Objective 4.1Evaluate the use of case studies in research.

Case studies Case Study is defined as an intensive

study of a single unit for the purpose of understanding a larger class of (similar) units.

Case studies

What is a case study? The case study is the most flexible of all research designs, allowing the researcher to retain the holistic characteristics of real-life events while investigating empirical events.

In general, a case study is an empirical inquiry which investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context when  the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident.

Case studies

To refer to a work as a case study might mean (a)that its method is qualitative and small in size(Yin 1994); (b) that the research is ethnographic, clinical, participant-observation, or otherwise “in the field”(c)that the research is characterized by process-tracing (George and Bennett 2004(d)that the research investigates the properties of a single case (Campbell and Stanley 1963, 7; Eckstein [1975]1992)(e)that the research investigates a single phenomenon, instance, or example (the most common usage).

Strengths of Case studies Anchored in real-life situations, the case study

results in a rich and holistic account of a phenomenon.

It offers insights and illuminates meanings that expand its readers' experiences.

These insights can be construed as tentative hypotheses that help structure future research; hence, case study plays an important role in advancing a field's knowledge base.

Strengths of Case studies Another advantage of the case study is that they present opportunities that researchers could not otherwise have.

It would be unethical to take a volunteer and damage his or her hippocampus just for the purpose of studying memory effects.

However, if a person undergoes surgery or some other event for another purpose, psychologists can study the outcomes.

Much of what we know about the human brain came from case studies of people who have had surgeries or accidents.

Evaluation of Case studiesThe colorful description in a case study can create an image: "a vivid portrait of excellent teaching, for example--can become a prototype that can be used in the education of teachers or for the appraisal of teaching" (Eisner, 1991).

Eisner would argue that a single can “paint a picture” for future cases or similar cases.

Evaluation of Case studies The special features of case study research that

provide the rationale for its selection also present certain limitations in it usage.

Although rich, thick description and analysis of a phenomenon may be desired, a researcher may not have the time or money to devote to such an undertaking.

And assuming time is available to produce a worthy case study, the product may be too lengthy, too detailed, or too involved for busy policy makers and practitioners to read and use.

Limitations of Case studies Many of the criticisms of the case study

method relate to the highly labor intensive nature of this research strategy.

Miles (1979) suggests that the added degree of energy required is responsible for generating more researcher stress than any other method (considering that it is often a combination of several methods).

Case studies The analysis and presentation of case

study is subject to more risk of researcher bias than other research strategies.

How can it be more at risk for researcher bias?

Case studies A case study research design is inherently

more time consuming at each stage of the study and is likely to be more skill-intensive than other forms of research.

Researchers for this type of study are likely to require more training and ability than those controlling other forms of research, a condition demanded by the requisite flexibility of the method.

Evaluation of Case studies Perhaps because a case study focuses on a single

unit, a single instance, the issue of generalizability looms larger here than with other types of qualitative research.

However, much can be learned from a particular case. Readers can learn vicariously from an encounter with the case through the researcher's narrative description. (Stake, 2005).