Psych- Methodology and Classification

• -not artificial, real person with real problems
• -they can document rare phenomena that could not be studied in standard ways
• -they are a good source of hypotheses/theories

• -Selectivity of memory--memory is limited, false memories
• -selectivity of recorded data, bias based on which perspective
• -unable to repeat a case study
• -Can't generalize--can only describe one person.
• -Insufficient evidence for causality

• 1. communication
• 2. information
• 3. descriptive value
• 4. prediction
• 5. source of concepts for scientific theory

• -labeling--people don't have a problem until they are labeled
• -you don't need the lable to have the problem

-secondary labeling--once someone is classified they exhibit more of the problem (self fulfilling prophecy).

-Doesn't consider uniqueness of the Individual.