📚 Year 7 WJEC Psychology: Case Study Practical Drills | Year 7 WJEC 心理学：案例分析实战演练
A case study is one of the most exciting ways we explore human behaviour in psychology. Instead of testing hundreds of people, we dive deep into the life of one person, one small group, or a single event. This booklet will take you step by step through what a case study is, how psychologists use it, and how you can analyse case studies just like a real researcher. Get ready to put your detective hat on!
案例研究是心理学中探索人类行为最激动人心的方式之一。我们不是对成百上千人进行测试，而是深入探究一个人、一个小群体或一个单独的事件。这本小册子将带你一步步了解什么是案例研究、心理学家如何使用它，以及如何像真正的研究者那样分析案例研究。准备好戴上你的侦探帽吧！
1. What Is a Case Study? | 什么是案例研究？
A case study is an in-depth investigation of a single person, group, or event. Psychologists gather detailed information using interviews, observations, questionnaires, and sometimes psychological tests. The aim is to build a rich picture of that individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. It’s like writing a biography that also tries to explain ‘why’ things happen.
案例研究是对单个人、群体或事件的深入调查。心理学家通过访谈、观察、问卷调查，有时还有心理测验，来收集详细信息。其目的是描绘出那个人的思想、情感和行为的丰富图景。这就像写一本传记，同时试图解释事情“为什么”会发生。
Unlike large surveys that give us numbers from many people, a case study focuses on quality over quantity. This makes it a qualitative research method, though researchers often collect some quantitative data too. In Year 7 WJEC Psychology, you will learn to identify the difference between these types of data and why both can be useful.
与从许多人那里获得数字的大规模调查不同，案例研究更注重质量而非数量。这使它成为一种定性研究方法，尽管研究者通常也会收集一些定量数据。在Year 7 WJEC心理学中，你将学习区分这些数据类型，并理解为什么两者都有用。
2. Key Features of a Case Study | 案例研究的关键特征
Every good case study has a few common ingredients. First, it is holistic – it looks at the whole person, not just one tiny aspect. Second, it is longitudinal in many cases, meaning it takes place over a long period of time to track changes. Third, it uses multiple sources of evidence to cross-check facts.
每个好的案例研究都有几个共同的要素。首先，它是整体的——它着眼于完整的人，而不只是一个微小的方面。其次，许多案例研究是纵向的，这意味着它会持续较长时间以追踪变化。第三，它使用多种证据来源来交叉检验事实。
Another key feature is that case studies often focus on unusual or rare situations. For instance, a psychologist might study someone with an extraordinary memory or a child who was brought up in isolation. These unique cases can reveal things about how the brain works that we could never discover through ordinary experiments.
另一个关键特征是，案例研究通常关注不寻常或罕见的情况。例如，心理学家可能会研究某个拥有非凡记忆力的人，或一个在孤立环境中长大的孩子。这些独特的案例能揭示大脑运作的方式，而普通实验可能永远无法发现这些。
3. Types of Data in Case Studies | 案例研究中的数据类型
Psychologists gather two main types of data. Qualitative data is descriptive – words, diaries, pictures, and interview transcripts. It tells us about feelings, opinions, and personal experiences. Quantitative data is numerical – test scores, reaction times, and frequency counts. Both types appear in most case studies.
心理学家收集两种主要的数据类型。定性数据是描述性的——文字、日记、图片和访谈记录。它告诉我们感受、观点和个人经历。定量数据是数字性的——测验分数、反应时间和频率计数。这两种类型出现在大多数案例研究中。
For example, a psychologist studying a pupil with school anxiety might record the number of times the pupil refuses to go to school (quantitative) and also transcribe what the pupil says about their fears during an interview (qualitative). Mixing data types gives a fuller picture – a technique called triangulation.
例如，研究一名有学校焦虑症学生的心理学家，可能会记录该学生拒绝上学的次数（定量），同时也会转录学生在访谈中对自己恐惧的描述（定性）。混合数据类型能提供更全面的图景——这种技术被称为三角测量法。
4. Famous Example: The Case of Genie | 著名案例：吉妮案例
Genie is one of the most famous case studies in psychology. She was discovered in 1970 in California at the age of 13, having been kept in severe isolation and abuse by her father. Because she had almost no human contact during her childhood, she had not learned to speak or behave socially.
吉妮是心理学中最著名的案例研究之一。她于1970年在加利福尼亚被发现，时年13岁，之前一直被父亲极度隔离和虐待。由于童年时期几乎没有与人接触，她没有学会说话或进行社交行为。
Researchers worked intensively with Genie for years, trying to teach her language and social skills. The case raised huge ethical questions, but it also provided unique insights into the critical period hypothesis – the idea that there is a limited window in childhood for acquiring language. Genie’s story shows both the power and the limits of case study research.
研究者们对吉妮进行了多年的集中训练，试图教她语言和社交技能。这个案例引发了巨大的伦理问题，但也为关键期假说提供了独特的洞见——即童年时期存在一个习得语言的有限窗口。吉妮的故事展示了案例研究的力量和局限性。
5. Steps for Analysing a Case Study | 分析案例研究的步骤
When you are given a case study in class or in an exam, follow these four clear steps. Step 1: Read the case carefully and underline key facts about the person’s background and behaviour. Step 2: Identify the type of data presented – are there interviews, test scores, or observation notes?
