📚 Case Study Practical Exercises | 案例分析实战演练
In WJEC A Level Psychology, the case study is a fundamental research method that Year 13 students must master both for designing investigations and for evaluating studies in topics such as clinical and criminal psychology. This article provides a structured, hands-on walkthrough of case study analysis, moving from understanding key features to tackling full exam-style questions. You will work through realistic scenarios, learn to critique methodology, and develop the critical vocabulary needed for top marks.
在 WJEC A Level 心理学中，案例研究是一种基本的研究方法，Year 13 学生必须掌握其设计与评估技巧，这一点在临床心理学和犯罪心理学等专题中尤为重要。本文提供结构化的案例研究实战演练，从理解关键特征一直到攻克完整的考试题型。你将通过真实情景进行练习，学会批判方法论，并掌握获得高分所需的关键词汇。
1. Understanding Case Studies in WJEC Psychology | 理解 WJEC 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 WJEC, it is typically associated with idiographic research that provides rich, qualitative data. The method is especially prominent in clinical psychology, where detailed accounts of a patient’s history are used to inform diagnosis and treatment, and in criminal psychology, where offender profiling often relies on intensive analysis of single cases.
案例研究是对单一个体、群体或事件的深入调查。在 WJEC 考试中，它通常与提供丰富质性资料的个案化研究相关联。该方法在临床心理学中尤为突出，其中对患者病史的详细描述可用于指导诊断和治疗；在犯罪心理学中，罪犯画像也常依赖于对单一案件的密集分析。
2. Key Features of a Case Study | 案例研究的关键特征
Case studies are characterised by a set of defining methodological features. The table below summarises those you must be able to identify and explain in an exam context.
案例研究具有一组明确的方法学特征。下表总结了你在考试中必须能够识别和解释的特征。
| Feature | 特征 |
|---|---|
| Single or small N design | 单一个体或小样本设计 |
| Longitudinal perspective (often retrospective) | 纵向视角（常为回顾性） |
| Multiple data sources (interviews, observations, psychometrics, archival records) | 多种数据来源（访谈、观察、心理测量、档案记录） |
| Produces mainly qualitative, thick descriptions | 主要产生质性“厚重描述” |
| High ecological validity in natural context | 在自然情境中具有高生态效度 |
| Researcher interpretation is central | 研究者的解释居于核心地位 |
These features make case studies uniquely suited to researching rare phenomena, such as unusual brain injuries or specific phobias, but they also introduce challenges of subjectivity and generalisability.
这些特征使得案例研究特别适合研究罕见现象，如不寻常的脑损伤或特定恐惧症，但同时也带来了主观性和可推广性方面的挑战。
3. Collecting Data in Case Studies | 案例研究中的数据收集
Researchers typically triangulate methods to strengthen the validity of their findings. You should be able to suggest appropriate data collection techniques when designing a case study or critiquing an existing one.
研究者通常会采用多元方法三角互证以增强研究结果的有效性。在设计案例研究或批判现有研究时，你应该能够提出合适的数据收集技术。
| Method | 方法 | Use in Case Studies | 在案例研究中的用途 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-structured interviews | 半结构化访谈 | Gather in-depth personal perspectives | 收集深入的个人观点 |
| Naturalistic observation | 自然观察 | Record behaviour in real-life settings | 在真实环境中记录行为 |
| Psychometric tests (e.g. BDI, SCID) | 心理测量测试（如贝克抑郁量表、定式临床检查） | Provide standardised, quantifiable data | 提供标准化、可量化的数据 |
| Diary method / self-report logs | 日记法/自我报告日志 | Capture daily fluctuations over time | 捕捉随时间变化的日常波动 |
| Archival and medical records | 档案和医疗记录 | Establish historical patterns and corroborate accounts | 建立历史模式并佐证陈述 |
The strength of a case study often lies in how well these methods are combined to build a coherent narrative of the individual’s experience.
案例研究的优势往往在于这些方法如何被巧妙地结合，从而构建出关于个体经历的连贯叙事。
4. Ethical Considerations | 伦理考量
Ethical issues are especially delicate in case studies because of the depth of personal information and the difficulty of ensuring true anonymity. When you evaluate or design a case study for WJEC, you must address the following guidelines.
