QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:

CASE STUDY
History of Case Study:

Roots in anthropology, sociology and psychology.

During 60’s & 70’s researchers looked for
alternatives to standard qualitative methods.
- Evolved during the 80’s as accepted
method.
History of Case Study:
 Prominently used by physicians, historians, social workers,
teachers, etc., as a learning tool:
Through careful examination and
discussion of various cases, “[researchers] learn to identify actual
problems, to recognize key players and their agendas, and to
become aware of those aspects of the situation that contribute to
the problem. . ."

(Merseth, 1991 in http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/casestudy/com2a3.cfm )

Definitions of Case Study:
 an in-depth description and analysis of a bounded system.

 the collection and presentation of detailed information about a

particular participant or small group, frequently including the
accounts of subjects themselves.

 provides a systematic way of looking at events, collecting data,

analyzing information, and reporting the results.
Definitions of Case Study:
Bounded system: a single entity, a unit around which
there are boundaries
Edge of the case

Heart of the study

The phenomenon examined must be bounded in order to be a case.

 3 Characteristics of Case Study:
1. Particularistic:
focuses on a particular situation, event, program or phenomenon

2. Descriptive:
the end product is a rich, thick description of the phenomenon being studied

3. Heuristic:
the cases studied illuminate the reader’s understanding of the
phenomenon under study
- brings about the discovery of new meanings
- extend the reader’s experience
- confirm what is already known
Types of Case Study:
Historical:
The study of the development of a particular phenomenon over time
1. Holistic analysis and description from a historical perspective
2. Preferred when there’s virtually no access or control

Observational:
The primary data collection method is participant observation supplemented
with formal and informal interviews
Types of Case Study:
Illustrative Case Studies:
Primarily descriptive studies
1. Utilizes one or two instances of an event to show what a situation is like
2. Tries to make the unfamiliar familiar and to give readers a common language
about the topic in question

Exploratory (or pilot) Case Studies:

Condensed case studies performed before implementing a large scale investigation
3. Basic function is to help identify questions and select types of measurement prior to
the main investigation
4. Primary pitfall is that initial findings may seem convincing enough to be released
prematurely as
Types of Case Study:
Cumulative Case Studies:
Serves to aggregate information from several sites collected at different times
• The collection of past studies will allow for greater generalization without
additional cost or time being expended on new, possibly repetitive studies

Critical Instance Case Studies:

Examines one or more sites for either the purpose of examining a situation of
unique interest with little to no interest in generalizability, or to call into question
or challenge a highly generalized or universal assertion
• Useful for answering cause and effect questions
Indications of Case Study:

 It is the best method to use for diagnostics and further remedial teaching so very
important for the teachers.

 It provides complete information about individual’s behavior his environment,

insight to the nature of the cases of suffering personal, social, emotional, and
educational abnormalities
Why Use Case Study

To diagnose what the problems or issues in

the case are, and why they have occurred, to
consider a variety of solutions; and to justify
what you believe to be the best solution.
Why Use Case Study:
Knowledge is:
o More concrete
o More contextual
o More developed by reader interpretation
o Based more on reference populations determined by the reader

Depends on what the researcher wants to know

o Specific “how” and “why” questions
o When you have less control of the events
o When variables are so embedded in the situation that they’re
impossible to identify ahead of time
o Uniqueness of the situation
Steps in Conducting Case Study:
1. Determine topic
2. Determine type of case study method used and mode of data collection:
- Documents
- Archival records
- Interviews
- Direct observation
- Participant observation
- Artifacts
3. Select participants
4. Collect data
5. Data Analysis
- Typically done holistically or through coding
6. Write up report
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths:
1. Anchored in real-life situations
2. Holistic account of the phenomenon
3. Advances a field’s knowledge base
4. Flexible
5. Contextualization of the phenomenon
Weaknesses:
1. Difficult to generalize
2. Some say it’s too subjective
3. May be costly
- hard to rationalize cost in a budget request
4. Some ethical considerations
- financial - researcher integrity
5. Time consuming
Case Study Designs:
• Single vs. Multiple case
– Single case appropriate in certain conditions
– Multiple case design better in general

• Embedded vs. Holistic

– Holistic = one unit of analysis
– Embedded = several units of analysis
 Case Study
Designs: Multiple-case Designs

Context Context
Single-case
Context Designs
Case Case

Holistic
Case
(single unit
of Context Context
analysis) Case Case

Context Context
Context
Case Case

Embedded Case U1 U2 U1 U2
(multiple units
of analysis) Embedded Embedded
Unit of Unit of Context Context
Analysis 1 Analysis 2
Case Case

U1 U2 U1 U2