当你在课堂或考试中拿到一个案例研究时，请遵循以下四个清晰的步骤。第一步：仔细阅读案例，并在关于个人背景和行为的关键事实下划线。第二步：识别所呈现的数据类型——有访谈、测验分数还是观察笔记？
Step 3: Look for patterns or unusual details. What might explain the behaviour? Could it be related to learning, biology, or social influences? Step 4: Write a short evaluation – mention one strength and one limitation of the case study method based on the example. This structured approach will help you gain full marks on WJEC-style questions.
第三步：寻找模式或异常细节。什么能解释这种行为？它可能与学习、生物因素还是社会影响有关？第四步：写一个简短的评估——基于该例子，说明案例研究方法的一个优点和一个局限性。这种结构化的方法将帮助你在WJEC风格的题目上获得满分。
6. Practice Drill 1: Alex and the Lost Keys | 实战演练1：亚历克斯和丢失的钥匙
Read the case summary below. Alex is an 11-year-old boy who constantly forgets where he puts his belongings. His parents report that he loses his house keys at least three times a week. A school observation note says: ‘Alex appears easily distracted by noises; he often stares out of the window during lessons.’ A cognitive test shows his memory for word lists is average, but his score for ‘prospective memory’ (remembering to do things in the future) is below the 10th percentile.
请阅读下面的案例摘要。亚历克斯是一个11岁的男孩，他总是忘记自己把东西放在哪里。他的父母报告说，他每周至少丢三次家门钥匙。一份学校观察笔记写道：“亚历克斯似乎容易被噪音分散注意力；上课时他经常望着窗外发呆。”一项认知测试显示，他对单词表的记忆处于平均水平，但他的“前瞻性记忆”（记住将来要做的事）得分低于第10个百分位。
Now, apply the analysis steps. Key facts: frequent losing of items, attention difficulties, low prospective memory. Type of data: qualitative (parent report, observation note) and quantitative (memory test percentiles). Pattern: there may be an attention deficit linked to executive functions. Evaluation: the case gives rich detail but cannot be generalised to all forgetful children. This is exactly how you should break down a real exam-style case.
现在，应用分析步骤。关键事实：频繁丢失物品、注意力困难、前瞻性记忆力低。数据类型：定性（家长报告、观察笔记）和定量（记忆测试百分位数）。模式：可能存在与执行功能相关的注意力缺陷。评估：该案例提供了丰富的细节，但不能推广到所有健忘的儿童。这正是你应该如何拆解一个真实考试风格案例的方式。
7. Practice Drill 2: Sara’s Social Anxiety | 实战演练2：萨拉的社交焦虑
Sara is 12. Her teacher describes her as ‘bright but extremely quiet’. In class, she never volunteers answers, and during group work she whispers or remains silent. A school counsellor’s interview transcript reveals Sara saying, ‘I feel like everyone is staring at me and judging me.’ A frequency chart from the counsellor shows Sara avoided speaking in 9 out of 10 observed group sessions over a month.
萨拉12岁。她的老师形容她“聪明但极其安静”。在课堂上，她从不主动回答问题，在小组活动中她会低声耳语或保持沉默。学校辅导员的访谈记录显示萨拉说：“我感觉每个人都在盯着我看，评判我。”辅导员的一份频率图表显示，在一个月内被观察的10次小组活动中，萨拉有9次避免发言。
Identify one qualitative and one quantitative piece of evidence. Qualitative: the interview quote about feeling judged. Quantitative: the 9 out of 10 avoidance score. What might a psychologist conclude? Possibly social anxiety disorder, but a case study alone is not enough for a diagnosis – it would need further assessment. This drill helps you separate evidence types clearly.
分别找出一个定性和一个定量证据。定性证据：关于感觉被评判的访谈引言。定量证据：10次中有9次回避的分数。心理学家可能会得出什么结论？可能是社交焦虑障碍，但仅凭一个案例研究不足以做出诊断——还需要进一步的评估。这个演练帮助你清晰地分离证据类型。
8. Strengths of Case Studies | 案例研究的优点
Case studies offer rich, detailed insights that other methods simply cannot capture. They allow us to study rare phenomena, which would be unethical or impossible to create in a lab. For example, we cannot deliberately isolate a child to see what happens, so cases like Genie’s become invaluable for understanding development.
案例研究提供了其他方法无法捕捉的丰富、详细的洞见。它们使我们能够研究罕见的现象，而这些现象在实验室中创造是不道德或不可能的。例如，我们不能故意隔离一个孩子来看会发生什么，因此像吉妮这样的案例对于理解发展问题变得无比珍贵。
Moreover, case studies often generate new hypotheses. A single puzzling case can lead to large-scale research and eventually to new therapies. They are also highly valid in terms of real-life relevance because they study real people in real settings, not artificial lab conditions.