由于涉及深度个人信息且难以确保真正的匿名性，案例研究中的伦理问题尤为棘手。当为 WJEC 评估或设计案例研究时，你必须提及以下准则。
Informed consent must be obtained from participants or their legal guardians. Because case studies often evolve over time, consent should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event.
必须获得参与者或其法定监护人的知情同意。由于案例研究通常会随时间发展，同意应被视为一个持续的过程，而非一次性事件。
Confidentiality and anonymity are critical. Researchers often use pseudonyms and change identifying details, but in highly detailed case studies, the risk of deductive disclosure remains high. This must be openly acknowledged.
保密和匿名至关重要。研究者通常使用化名并改变识别细节，但在高度详细的案例研究中，演绎性暴露的风险仍然很高。这一点必须被公开承认。
The right to withdraw and protection from psychological harm are also paramount. Regular debriefing sessions and access to support services should be built into the research design.
退出研究的权利和免于心理伤害的保护也至关重要。研究中应纳入定期的回访解说环节，并提供支持服务。
5. Analysing a Case Study: Step-by-Step | 分析案例：逐步指南
The following steps provide a systematic framework for analysing any case study you encounter in an exam. We will apply them to a fictitious clinical case: Sarah, a 17-year-old student diagnosed with social anxiety disorder.
以下步骤为分析考试中遇到的任何案例研究提供了一个系统性框架。我们将把它们应用到一个虚构的临床案例：Sarah，一名被诊断患有社交焦虑障碍的 17 岁学生。
Step 1: Describe the case succinctly. Outline the individual’s background, presenting problem, and any relevant history without introducing evaluation.
步骤 1：简要描述案例。 概述个体的背景、主诉问题以及任何相关历史，暂时不要引入评价。
Step 2: Identify the data collection methods used. In Sarah’s study, the researcher conducted three semi-structured interviews with Sarah and her parents, collected weekly self-report anxiety diaries over six months, and administered the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN).
步骤 2：识别所使用的数据收集方法。 在 Sarah 的研究中，研究者对 Sarah 及其父母进行了三次半结构化访谈，收集了为期六个月的每周自我报告焦虑日记，并施测了社交恐惧量表 (SPIN)。
Step 3: Evaluate each method’s strengths and weaknesses within this context. For example, interviews provided rich detail but may be influenced by social desirability; SPIN scores offered objective comparison with clinical cut-offs, yet a single questionnaire cannot capture the full complexity of her experience.
步骤 3：在该情境中评估每种方法的优势与弱点。 例如，访谈提供了丰富细节，但可能受到社会称许性的影响；SPIN 分数提供了与临床阈值的客观比较，然而单一问卷无法捕捉其经历的完整复杂性。
Step 4: Consider alternative explanations or confounding variables. Sarah’s anxiety might be maintained not only by conditioning but also by cognitive biases (e.g. catastrophising) or family dynamics. A good answer notes that case studies cannot establish cause and effect definitively.
步骤 4：考虑替代解释或混淆变量。 Sarah 的焦虑可能不仅由条件反射维持，还可能受到认知偏差（如灾难化思维）或家庭动力的维持。好的答案应指出，案例研究无法确定地证实因果关系。
Step 5: Suggest improvements. Adding a quantitative longitudinal measure, such as cortisol levels, could triangulate self-report data. Including a matched control participant would strengthen internal validity, though this begins to shift the design away from a pure case study.
步骤 5：提出改进建议。 增加纵向定量测量，例如皮质醇水平，可以与自我报告数据进行三角互证。引入一名匹配的对照参与者将增强内部效度，尽管这会使得设计稍稍偏离纯粹的案例研究。
6. Worked Example: Phobia Case Study | 案例分析实例：恐惧症案例
Now we combine the steps into a coherent written analysis of Sarah’s case, explicitly linking the methodology to WJEC assessment objectives.
