Case studies: past paper questions
Real questions on case studies
The newest 20 of 70 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9990/21 · October/November 2025 · Q10a[10]
Describe how Dr Aster could conduct a study using an interview to investigate peoples’ feelings about different types of exciting experience. Do not describe sample / sampling technique or ethical issues / guidelines in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · October/November 2025 · Q6c[4]
Explain two weaknesses of case studies.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2025 · Q10a[10]
Describe how a researcher could conduct a case study to investigate Liam’s unusual ability to focus his attention. Do not describe ethical issues / guidelines in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · May/June 2025 · Q5[2]
Explain one ethical weakness of the case study research method. Do not use consent in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 9990/41 · May/June 2025 · Q11b(ii)[4]
Explain how you used two features of this psychological knowledge to plan your study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2024 · Q7a[4]
Suggest two techniques, other than interviews, that Daiyu could use in her case study to collect data about the child. Justify your answers.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2024 · Q7b[4]
Suggest two pieces of information about the child’s interactions that would be useful for Daiyu to collect in her case study. Justify your answers.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2024 · Q7c[1]
Outline one practical reason why obtaining information from the child could be difficult.
See it on the paper → - 9990/41 · October/November 2024 · Q6b[2]
Suggest one alternative treatment that could be used for managing and controlling shoulder pain, other than a biological or psychological treatment.
See it on the paper → - 9990/42 · October/November 2024 · Q1c[4]
Explain one strength and one weakness of the case study research method as used in this study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · May/June 2024 · Q10a[10]
Describe how Mary could conduct a case study of doodling in a boy diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. Do not describe sampling technique or ethical issues/guidelines in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(i)[2]
State the two main features of a case study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Explain why the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia) was a case study, in relation to these two main features.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · May/June 2024 · Q1b[3]
Explain one way to improve validity in a case study. ,
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · May/June 2024 · Q15a(i)[2]
Explain the type of human error made by Joseph.
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · May/June 2024 · Q15a(ii)[2]
Suggest one way the management at this car factory could avoid this type of human error.
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · May/June 2024 · Q15b[2]
For the way you suggested in part (a)(ii): Explain one weakness of this way to avoid this type of human error.
See it on the paper → - 9990/41 · October/November 2023 · Q2a[2]
Explain what is meant by a ‘review of studies’ as conducted by Turley and Milliman.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · February/March 2023 · Q5[2]
The research by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia) was a case study. It used a variety of techniques including interviews and a scale (the feelings thermometer). Suggest one strength of using a variety of techniques in a case study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2022 · Q10a[10]
Describe how Meena could conduct a case study to investigate the behaviour of this child.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Nearly all responses were awarded a partial 1 mark by including ‘a review collects and analyses multiple research studies or papers’. The second available mark was awarded to responses referring to the study by Turley and Milliman on the atmospheric effects of shopping behaviour. Some answers included a definition of a meta-analysis which is ‘a statistical process of analysing and combining result...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9990/41 Q2(a) (Cambridge)
This question was not well answered. There were many general responses about more data or different types of treatments being useful because maybe one would work. Only a small number of candidates mentioned triangulation or checking for consistent/supporting findings between different techniques. Nevertheless, many earned 1 mark for identifying the collection of both qualitative and quantitative d...
— Examiner report, February/March 2023, 9990/22 Q5 (Cambridge)
There were very few Level 3 answers. Many candidates used only one data collection technique, so their study was, for example, an interview or an observation, rather than a case study providing depth and breadth of detail. As a consequence, there were many Level 1 marks. Even when two (or more) techniques were used, few candidates gave sufficient details of data collection and interpretation to re...
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 9990/23 Q10(a) (Cambridge)
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