Typically, data are gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different methods e. Definition of a case study a case study is a holistic inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its. You can gather more knowledge about the research methods through this article. Such projects are quite popular in different educational institutions. The case study as a scientific method is, and has been for a long time, a subject of heavy discussion in the scientific community. This study is inspire by jensen and rodgers 2001 identified taxonomy of case studies comprising five types as shown in image. Comparative or multiple case studies are used as a tool for synthesizing information across time and space to research the impact of policy and practice in various fields of social research. An overview of the types of case study designs is provided along with general. Without the right skill set, the case study method becomes inefficient and inaccurate. Specifically the case study method of qualitative research would be used for this study. Types contd 2 instrumental case study the researchers begin with a research question or problem, and seek out a case that offers illumination. In research methodology this is the important part to grow knowledge so today we discuss about the case study.
A case study is a research method that relies on a single case rather than a population or sample. Jun 17, 2010 case study method in management education allow a different kind of learning. Accordingly, case studies are pertinent when your research addresses either a descriptive questionwhat is happening or has hap pened. Case study methodology is evolving and regularly reinterpreted. Case study research has a long history within the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, dating back to the early 1920s. It is also possible for types of case studies to overlap each other. Pdf the case study as a type of qualitative research. A case study is a particular method of qualitative research. Case studies involve analysis of small data sets, such as one or. The case study method has evolved over the past few years and developed as into a valuable qualitative research method. This type of research method is used within a number of areas like education, social sciences and similar. The objective of this paper is to present a brief overview of case study method, compare it with other qualitative and quantitative research methods, and study the merits and limitations of using. Distinguishing case study as a research method from case.
Case study research allows the researcher to look at the phenomenon in context. A search to determine what is known about the cases is typically conducted. A case study is a detailed study of a specific subject, such as a person, group, place, event, organization, or phenomenon. Jun 23, 2019 a case study is a research method that relies on a single case rather than a population or sample.
The case study is a form of empirical inquiry that enables the indepth examination of a. Types of case study all about case studies research. Method the steps when using case study methodology are the same as for other types of research. Despite being one of the most frequently used qualitative research methodologies in educational research, the methodologists do not have a full consensus on the design and implementation of case study. The study should have four main sections, the introduction, the background of the study and why it was developed, the presentation of findings, and the conclusion. A software package based on microsoft access is answr that is suitable for the analysis of qualitative data answer, 2000.
It can be considered a robust research method particularly when a holistic, indepth investigation is required. Some scientists disregard the study completely and argue that its nothing more than storytelling, while others claim that the case study is the most relevant research method there is. Thus, case control studies also allow more intensive. The idea of representative sampling and statistical generalizations to a. The advantages and limitations of single case study analysis. The case study approach allows, amongst other things, critical events, interventions, policy developments and programmebased service reforms to be studied in detail in a reallife context. In case studies on regional or urban planning, the units may be different interest groups that are involved or affected by the project. Cases are intended to stimulate the reality of the managers job. Types 1 intrinsic case study where the researchers do not have to select the case eg. The case study places more emphasis on the full analysis of a limited number of events or. Jul 08, 2018 case study method case study research involves an indepth study of an individual or group of indviduals. A case study is a realistic situation or a series of actual events involving a judgment call. When researchers focus on a single case, they can make detailed observations over a long period of time, something that cannot be done with large samples without costing a lot of money.
Describing the case study approach and how it is used as a research method. The case study facilitates the exploration of a real issue within a defined context, using a variety of data sources baxter et al. The case study method requires a small sample size for it to yield an effective amount of data to be analyzed. The study of one single individual, generally using several different research methods. When to use a case study when reallife situations make your point more effectively than other methods. In general terms, the case study analyzes a defined problem consisting in a real situation and. Simply put, the case method is a discussion of reallife situations that business executives have faced. When using multiplecase studies, each case must be carefully selected so that it either. Please note that some file types are incompatible with some mobile and tablet. A descriptive case study is one that is focused and detailed, in which propositions and questions about a phenomenon are carefully scrutinized and articulated at the outset.
