What is the limitation of a case study?

1 Answer
Apr 17, 2018

Cannot prove causation; results may not be generalizable.

Explanation:

  • Clinical research often takes the form of case studies to research clinical disorders.
  • A case study is an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles. The issues with case studies are that:
  • They cannot lead to conclusions regarding causality.
  • The individual studied may be atypical of the larger population.
  • Researchers try to ensure that their studies are generalizable; that is, applicable to similar circumstances because of the predictable outcomes of repeated tests.