Case Study

The simplest form of outcome evaluation is the case study, a detailed description of a patient (or small group of patients) and the course of treatment, typically accompanied by quantitative or qualitative measures of outcome. Although no single definition of the case study exists, case study research is prominent in many professions, including psychology, anthropology, sociology, and social work. Case studies in psychology involve using a descriptive research approach to obtain an in-depth analysis of a person, group, or phenomenon. A variety of techniques may be employed that include personal interviews, direct behavioral observation, psychometric tests, and archival records. Although case studies do not include experimental controls that allow conclusions about the cause of patient improvement over time, a series of case studies is often ...