此外，案例研究常常产生新的假设。一个令人困惑的单一案例可以引向大规模研究，并最终带来新疗法。它们在现实生活相关性方面也有很高的效度，因为它们研究的是真实环境中真实的人，而不是人工的实验室条件。
9. Limitations of Case Studies | 案例研究的局限性
The biggest drawback of a case study is that findings cannot be generalised. One person’s experience might be completely unique and not true for others. For instance, the memory problems of Alex (from our drill) may stem from a very specific brain difference, so we cannot claim all forgetful children have the same issue.
案例研究最大的缺点是研究结果无法推广。一个人的经历可能完全是独特的，对其他人并不适用。例如，（来自我们演练的）亚历克斯的记忆问题可能源于一种非常特定的大脑差异，因此我们不能断言所有健忘的儿童都有同样的问题。
Subjectivity is another concern. Researchers may become too involved with the participant and lose their objectivity. If a psychologist spends months working with Sara, they might interpret her silence in a biased way. Finally, case studies often rely on memory and self-report, which can be inaccurate.
主观性是另一个问题。研究者可能会与参与者过于亲近而失去客观性。如果一个心理学家花了几个月时间与萨拉一起工作，他们可能会以有偏见的方式解释她的沉默。最后，案例研究通常依赖记忆和自我报告，而这些可能并不准确。
10. Ethical Considerations | 伦理考量
When psychologists conduct case studies, they must follow strict ethical guidelines. Informed consent is crucial – the participant (and their parents if under 16) must understand what the research involves. Confidentiality must be protected; in your textbooks, names like ‘Genie’ are pseudonyms, not real names, to hide identity.
在心理学家进行案例研究时，他们必须遵循严格的伦理准则。知情同意至关重要——参与者（以及未满16岁的参与者的父母）必须了解研究涉及的内容。必须保护隐私；在教科书里，“吉妮”之类的名字是化名，并非真名，以隐藏身份。
Researchers also have a duty to avoid harm. In the Genie case, many critics argued that the intense testing and filming caused further distress. A modern case study would have a clear plan for the participant’s wellbeing and the right to withdraw at any time. Ethical thinking is a key skill assessed by WJEC.
研究者还有责任避免伤害。在吉妮案例中，许多批评者认为，密集的测试和拍摄造成了进一步的痛苦。现代案例研究会有一个明确的参与者福祉计划，以及随时退出的权利。伦理思考是WJEC评估的一项关键技能。
11. How to Answer Exam-Style Questions | 如何回答考试风格的问题
WJEC exam papers often ask you to ‘describe one strength of using a case study’ or ‘explain why a case study was suitable for this research’. Your answer should always start by linking back to the specific case given. For example: ‘A strength of the case study method in Alex’s situation is that it provides detailed qualitative data about his daily forgetting patterns, which would be missed by a simple questionnaire.’
WJEC试卷经常要求你“描述使用案例研究的一个优点”或“解释为什么案例研究适合这项研究”。你的回答应始终从联系所给的具体案例开始。例如：“在亚历克斯的情况中，案例研究方法的一个优点是它提供了关于他日常遗忘模式的详细定性数据，而简单的问卷可能会遗漏这些数据。”
If a question says ‘using the source’, you must quote or closely paraphrase evidence. Use the PEEL structure: Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link. This shows you can apply psychological knowledge to real scenarios, which is exactly what Year 7 WJEC Psychology expects. Practice writing short paragraphs for the drills in this booklet.
如果题目说“使用资料”，你必须引用或紧密转述证据。使用PEEL结构：观点、证据、解释、联系。这表明你能将心理学知识应用到真实情境中，这正是Year 7 WJEC心理学所期望的。练习为本小册子中的演练写一些简短段落。
12. Summary and Key Takeaways | 总结与关键要点
A case study is a deep, detailed investigation of one person or a small group. It blends qualitative and quantitative data to give a complete picture. While case studies cannot be used to generalise, they are brilliant for exploring rare behaviours and generating new research ideas. The skills you practised today – identifying data types, spotting patterns, and evaluating strengths and weaknesses – form the core of psychological analysis.
案例研究是对一个人或小群体进行的深入、详细的调查。它融合了定性和定量数据来给出完整图景。虽然案例研究不能用于推广，但它们在探索罕见行为和产生新研究思路方面非常出色。你今天练习的技能——识别数据类型、发现模式以及评估优点和弱点——构成了心理学分析的核心。
Always remember to stay ethical and critical. Ask yourself: could there be another explanation? Is the evidence strong enough? That detective mindset will serve you brilliantly throughout your WJEC Psychology journey. Good luck, young psychologist!
永远记住要保持伦理和批判性。问问自己：是否还有其他解释？证据是否足够有力？这种侦探思维将在你整个WJEC心理学之旅中为你提供出色的帮助。祝你好运，年轻的心理学人！
Published by TutorHao | Psychology Revision Series | aleveler.com
更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）
屏轩国际教育cambridge primary/secondary checkpoint, cat4, ukiset,ukcat,igcse,alevel,PAT,STEP,MAT, ibdp,ap,ssat,sat,sat2课程辅导，国外大学本科硕士研究生博士课程论文辅导