Author Question: You are the instructor teaching this chapter to an undergraduate abnormal psychology class. Explain ... (Read 153 times)

jessicacav · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

You are the instructor teaching this chapter to an undergraduate abnormal psychology class. Explain the nature of case studies, as well as their benefits and drawbacks, from an empirical perspective.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Lois, a resident at a group home for people with schizophrenia, refuses to eat food or take her medications because she believes the staff is poisoning her. What type of delusions is Lois experiencing?

A) Influence
B) Self-significance
C) Persecution or paranoid
D) Somatic

dantucker · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Case studies provide detailed narratives of abnormal behavior and/or its treatment. Although they may include some quantitative aspects, they do not allow us to draw causal inferences. They permit the examination of rare phenomena when group-based research would be nearly impossible, and they may shed light on hypotheses for future research; clinical observations may lead to the development of testable theories and/or treatments. Case studies may illustrate important clinical issues that are not readily seen in group-based reports. Limitations also exist, since the amount and type of data included in these studies may prohibit cross-study comparisons. Although they may allow us to generate potential hypotheses, they do not allow us to draw conclusions about causes.

Answer to Question 2

C