What methodology was used in the Little Hans Study?

The methodology used in the Little Hans Study is classified as a case study. This approach is characterized by an in-depth examination of an individual, allowing for a detailed exploration of behaviors, experiences, and the psychological issues faced by that person. In the case of Little Hans, the study focused on the boy's phobia of horses and his developmental issues through observations and reports made primarily by his father, who served as the researcher.

Case studies allow for the collection of qualitative data, which can provide rich insights into complex behaviors and conditions. This specificity is beneficial when examining unique or atypical cases, such as Little Hans's phobia and its connections to Freudian theories of psychosexual development. Other methodologies, like experimental studies, rely on controlled variables, surveys typically involve gathering data from larger populations through questionnaires, and longitudinal studies track the same subjects over a period of time, which were not the central features of this particular study.