮从未完全掌握语法，这为这一假说提供了一些支持。

Analysis tips: The behaviour is her impaired language development. Antecedents: extreme social deprivation. Consequences: she learned words but not sentence structure. You can link this to Bowlby’s attachment theory and Lenneberg’s critical period. However, ethical issues were severe: researchers may have prioritised competition over Genie’s wellbeing, and she was moved between homes, causing further trauma. A good answer would highlight these ethical failures and the limitations of a single case study.

分析提示：行为是她受损的语言发展。前因：极端的社会剥夺。后果：她学会了词汇但学不会句子结构。你可以联系鲍尔比的依恋理论和伦内伯格的关键期。然而，伦理问题非常严重：研究者可能将研究竞争置于吉妮的福祉之上，而且她在多个家庭之间辗转，造成了进一步创伤。一个好的回答应指出这些伦理失败以及单一案例研究的局限性。

9. Practice Example 3: H.M. and Memory (Scoville & Milner, 1957) | 实战案例三：H.M.与记忆（斯科维尔和米尔纳，1957年）

Henry Molaison, known as H.M., had surgery to remove parts of his brain (the hippocampus) to treat severe epilepsy. After the operation, he was unable to form new long-term personal memories (anterograde amnesia), though his short-term memory and intelligence remained intact. This case revolutionised the understanding of memory systems.

亨利·莫莱森，人称H.M.，接受了切除部分大脑（海马体）的手术以治疗严重癫痫。手术后，他无法形成新的长期个人记忆（顺行性遗忘症），但他的短期记忆和智力保持完好。这一案例彻底改变了人们对记忆系统的理解。

How to analyse: The behaviour is memory loss for events after surgery. Antecedent: removal of the hippocampus. Consequence: he could learn new motor skills (like drawing a star) without remembering the practice sessions. This led to the distinction between declarative memory (facts) and procedural memory (skills). H.M. provided strong evidence that different types of memory rely on different brain structures. As always, discuss the fact that it is a single case, so generalisation is limited, but the findings were hugely influential.

如何分析：行为是手术后对新事件记忆的丧失。前因：切除海马体。后果：他可以学习新的运动技能（如画星星）却不记得练习过程。这导致了陈述性记忆（事实）和程序性记忆（技能）的区分。H.M.提供了强有力的证据，表明不同类型的记忆依赖于不同的大脑结构。与往常一样，请讨论这只是单一案例，因此概括性有限，但这些发现影响力巨大。

10. Common Mistakes in Case Study Analysis | 案例研究分析中的常见错误

One common mistake is confusing a case study with an experiment. A case study does not manipulate variables; it describes and interprets. Another error is failing to mention the lack of generalisability – a case study tells us about one person, not all people.

一个常见错误是将案例研究与实验混淆。案例研究并不操纵变量；它是描述和解释。另一个错误是未能提及缺乏普遍性——案例研究告诉我们的是关于一个人的情况，而不是所有人。

Students also sometimes forget to evaluate ethics. Always ask: was consent obtained? Was confidentiality maintained? Could the study cause harm? Finally, some pupils simply retell the story without linking it to psychology. The mark scheme always rewards application of theories and critical thinking.

学生们有时也会忘记评估伦理。始终要问：是否获得了知情同意？是否保守了机密？研究会不会造成伤害？最后，有些学生只是复述故事，而没有与心理学联系起来。评分标准始终奖励理论运用和批判性思维。

Mistake \| 错误	How to avoid it \| 如何避免
Treating it like an experiment	Focus on description and interpretation, not cause-effect manipulation.
Ignoring generalisability issues	Acknowledge that findings may not apply to others.
Forgetting ethics	Always discuss confidentiality, consent, and potential harm.
No psychological theory	Link each observation to a concept, e.g. memory stores or defence mechanisms.

11. How to Write Up a Case Study Report | 如何撰写案例研究报告

A good case study report has a clear structure. Start with an introduction that explains why the case is interesting and what question you are exploring. Then present the background of the individual or group, followed by the method of data collection. Describe your findings in detail, and most importantly, provide a discussion that connects findings to psychological theory.

一个好的案例研究报告结构清晰。首先用引言解释这个案例为什么有趣以及你在探索什么问题。然后介绍个体或群体的背景，接着是数据收集方法。详细描述你的发现，最重要的是，提供一个将发现与心理学理论联系起来的讨论。

In your conclusion, summarise the main insight and mention limitations. Always include a section on ethics. In SQA examinations, even a short response should demonstrate this flow: description, application, evaluation. Use phrases like ‘This suggests that…’ or ‘One limitation is…’ to show you are thinking critically.

在结论中，总结主要见解并提及局限性。始终包含一个关于伦理的小节。在SQA考试中，即使是一个简短的回答也应该体现这个流程：描述、应用、评价。使用诸如“这表明……”或“一个局限性是……”这样的表述来表明你在批判性地思考。

12. Summary and Key Takeaways | 总结与要点

Case studies are a powerful tool in psychology that allow us to dive deep into an individual’s life and uncover truths about the human mind. They are especially useful when experiments are not possible. However, they come with weaknesses: they rely heavily on the researcher’s interpretation, findings cannot be generalised, and ethical pitfalls must be carefully managed.

案例研究是心理学中一种强大的工具，它让我们能够深入个体的生活，揭示人类心灵的真相。在不可能进行实验时，它们尤其有用。然而，它们也存在弱点：它们高度依赖研究者的解释，研究结果不能泛化，伦理陷阱必须小心处理。

As you prepare for your SQA assessment, remember to practise with the ABC framework, always link behaviour to theory, and never miss the chance to discuss ethics and limitations. With these skills, you will be able to tackle any case study confidently and earn top marks.

在你准备SQA评估时，记住要用ABC框架进行练习，始终将行为与理论联系起来，并且绝不要错过讨论伦理和局限性的机会。有了这些技能，你就能自信地应对任何案例研究，并获得高分。

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Year 7 SQA Psychology: Case Study Practical Exercises | 案例分析实战演练