现在我们将这些步骤整合为对 Sarah 案例的连贯书面分析，明确地将方法论与 WJEC 评估目标联系起来。
Sarah, a 17-year-old female, presented with a fear of public speaking and crowded places, experiencing panic attacks that started after a humiliating classroom presentation at age 14. The researcher used a mix of retrospective interviews, daily anxiety logs, and the SPIN questionnaire. One strength of this multi-method approach is that the logs revealed a clear spike in anxiety on school days compared to weekends, which supported the interview data. However, the reliance on retrospective accounts from Sarah and her parents introduces recall bias; the remembered intensity of the original humiliation may be exaggerated. Ethically, the researcher protected confidentiality by storing data under a code and ensured ongoing consent. Yet the constant focus on anxiety via daily diaries might have inadvertently sensitised Sarah to her symptoms, raising a concern about protection from harm. To strengthen the study, a clinician could independently rate Sarah’s behaviour in a simulated social situation, adding an observational measure. This might increase objectivity but raises practical and ethical issues of consent in a staged setting.
Sarah，一名 17 岁女性，表现出对公开演讲和拥挤场所的恐惧，其惊恐发作始于 14 岁时一次令人难堪的课堂展示。研究者综合使用了回顾性访谈、每日焦虑日志和 SPIN 问卷。这种多元方法的优点在于，日志显示 Sarah 在校日的焦虑明显高于周末，这支持了访谈数据。然而，依赖 Sarah 及其父母的回顾性叙述引入了回忆偏差；对最初羞辱事件的回忆强度可能被夸大。在伦理上，研究者通过代码存储数据来保护保密性，并确保了持续同意。但通过每日日记持续关注焦虑可能无意中使 Sarah 对自己的症状更加敏感，这引发了有关免受伤害保护的担忧。为强化研究，临床医生可在模拟社交情境中对 Sarah 的行为进行独立评分，这增加了观察性测量。这可能提升客观性，但在模拟情境中带来了知情同意的实际操作与伦理问题。
7. Evaluating Case Studies: Strengths and Weaknesses | 评估案例研究：优势与弱点
Evaluation is at the heart of every high-mark WJEC essay. Use this table to internalise the generic strengths and weaknesses, then always contextualise them to the specific case in your answer.
评价是 WJEC 高分论文的核心。使用下表内化通用的优势与弱点，然后始终在你的回答中将其与具体案例情境结合起来。
| Strength | 优势 | Weakness | 弱点 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provides rich, in-depth qualitative data that captures the complexity of human behaviour | 提供捕捉人类行为复杂性的丰富、深入的质性数据 | Low population validity – findings cannot be generalised to others | 较低的人口效度——结果无法推广到其他人 |
| High ecological validity because behaviour is studied in a real-life context | 高生态效度，因为行为是在真实生活情境中研究的 | Researcher bias – interpretation of data is subjective and may lack objectivity | 研究者偏见——对数据的解释是主观的，可能缺乏客观性 |
| Allows investigation of rare or unique phenomena (e.g. Genie, HM, Phineas Gage) | 允许研究罕见或独特现象（如 Genie、HM、Phineas Gage） | Difficult to replicate – intrinsic uniqueness limits reliability checks | 难以重复——内在的独特性限制了信度检验 |
| Can generate hypotheses for larger-scale, nomothetic research | 可以为更大规模的法则性研究生成假设 | Ethical issues of confidentiality and psychological harm are particularly acute | 保密和心理伤害的伦理问题尤为突出 |
8. Comparison with Other Research Methods | 与其他研究方法的比较
When answering broader methods questions, you must be able to contrast case studies with experiments, surveys, and observational designs. The table below highlights these differences for quick revision.
在回答更广泛的方法论问题时，你必须能够将案例研究与实验、调查和观察设计进行对比。下表突出显示了这些差异，便于快速复习。
| Aspect | 方面 | Case Study | Experiment | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | 焦点 | Idiographic, individual depth | Nomothetic, cause and effect | Nomothetic, large-scale trends |
| Data type | 数据类型 | Mainly qualitative, some quantitative | Quantitative (measured DV) | Quantitative, self-report |
| Control | 控制 | Low – natural setting | High – manipulated IV | Moderate – standardised questions |
| Generalisability | 可推广性 | Very limited | High if sample is representative | High with large, stratified samples |
9. Applying to Exam Questions | 应用于考试题目
WJEC typically frames case study questions in several distinct styles. Practise identifying which skill is being tested before you start writing.
