Section A
Provide a critical evaluation of case study methodology
A case study is a research technique which allows the researchers to carry out profound investigations within a specific context including a community, an individual, or specific group (Bennett, 2004) wherein information is obtained from various sources using different methods such as interviews and surveys, and observations (Travers, 2001).
There are significant merits of using a case study in research. Different types of case studies are classified into three groups including: instrumental, collective, and intrinsic (Baxter & Jack, 2008). The primary advantage is that by examining collective, instrumental, and intrinsic approaches, one can analyze the collected data using qualitative and quantitative techniques (Seawright & Gerring, 2008). According to Bennett (2004), using a variety of data sources enhances the study especially when using the longitudinal cases because it allows a lot of information to be collected during the study. Longitudinal studies which involve analyzing either the person depends primarily on the qualitative analysis derived from journals which offer very detailed information about human behavior. Therefore, due to the more in-depth approach, the case study methodology enables an individual to understand different aspects of human thinking as well as their behavior. Since qualitative analysis is entirely explanatory (Baxter & Jack, 2008; Travers, 2001), it is therefore essential in analyzing data of actual life situations as it assists in describing the complexity of the real-life environment that a quantitative approach cannot capture.
Although case studies use qualitative or descriptive analyses, it also has limitations because a lot of data relies mostly on the interpretation of the information acquired by the researcher. Just like Sigmund Freud, who has received a lot of criticism for coming up with distorted content to match his theory related to behavior (Dufresne, 2007; Wallace, 1983), there’s always a tendency of the researcher to be biased, and he or she may force the results to match his findings or conclusions (Aronson, Carlsmith, & Ellsworth, 1990; Fussell & Krauss, 1991; Sherif, 1998).
Case study methodology is because the determination of data is always carried out within the environment in which the activity is taking place (Baxter & Jack, 2008). It allows an individual to interestingly explore a variety of strategies by observing the targeted group within his location (Seawright & Gerring, 2008). This is somehow different with the quantitative analyses which help only to differentiate or isolate the information from the context while emphasizing only on a specific number of variables. Even though case study methods allow an individual to carry out data analysis within a particular environment, it comes with some limitations in that the method mainly depends on one case study, hence making it hard for one to come up with a generalized conclusion (R. K. Yin, 1984; Robert K. Yin, 2013). It’s also hard to understand whether the case analyzed might have been drawn from a large body of the same instances. The case studies are always termed as microscopic (Leonard-Barton, 1990), because of failure to produce scientific generalization hence doesn’t lead to the growth of the scientific world.
Case study methodology has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that because it uses different data collection techniques such as observation and interviews continuously it allows the researcher to produce both quantitative and qualitative information about a particular group or individual under study that produces a profound and deeper understanding of the subject under investigation. However, there are some disadvantages of using different data collection techniques. One may become confused while he or she researches due to overwhelming environment or situation. Even though the scientists view this as a significant challenge, the problem can easily be solved by correctly analyzing and classifying the collected data using databases (Elmes, Kantowitz, & Henry L. Roediger, 2011; Stake, 1981). Also, using an interview as the technique for data collection comes with some limitations, the method can easily distort the actual information of the study because an individual or group under study can provide false information due to significant influence from the community (Walsham, 1995). The confirmation type of bias has a great impact on the primary information due to the proximity (Travers, 2001). This may distort an individual’s accuracy in the interpretation of the society of an individual under study because the researchers may look at the characters which only relates to their perspectives. Besides that, interviewing every individual may be time-consuming. Although the proximity may be disadvantageous, it may also have some advantages as it allows the research to fully understand the participant's beliefs with a close communication with them.
Therefore, although case study methodology has received a lot of criticism, they are still advantageous as they are able to continue to explore and study the real-life environment relating to social challenges using this technique due to the provision of both quality and quantity results.
Section B
Explain how risk and protective factors may be operating to produce Becki’s current situation.
Becki’s situation may be due to several risk and protective factors. Becki’s friends from school and her older friends are possible major risk factors. Since Becki first started smoking Cannabis when she was fourteen years old, this suggests that she was a teenager and is susceptible to environmental influences that surround her. In addition, since this age is crucial for an individual’s development(Brendgen, Bowen, Rondeau, & Vitaro, 2001; Stalnaker, 2017), Becki’s friends from school may be one of the significant risk factor that has influenced her to arrive at her current situation since by nature(Brendgen et al., 2001), it’s always common for teenagers to form a group which consists of persons with similar characteristics(Ennett & Bauman, 1994), for Becki, she formed a group who were prone to drug abuse and had a bad influence on her and joined in, instead of focusing on education. Because at this stage adolescents want to fit in so they feel they need to conform to the norms of their friend groups(Hamil-Luker, Land, & Blau, 2004), in order for them to not feel isolated, and avoid being treated or feeling like an outcast. Therefore, it’s through this stage of puberty together with her friends that may have contributed to her situation.
Second, The adolescent group that Becki engaged with were hazardous and in fact and acted as a significant risk that may have forced her into smoking and introducing her to hard drugs, as a way of adhering to the rules and regulations of the group (Hamil-Luker et al., 2004). Becki may have felt as if she belonged to that group which made her confident and may have boosted her self-esteem. Becki may have felt that she has found an identity. Due to her distant relationship with her family it is natural to find some comfort outside wherein it feels as if an individual belongs (Brubaker & Wright, 2006). Therefore the peer pressure had a significant effect and it always acts as the price of being the member of the group. In fact, through force she obtained from her friends, Becki began smoking Cannabis at the age of fourteen, then abandoning education and finally, she was expelled from school. This acted as a significant risk factor because it has ruined Becki’s goals and dreams she was supposed to accomplish in her life and also, she will no longer be employed therefore losing all her desires in life. Also because she does not recognize the dangers of drugs because she has grown to smoke and she sees it as something ordinary that brings about her social identity(Brook, Zhang, Finch, & Brook, 2010; Grusec, 1992). So when her old friends convince her to start taking the drug, she accepts as she lacked extensive knowledge on the harmful effects of drugs both socially, mentally, and physically.
