Describe how the case study method differs from other research methods, using any examples.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Case studies typically focus on a single individual or a small group, unlike other methods which often use larger groups of participants (difference).
2. [1] For example, Pepperberg's study focused on one parrot, whereas Yamamoto et al. used several chimps (example).
3. [1] Unlike experiments, correlations, or self-reports that gather quantitative data, case studies predominantly collect qualitative data (difference).
4. [1] For instance, Canli et al. collected numerical data from brain scans, while Savaadra and Silverman collected rich descriptions of a boy's experiences (example).
5. [1] Experiments aim for generalisations, but case studies delve into the unique aspects of an individual (difference).
6. [1] For example, a case study might explore why one chimp's helping patterns differ from the general patterns observed by Yamamoto et al. (example).