This method is useful for answering cause and effect questions. In these types of study, limiting to only quantitative method would obscure some of the important data that need to be uncovered. The main benefit for this package explicitly states that it is for use in teambased. In an early critique of case study approaches, campbell and stanley 1966 argued that case studies are inherently limited in their ability to establish causation because of the degrees of freedom. For example, ras 2009 described how she found the need to add a quantitative component to her qualitative case study of selfimposed curricular change at one elementary school. A case study is, perhaps, the most widely used methodology due to its flexibility. For example, a case study in medicine may examine a specific patient a doctor treated, and a case study in. Validity, reliability and triangulation in case study. Case study method in research methodology in research. Furthermore, when describing the steps undertaken while using a case study approach, this method of research allows the researcher to take a complex and broad topic, or phenom.
As a rule, a paper of this kind uses a research method that relies on a single case more than on a few different samples. Types of case study all about case studies research methodology. This article presents the case study as a type of qualitative research. Most times professional case study writing service makes use of this method in order to give a case study help is a good place. So, they are observational, case study and survey method.
A descriptive study focuses on covering the background information and accurate description of the case in question. The material in the case provides data for analysis and decisionmaking. The case study method is a learning technique in which the student is faced a particular problem, the case. Recognised as a tool in many social science studies, the role. Three approaches to case study methods in education. She addressed emergent concerns with the trustworthiness of her interpreta. A collective case study may be conducted at one site e. Case study research in psychology sage research methods. The case study research method originated in clinical medicine the case history, i. Case study research has grown in reputation as an effective methodology to investigate and understand complex issues in real world settings.
A search to determine what is known about the case s is typically conducted. Case studies are commonly used in social, educational, clinical, and business research. Bound each case study was bounded by one individual and by the time he or she matriculated in the elhe program p. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, university of maryland. Feb 23, 2015 case study methodology has long been a contested terrain in social sciences research which is characterized by varying, sometimes opposing, approaches espoused by many research methodologists. With the right skill set, it can be used as an effective tool to gather rich, detailed information about specific entities. Case study method has the strengths and weaknesses of both forms of inquiry. In most situations, output of a survey conducted with a nonprobable sample leads to. Its aim is to give a detailed description of a case study its definition, some classifications, and several advantages. It is an allinclusive analysis and report from a historical angle. This method involves the observation of the advancement of a particular concept over a period of time.
Case study designs have been used across a number of disciplines, particularly the social sciences, education, business, law, and health, to address a wide range of research questions. A case study is defined by adelman, et al 1980 as the study of an instance in action. Under the more generalized category of case study exist several subdivisions, each of which is custom selected for use depending upon the goals andor objectives of the investigator. It is a method of study in depth rather than breadth. Case study method definition, characteristics, stages. Case studies often lead to testable hypotheses and allow us to study rare phenomena. The aim is that to find out the influencing factors of a social unit and the relationship between these factors and a social unit. Introduction case study research, through reports of past studies, allows the exploration and understanding of complex issues. With this type, we can observe both animal and human behavior. The case study method is a very popular form of qualitative analysis and involves a careful and complete observation of a social unit, be that unit a person, a family, an institution, a cultural group or even the entire community. Each case was selected as a tool to illuminating a particular issuep. Multiple case or collective studies use information from different studies to formulate the case for a new study.
Case study is a comprehensive study of a social unit, be it a person, a group of persons, an institution, a. Remember, the case study must analyze a case or situation in a clear and concise way, but should also be readable by people not familiar with scientific methods. Case study method an overview sciencedirect topics. A very brief refresher on the case study method 5 different research methods, including the case study method, can be determined by the kind of research question that a study is trying to address e. The nonprobability method is a sampling method that involves a collection of feedback on the basis of a researcher or statisticians sample selection capabilities and not on a fixed selection process. On average, youll attend three to four different classes a day, for a total of about six hours of class time schedules vary. Secondly, the process of validity and reliability in case study method are discussed and how they can be employed in the qualitative research paradigm.
