Case Study: A Tool for Investigating Human Mind and Behavior

Mary Evilin J. Variath*

Abstract
A teacher is more or less like a philosopher who directs and guides her student. She
should be aware of her students needs, interests, problems, growth and development. Case
study is a method which a teacher can adopt in order to make a holistic and in-depth
investigation of her student. It helps the teacher to guide her student in right direction and
thereby develops the student personality. The present paper focuses on the importance of
case study method in educational field and makes a study on a case. Thus, case study makes
a study on human mind and behavior in general.
Introduction
Todays educational system is highly complex. There is no single learning approach or
style that works for everyone. Psychologists working in the field of education study
investigate how people learn and retain knowledge. Educational psychology is the
psychology that relates to education.
Educational psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in educational
situations. Educational psychology is an applied branch of psychology which deals with the
psychological principles and techniques to the development of educational practices and to
the solution of educational problems.
Psychology and education are closely related. Education attempts to modify behavior
through the process of learning, while psychology studies behavior. Behavior can be modified
only after it has been studied and understood. Educational psychology attempts or employs
scientific method and adopts scientific approach to study behavior of an individual in
educational environment. For studying the human behavior it takes the help of various
methods. Case study is one of the methods used in educational psychology.
A case study is a method of obtaining in-depth information on a person, group or
phenomenon to provide descriptions of specific or rare cases. The clinical or case study
method is used for studying the behavior problems of a maladjusted or deviant individual
(case). In clinical psychology, the term case is used to indicate an individual facing
problems that could be solved only on the basis of detailed study. A child who is specially
maladjusted or emotionally wrecked or experiencing difficulty in a school subject, is a
clinical case. Case study aims at studying everything about something rather than something

about everything. It is an in-depth look at the individual in the context of his environment.
Sometimes much can be learned from studying just one individual and his unique experiences
and behavior for helping him improve some aspects of his behavior.
Thus, case studies usually shed light on aspects of human thinking and behavior
because it makes in-depth and multi sided approaches. It provides detailed information and at
the same time insight for further information.
Objectives

Explores the importance of case study.

To make a holistic, in-depth investigation of the case.
To find out the root cause of maladjustment.
To suggest remedial measures, so that the case can cope up with the maladjustments.

Hypothesis

In-depth study of the case is possible with respect to the environment.

Improves some behavior and makes a study on the cases mind.
Environment matters a lot in molding a childs behavior and mind.

Methodology
The important methods used in the case study are:
1. Observation
2. Interview
3. Rating scale
The investigator simply observed the case for one month and easily identified the
reason for her maladjustment. Both, uncontrolled and participant observation was done by the
investigator. In uncontrolled observation, the investigator observed the case n natural setting
as they occur spontaneously. In participant observation, the observer placed the case in a
group and the investigator or the observer acts as one among the group. This made the
observer freely to mingle with the members of the group and the case never became
conscious of the fact that she is being observed. Thus, the case will not hide her actual
behavior. Based on the observation data was collected.
Another method used by the investigator is interview. The investigator made a face-to
face talk with the case. Thus, the investigator collects information and opinions of the case
about certain topics or events. In interview, not only what is said but how it is said is also
considered.

Data Collection and Analysis

For the study, a case was identified by the investigator. The investigator observed and
interviewed the case in order to collect the data. She is studying in VIII standard and the
investigator found out that the case is most of the time inattentive in the class and also she
was disturbed by some thoughts. All the time the case was gloomy and never mingled with
her classmates. She never uttered a word when asked about something. Later, the investigator
found out one reason for her sadness. She was new to that school and she had no friends.
However, the investigator understood that, it was not the only reason that made her gloomy.
Through further talks the investigator realized that she have an elder sister now she is missing
her as she have moved to some hostel in order to pursue her B. Pharm course. Another reason
was that her father and mother were not in a good terms. Even though they are not separated,
they use to quarrel each other and the child feels that she is insecure in the house.
She is a girl with great potentialities and she had scored very good marks in some
subjects, but due to these issues she was very much disturbed.
The change in the mood shift was observed by the investigator during class hours and
break time. Some of the occasions are charted as follows:
Sl.

Date

no
1.

15-06-16

2
3

16-06-16
24-06-16
08-07-16
14-07-16

4
5
6
7

1 9-07-16
28-07-16

Period

Time

Subject

Setting

Incident

10:00

English

Classroom

Gloomy

I
Lunch

am
9 :50 am English
12:25

Classroom
Corridor

Inattentive
Unaccompanie

break
V
I

pm
1:15 pm
10:10

Classroom
Classroom

d by friends
Inattentive
Pleasant and

Break

am
10:55

Corridor

attentive
Accompanied

am
10:15

Classroom

by friends
Gloomy

Mathematics
English

English

am
From the data collected the investigator realized that both the parents wanted her
daughter to be educated, but they never sets an atmosphere for the child to study. The parents
provide everything for her but they never enquired about her dreams and interests. The
conflict between her parents always disturbs her mind but the parents never thought of her
child. If they could have thought about her child they could have made adjustment between
them.

From the study the investigator understood that she is a talented girl with great
potentialities. But her studies are hindered by these problems. She wanted to be a teacher but
her parents are totally unaware of her ambition. There conflict was even visible in their
opinion about their daughters future.
Conclusion and Suggestions
The investigator came to a conclusion that parents play a great role in molding the
behavior of their children. Parental conflicts are destructive in constructing the behavior of
children. Depending on the parental conflict, childs emotional reaction and behavior varies.
Sometimes the child may be gloomy and sad. Family centered experiences are the basis of the
childs development. Parental conflicts can often lead to childrens maladjustment, which in
turn results in negative effects on social, cognitive and educational functions.
When parents quarrel with each other, some children can become distraught, worried,
anxious and hopeless. Others may react outwardly with anger, becoming aggressive and
developing behavioral problems at home and at school.
Home environment affects a student life a lot. They can study well, if they are
provided with a loving environment, having good relationships among all family members
which also have a good impact on their character formation. So environment matters a lot.
Reference
Arjunan, N. K., (2014). Psychological Bases of Education (17th ed.). India: Yuga
Publications.
Cronbach, L.J. (1969). Essentials of Psychological Testing (3rd ed.). New York: Harper and
Row
Kolesnik, Walter, B. (1970). Educational Psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Mc. Graw Hill
Book Co.