By Person-Redmond and Walker

Case Study Research

• Most widely used approach in qualitative inquiry• Represents a basic form of qualitative research

• Used to study ALMOST any topic or type of phenomenon with the entire range of data collection and analytic methods used by qualitative researcher

• Basic elements appear in specialized approaches to qualitative research• Called qualitative research traditions

• Learning the case study approach makes it easier to understand the purposes and methods of other approaches to qualitative research.

• Play a role in mix-methods research.

Importance of Case Study in Qualitative Research

• Case study is defined as• The in-depth study of• One or more instances of a phenomenon• In its real-life context that• Reflects the perspective of the participants

involved in the phenomenon.• Study of Particular Instances

• Phenomenon• Case• Unit of analysis• Focus

Characteristics of Case Studies

• In-Depth Study of the Case• Substantial amount of data is collected about

the specific case selected to represent the phenomenon

• Data is in the form of words, images, or physical objects

• Quantitative data can also be collected• Data is often collected over an extended time

period• Several methods of data collection are used

• Study of a Phenomenon in Its Real-Life Context• Involve fieldwork in which the researcher

interacts with study participants in their natural settings

Characteristics of Case Studies cont.

• Representation of Emic ad Etic Perspectives• An effort to portray truthfully the etic

perspective of researchers as well as the emic perspective of the research participants

• Emic perspective- participants’ viewpoint• Etic perspective-case study researchers

perspective as investigator or an outsider

Characteristics of Case Studies cont.

To produce detailed descriptions of a phenomenonResearcher attempts to depict a phenomenon and

conceptualize it. Depiction can focus on various phenomena.

The meaning that the research participants ascribe to their life possible outcomes, contextual factors that influence their lives, a series of events and their possible outcomes, or new or unusual in society.

Thick description-statements that re-create a situation and as much of its context as possible, in addition to the meanings and intentions inherent in that situation.ConstructThemes

Purpose of Case Studies

To develop possible explanations of itExplanations are referred to as patterns

Meaning that one type of variation observed in a case study is systemically related to another observed variation

Relational pattern and causal patternTo evaluate the phenomenon

Responsive evaluation, fourth-generation evaluation, quasi-legal models of evaluation, and expertise-based evaluation (Discussed more in chapter 17)

Purpose of Case Studies cont.

Standard designs for quantitative research have evolved.

Standard designs can be used as “blueprints” of methods and sequential steps for starting new research.

There is no true-of case study design.Design is determined by the researcher

conducting the study and is specific to the phenomenon being studied.

Designing a Case Study

Formulating a Research ProblemStep 1- Identify a problem that interests you

and that is worthy of study.Step 2-The research problem needs to be

translated into explicit questions or objectives.Selecting a Case

Key issue- the decision concerning what you want to be able to say something about at the end of the study.

Cases that are qualitative are selected by a purposeful sample process

Designing a Case Study cont.

Defining the Role of the Case Study ResearcherObtain necessary institutional review and approvalObtain permission from site or sites in which the research

will be conducted.Quantitative researchers

Specify precise procedures for data collection and analysisPlay limited role in data collection; use assistants to collect data.

Qualitative researchers (case study researchers)Data collection is more complex; procedures are standardizedPrimary “measuring instrument”Like to interact closely with research participants, attend social

events in the field settings, and use empathy and other psychological processes to grasp the meaning of the phenomenon as it is experienced by individuals and groups in advance of the setting.

Designing a Case Study cont.

Gaining Entry Identifying appropriate sites is a critical step Issues can include

Identifying people within the field setting with whom to make initial contact

Selecting the best method of communicationDeciding how to phrase your requestBeing prepared to answer questions and address concerns.

Addressing Ethical IssuesUtilitarian ethicsDeontological ethicsRelational ethicsEcological ethics

Designing a Case Study cont.

One method can begin case study and gradually shift to, or add other methods

Personal Involvement in the Data-Collection ProcessThe extent to which they should disclose their

personal experiences, feelings, or beliefs to field participants during data collection.

Subjectivity audit- involves taking notes about situations connected to one’s research that arouse strong positive or negative feelings

Objective evidence that their views are incorrect.

Collect Case Study Data

Analyzing Data during Data collectionData collection is emergent.Two strategies can be facilitated

Making records of field contactsContact summary sheetDocument summary form

Thinking “finish-to –start”Thinking through the entire research project at the very

beginning

Ending Data CollectionInvolves practical and theoretical considerations

Practical- time and budgetary constraints or observation of participants running thin

Collect Case Study Data cont.

Theoretical considerationsExhaustion of sourcesSaturation of categoriesEmergence of regularitiesOverextension

Collect Case Study Data cont.

Three types of approaches commonly used to analyze case study data: Interpretational- is the process of examining the case study

data closely in order to find constructs, themes, and patterns that can be used to describe and explain the phenomenon being studied.

Structural – is the process of examining case study data for the purpose of identifying patterns inherent in discourse, text, events, or other phenomena.

Reflective-is the process in which the researcher relies primarily on intuition and judgment in order to portray or evaluate the phenomenon.

Analyzing Case Study Data

Researchers must consider if the research is meeting the needs of the users (Strategies 1-5)

Researchers must consider the thoroughness of the data collection (Strategies 6-10)

Researchers must ensure there were sound research methods used (Strategies 11-17)

Ensuring the Quality and Rigor of Qualitative Research

Strategies for Ensuring Quality and Rigor in Qualitative Research

Meeting the Users’ Needs

1. Usefulness2. Participatory

Models3. Chain of Evidence4. Truthfulness and

reporting style5. Quasi-statistics

Thorough Data Collection

6. Triangulation of data sources, analysts, and theorist

7. Contextual completeness

8. Long-term observation

9. Rich data10. Representative

check

Strategies for Ensuring Quality and Rigor in Qualitative Research cont.

Reflect Sound Research Design

11. Coding Checks12. Disconfirming case

analysis13. Member checking

14. Intervention and patter checking

15. Comparison16. Peer Examination17. Research reflection

Researchers must also consider the quality of the case study in terms of its validity and reliability.Construct ValidityInternal ValidityExternal ValidityReliability

Positivist Conceptions of Validity and Reliability of Case Study Research

According to Gall, Gall, and Borg (2007) the term applicability, rather than generalizability, is more appropriate for this goal of qualitative research because it is based on different processes and types of evidence.

1. Use purposeful sampling so that the case may apply to other similar cases.

2. Unit of analysis can be using a random sample

3. Comparison of cases or settings in relation to an existing theory.

Determining the Applicability of Case Study Findings

Case study research is unique in that it is not until the phase of writing up or reporting the research that the researchers finalize their identification of the specific case or cases that the study concerns.

Two main types of Reporting StylesReflective- use of writing characterized by

literary devices and strong presence of researchers voice.

Analytic- objective writing style (researchers voice is silent or subdued)

Reporting a Case Study

AdvantagesCase Study researchbrings a case to life in a way that is not possible

using the statistical methodshelps readers to compare cases with their own

situationsreveals the researcher's perspective, thus enabling

readers to determine whether the researcher has the same perspective on the phenomenon as they do

Is ideally suited to investigating outliers and other unusual phenomena

Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Study Research

DisadvantagesCase Study researchIs difficulty of generalizing the findings to

other situationsIs ethical problems can arise if it proves

difficult in the report to disguise the identity of the organization or individuals that were studied

Is highly labor-intensive and require highly developed language skills

Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Study Research

Gall, Meredith D., Gall, Joyce P., & Borg, Walter R. (2007). Educational research (8th Edition), A B Longman Publishing, ISBN: 0-321-08189-7

Reference