Data for qualitative researches are typically obtained from different sources such as focus groups, interviews, observations of reallife settings, and documents. Rather than using large samples and following a rigid protocol to examine a limited number of variables, case study methods involve an indepth, longitudinal examination of a single instance or event. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, university of maryland, college park. First, reliability, validity and triangulation as used in case study method are discussed as a way of providing a springboard to examining what these three terms mean. In most cases, a case study method selects a small geographical area or a very limited number of individuals as the subjects of study. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the current research program by. A case study is a story about something unique, special, or interestingstories can be about individuals, organizations, processes, programs, neighborhoods, institutions, and even events. If there are different demographics involved with the entity, or there are different needs which must be examined, then the case study method becomes very inefficient. There are several types of case studies, each differing from each other based on the hypothesis andor thesis to be proved. The 3 basic types of descriptive research methods were mentioned before, and now we will open them widely. Using the ptsd issue again is an excellent example of a collective study. It is presented to learners, either orally or by handout, for analysis and resolution.
Aug 26, 2014 types 1 intrinsic case study where the researchers do not have to select the case eg. The first one is a study case and the second one is the case. Types of case study person the study of one single individual, generally using several different research methods. Collective case study involves more than one case, which may or may not be physically colocated with other cases.
Case study method in management case study method of learning. As well as, a case study has an opportunity to bend several methods into justified research design. In this article, we will discuss each way of the descriptive and their advantages and drawbacks briefly. It should therefore be considered when an experimental design is either inappropriate to answer the research questions posed or impossible to undertake. Four steps to analyse data from a case study method 3 the manipulation of the data and is relatively intuitive to learn.
Four steps to analyse data from a case study method. Types, designs, and logics of inference 3 it is important to note that case is not equivalent to observations. As the name suggests it is used for explaining an organization or an entity. Case study is but one qualitative methodology, the output of which is the case study. Whether its results can be generalised in other contexts remains an open question. The use of past studies allows additional information without needing to spend more time and money on additional studies. The descriptive research has mainly three types such as observation method, the survey method, and the casestudy method. These case study method advantages and disadvantages offer a look at the effectiveness of this research option. A case study is a common framework for conducting qualitative research stake, 2000.
This articulation of what is already known about the phenomenon is called a descriptive. As a student of program evaluation, i was extremely pleased to see the addition of the role of case study in the. In most cases, a case study method selects a small geograph ical area or a very li mited number. When deciding whether to perform a case study or a crosscase study, the key questions are a how many cases are studied and b how intensively are they studiedwith the understanding that a case embodies the unit concern in the central inference gerring, 2006, p. The most challenging aspect of the application of case study research in this context is to lift the investigation from a descrip. Advantages of case control studies case control studies are the most efficient design for rare diseases and require a much smaller study sample than cohort studies.
Pdf the case study as a type of qualitative research researchgate. Also, case studies are good for beginners and freshmen, who have never done any serious research in the past. There are several different types of case studies, as well as several types of subjects of case studies. A case study focuses attention on a single unit thoroughly. Case study method enables a researcher to closely examine the data within a specific context. This qualitative case study is an approach to research that facilitates exploration. Additionally, investigators can avoid the logistical challenges of following a large sample over time. Case studies are indepth investigations of a single person, group, event or community. Types of case study person the study of one single individual, generally.
A case study is usually a study of a single case or a small number of cases. In the social and life sciences, a case study is a research method involving an upclose, indepth, and detailed examination of a particular case. Illustrative case studies these are primarily descriptive studies. Aug 24, 2018 the case study method requires a small sample size for it to yield an effective amount of data to be analyzed.
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