Case study

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Definition

Case study is A tool that presents and illustrates detailed information about a particular participant, group, or instance of a phenomenon in order to draw lessons and conclusions from its interpretation

Summary

Case studies are a presentation of detailed information about a particular participant or small group, or instance of a phenomenon. Most case study advocates point out that case studies produce much more detailed information than what is available through a statistical analysis. Advocates will also hold that while statistical methods might be able to deal with situations where behaviour is homogeneous and routine, case studies are needed to deal with creativity, innovation, and context. Detractors argue that case studies are difficult to generalise because of inherent subjectivity and because they are based on qualitative subjective data, generalizable only to a particular context.

By seeking to understand as much as possible about a single subject or small group of subjects, case studies specialise in information based on particular contexts that can give research results a more human face. This emphasis can help bridge the gap between abstract research and concrete practice by allowing researchers to compare their first-hand observations with the quantitative results obtained through other methods of research.

Opponents cite opportunities for subjectivity in the implementation, presentation, and evaluation of case study research. The approach relies on personal interpretation of data and inferences. Results may not be generalisable, are difficult to test for validity and rarely offer a problem-solving prescription. Simply put, relying on one or a few subjects as a basis for cognitive extrapolations runs the risk of inferring too much from what might be circumstance.

Case studies can involve learning more about the subjects being tested than most researchers would care to know-their educational background, emotional background, perceptions of themselves and their surroundings, their likes, dislikes and so on.

Researchers conducting case studies should consider certain ethical issues. For example, many educational case studies are often financed by people who have, either directly or indirectly, power over both those being studied and those conducting the investigation This conflict of interests can hinder the credibility of the study.

The personal integrity, sensitivity, and possible prejudices and/or biases of the investigators need to be taken into consideration as well. Personal biases can creep into how the research is conducted, alternative research methods used and the preparation of surveys and questionnaires.

A common complaint in case study research is that investigators change direction during the course of the study unaware that their original research design was inadequate for the revised investigation. Thus, the researchers leave unknown gaps and biases in the study. To avoid this, researchers should report preliminary findings so that the likelihood of bias will be reduced. Collections of case studies can help to draw on more general conclusions.

Description

Purpose

To illustrate phenomena in single contexts.

Beneficiaries and other stakeholders

Staff seeking examples of lessons learned and / or good practice stories.

Skill requirements

• Good research management skills are needed for selecting appropriate cases and determining the methods to be deployed;
• Interpretative and modelling skills may also be required depending on the depth of desired extrapolations;
• Good writing skills are need for effective case studies; most case studies benefit from informative visualisations such a situational pictures, models or graphs.

Instructions

1. Determine the purpose of the study;
2. Articulate the perspective from which the case(s) will be examined;
3. Define how and why cases have been selected;
4. Determine how you will gather and validate the data and information.
5. Collect and analyse the data and information;
6. Write your case study into a narrative;
7. Proof and fact check your case study;
8. Test your case study with a representative from your target audience;
9. Publish and promote your case study.

Critical success factors

Case studies need to be reliable, valid and generalisable and there are several methods for ensuring these issues are addressed:

• Prolong the data gathering exercise as long as is practicable. This will help to ensure greater accuracy of findings by providing the researcher with more opportunities to validate data and test any interim findings;
• Employ the process of "triangulation". This gathers data form a variety of sources as opposed to relying solely upon one source. For example, the findings of a quantitative study might be supplemented by qualitative interviews, direct observation and an examination of original reports and other relevant documentation;
• Conduct validity checks with the subjects. Initiate and maintain active corroboration on the interpretation of data between the researcher and those who provided the data. Do so with the intention of maintaining an objective perspective;
• Engage in peer reviews ensuring that the case, as written, has its internal integrity (or validity). External validity can be established through ensuing that it conforms as a case to other bodies of cases through which the phenomenon is studied;
• As an output from the field of qualitative research, the case study is sometimes challenged from researchers and practitioners steeped in more 'scientific', or quantitative, epistemologies. What case study research should do to overcome such challenges is to ensure that the case itself is clearly typical of the phenomenon under study and that it's selection has been made with due rigour and that the methods deployed can be defended. All interpretations, as they say, are those of the author.

Hints and tips

A typical case study should address:

• The questions or issues that the case will address;
• If there are any propositions or hypothesis involved;
• What is the unit of analysis;
• A description of the phenomenon as exerienced in the case;
• The criteria for interpreting the findings.

Case studies

The following examples come from the UK public sector:

• The Department for International Development; https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/case-studies
• Investors in People. http://www.investorsinpeople.co.uk/MediaResearch/CaseStudy/Pages/CaseStudyDetails.aspx?CSID=87

Related articles

Case studies apply more analytical rigour than Storytelling or Anecdote circles and, by definition validate content, at least in the specific context of the case and the time is was study.