Short Answer

Evaluate the scientific status of the Anna O. case study. Why is it methodologically incorrect to cite this clinical case as proof that Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory is correct?

Question: Evaluate the scientific status of the Anna O. case study. Why is it methodologically incorrect to cite this clinical case as proof that Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory is correct?

Sample answer: It is methodologically incorrect because a single case study lacks experimental control, making it impossible to verify if the repressed memory caused the symptom or if the recall caused the cure. Consequently, while the case effectively illustrates psychoanalytic concepts, it provides no empirical evidence or scientific proof to validate the theory.

Key points:

  • Explain that case studies lack the experimental control needed to rule out alternative explanations.
  • State that the causal connection between repression, symptoms, and recall cannot be verified.
  • Distinguish between a case study's illustrative value and its evidentiary value.

Rubric: Grading criteria: 1. Mentions the lack of experimental control or inability to establish causality. 2. Notes the inability to verify the causal role of the repressed memory or the cure. 3. Distinguishes between illustration of concepts and empirical validation/proof.

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Updated 2026-05-26

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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