WJEC 通常以几种不同的方式出案例研究题。在动笔之前，先练习识别题目在考察哪种技能。
Style 1: ‘Explain one strength of using a case study in this context.’ You must select a strength that directly applies to the provided scenario, not a generic one. For a question about a rare neurological patient, the ability to study uniqueness is the best fit.
风格 1：“解释在这种情境下使用案例研究的一个优势。” 你必须选择一个直接适用于所提供的具体情景的优势，而非通用优势。对于关于稀有神经疾病患者的问题，研究独特性的能力是最合适的选择。
Style 2: ‘Design a case study to investigate a phobia.’ Outline the participant, data collection methods, ethical safeguards, and a brief analysis plan. Be specific: name the psychometric scales, propose a structure for the interview, and justify your choices.
风格 2：“设计一项案例研究来调查恐惧症。” 概述参与者、数据收集方法、伦理保障措施以及简要的分析计划。要具体：说出心理测量量表的名称，提出访谈的结构，并论证你的选择。
Style 3: ‘Evaluate the use of case studies in clinical psychology.’ This requires a balanced discussion of strengths and weaknesses, supported by examples from known case studies (e.g. Little Hans, David Reimer, or HM). Always link back to the clinical context.
风格 3：“评价案例研究在临床心理学中的使用。” 这需要平衡讨论优势与弱点，并引用已知案例研究（如小汉斯、大卫·莱默或 HM）作为例证。始终要回链到临床情境。
10. Practice Case Study: Criminal Behaviour | 练习案例：犯罪行为
Let us now apply the analytical framework to a different domain: criminal psychology. Consider the fictitious case of John, a 22-year-old convicted of theft. A forensic psychologist conducted a case study aiming to understand the pathway to his offending behaviour. The study used in-depth interviews with John, analysis of school reports, and the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R).
现在让我们将分析框架应用于一个不同的领域：犯罪心理学。考虑虚构案例 John，一名 22 岁的盗窃犯。一位司法心理学家进行了一项案例研究，旨在理解其犯罪行为的路径。该研究使用了与 John 的深入访谈、学校报告分析以及修订版精神病态核查表 (PCL-R)。
Your task: Identify one strength of this triangulation. Explain why reliance on retrospective interviews might reduce validity. Suggest one additional data source that could strengthen the case study and justify your choice.
你的任务： 指出这种三角互证的一个优势。解释为什么依赖回顾性访谈可能降低效度。建议一个可以增强案例研究的额外数据来源并论证你的选择。
Model analysis: Triangulating interviews with school records provides a means of verifying John’s self-reported history, reducing the reliance on memory. However, retrospective interviews remain limited because John may reconstruct past events in a self-serving way to rationalise his crimes. Adding a collateral interview with a probation officer could provide an external, professional perspective on John’s behaviour over time, contributing to a more objective picture.
模型分析： 将访谈与学校记录进行三角互证提供了一种核实 John 自我报告史的方式，减少了记忆依赖。然而，回顾性访谈仍有局限，因为 John 可能以自我服务的方式重构过去事件，以合理化其犯罪行为。增加与缓刑官的间接访谈可以提供关于 John 长期行为的外部专业视角，有助于构建更客观的图景。
11. Writing a Perfect Case Study Answer | 撰写完美案例研究答案
Structure is vital. For a 10- or 12-mark evaluation question, use the following paragraph model to ensure you meet all assessment objectives.
结构至关重要。对于 10 分或 12 分的评价题，使用以下段落模型以确保满足所有评估目标。
| Paragraph | 段落 | Content Focus | 内容重点 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Point + Strength | 观点 + 优势 | Identify a clear strength, explain it, and apply to the given context. | 指出一个明确的优势，加以解释，并应用到给定情境。 |
| 2. Critically discuss the strength | 批判性讨论该优势 | A
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