Becki’s most significant risk factor was her older friends as they were the group that introduce her to hard drugs which later developed an addiction which then is also another significant risk as addiction acts as she would need to provide herself of some money or find a way to supplement her addiction. As a result, she opts to start stealing since she isn’t employed. Research suggest that there exists a relationship between crime and addiction and as he puts it, most addicted drug users are more likely to engage in criminal offenses than those who don't use drugs(“Drugs and Crime Deviant Pathways,” 2003, “Stealing and Addiction Are Linked Problems,” 1963; Nurco, 1987). Therefore, Becki’s engaging crimes can be explained as a lack of finance to manage his addiction.
There's significant lack of protective factors which are affecting the current situation of Becki. Back in her mind, she believes her boyfriend, as well as her friends, act as protective factors but in a real sense they are not, they pose a high risk in her life. She has a volatile relationship with her boyfriend and the abuse she gets from him act as the primary risk factor that leads to her mental illness. She is depressed, pessimistic, no mood and has low self-esteem. This mainly as a result of the abuse she gets from her boyfriend which renders her feelings of helplessness. Becki’s mental health may have further deteriorated due to the lack of social support from her family. Since she lacks protective factors that are supposed to be from family she seeks the support of her boyfriend who instead of acting as a protective factor, is abusive and therefore another significant risk factor that contribute to Becki’s deteriorating mental health. Since Becki does not have anyone else to speak to, her feelings of helplessness and hopelessness intensifies as she has no choice but to keep her problems bottled up inside. Because of this, she may have acted on it by setting fire to her flat as she might have felt trapped that Becki desperately wanted to “escape” her situation.
Use psychological research and literature to suggest an approach which will help facilitate Becki’s recovery from her current situation.
Other than the obvious symptoms of Becki’s likelihood to develop depression such as the feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness (American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5 Task Force, 2017). Other symptoms such as setting the flat on fire, criminal offenses (stealing), anti-social behaviours (Drug abuse, addiction), emotional instability, and her relationship with her abusive Boyfriend, all match the criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder(BPD)(Ruggero, Zimmerman, Chelminski, & Young, 2010). Although these symptoms also match the criteria for Bipolar disorder, and antisocial personality disorder and are commonly misdiagnosed(John & Sharma, 2009; Ruggero et al., 2010) however; Due to the risk factors from her childhood and her current situation, Borderline personality disorder is the closest match that may probably be diagnosed.
There are a variety of approaches that can be used to help facilitate Becki’s recovery from her Drug Addiction, Depression and probable diagnosis of BPD. Options that may help Becki’s situation may include medications, psychotherapy, and hospitalization.
Although there are no medications specifically designed to treat BPD, there are medications that may help alleviate the symptoms such as depression, impulsive behaviour and anxiety(Gunderson, 2009). Moreover, another treatment may involve Psychotherapy which requires Becki to undergo Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a way of treating BPD and addiction. This may help allow Becki to understand her negative interpretations situation and thus make the step to adapt behaviors that will enable her to accept her situation and move on with her life. CBT is also an essential method that helps in reducing the psychological effects of addiction by identifying and learning about the triggers that may help Becki to learn how to cope and develop self-control strategie(Glasner-Edwards, 2015)s. Hence,the technique may act as the best technique that will help Becki to recover from her present situation since it involves several steps such as behavioral treatment. CBT may serve as the best solution to Becki’s situation especially now that she doesn't have family or siblings around her(Aguirre & Galen, 2015). Another method of Psychotherapy that may help Becki is through Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) (Lieb, Zanarini, Schmahl, Linehan, & Bohus, 2004). The therapy requires that Becki becomes self-driven and to follow all the instructions she is given: First, she should be willing to accept her feelings as something true and should be open-minded, share her ideas and views which is different from her perspectives. The method has been seen to be another safe and effective form of treatment for BPD since it allows to openly express herself and talk through all the problems that she has internalised which may allow her to be relieved as she begins to follow instruction and have initiative in having an open mind.These psychotherapeutic methods may also involve medications to help alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety but it is not necessary(Sudak, 2011). Lastly, due to the physiological effects of withdrawal from drug addiction hospitalization may benefit Becki’s situation as it would help her slowly stop her drug addiction and also treat her BPD (Giesen-Bloo et al., 2006) with the close supervision from healthcare professionals and reduce the risk of her to relapse due to her already established impulsiveness.
C) Identify the barriers and facilitators to effective implementation of this approach.
Advising, motivating, as well as encouraging individual suffering from mental illness can act as an effective facilitator(Glasner-Edwards, 2015; Shortliffe, 1974) because it will instill in him or her a very strong urge for a change in the better life. In fact, through motivation and encouragement for him or her to take the prescribed drugs and to seek treatment can have a significant impact on an individual(Losoncy, 1981). The society, the public, and the family should offer such support to the person instead of stigmatizing him. From the story of Becki, she can get such encouragement and motivation from advisors since she doesn’t live with her siblings.