Case Study: A Method Of
Research
Introduction
• Case study is one of the several ways of doing social
science research.
• Helps us to understand a complex issue or object.
• Emphasizes contextual analysis.
• Illuminates the causes (and meanings) of relevant events,
experiences and conditions.
• Examines contemporary real life situations and provides
the basis for the application of ideas and extension of
methods.
Introduction (cont’d)
Case studies are used
• To address “HOW” and “WHY” questions.
• When the investigator has little control over events,
and
• When focus is on contemporary events.
Case studies can be used with Exploratory &
Descriptive studies.
Definitions of Case Study as a
Research Strategy:
“A careful study of some social unit (a corporation or
division within a corporation) that attempts to determine
what factors led to its success or failure.”
“A detailed Analysis of a person or a group from a social
or psychological or medical point of view”
“A case study is an intensive study of specific individual
or specific context
Misconception
A common misconception is that the various research
strategies should be arrayed hierarchically.
– Case studies for exploratory phase,
– Surveys and histories for descriptive phase,
– Experiments for explanatory and causal inquiries.
Proper strategy should be selected in order to avoid
“Gross Misfit”.
When to use each Strategy:
Three conditions tell us when to use each
strategy:
– The type of Research Question posed.
– The extent of control an investigator has over
actual behavioral events.
– The degree of focus on contemporary as opposed
to historical events.
Form of Research Requires Control of Focuses on
Question Behavioral Events? Contemporary
Strategy Events?
Experiment How, Why? Yes Yes
Survey Who, What, No Yes
Where, How
many, How much?
Archival Who, What, No Yes/No
Analysis Where, How
many, How much?
History How, Why? No No
Case Study How, Why? No Yes
Fig: Relevant Situations for Different Research Strategies
Criteria for judging the quality of
Case study design
It requires the researcher to use correct
measures for the concept being studied.
It demonstrate that certain conditions
It is established through a series of
• lead
Construct Validity It reflectsto other conditions and require the
activities in which
whether or thethe
not researcher
use of multiple sources tofindings
uncover are
• Internal Validity simultaneously
generalizable defines the
beyond some construct
immediate
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and
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or cases; the
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more variation to
in
• External Validity basically created to see the cause and
It places,
refers topeople,
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and it.
procedures
stability, accuracy,aand case
effect relationship.
• Reliability study of
precision canmeasurement.
withstand andExemplary
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studysamedesign findings,
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repeated with the same results over and
over again.
Steps in Case study design:
• Step 1: Determine and define the research
question
Establish focus of the study by forming questions about the situation
or problem to be studied and determining the purpose of the study.
• Step 2: Determine data gathering and analysis
techniques
A key strength of the case study method involves using multiple
sources and techniques in data gathering process. The researcher
determines in advance what evidence to gather and what analysis
techniques to use with the data to answer the research question.
• Step 3: Prepare for data collection
Because case study research generates a large amount
of data from multiple sources, systematic organization of
the data is important to assist with categorizing, sorting,
storing and retrieving data for analysis.
• Step 4: Collect data in the field
Researchers carefully observe the object of the case
study and identify causal factors associated with
observed phenomenon. Case studies use field notes and
data bases to categorize and reference data so that it is
readily available for subsequent reinterpretation.
• Step 5: Evaluate and analyze data:
The case study method, with its use of multiple data
collection methods and analysis techniques, provides
researchers with opportunities to triangulate data in
order to strengthen the research findings and
conclusions.
Specific techniques include placing information into
arrays, creating matrices of categories, creating flow
charts or other displays, and tabulating frequency of
events.
• Step 6: Prepare the report
Case studies report the data in a way that transforms a
complex issue into one that can be understood, allowing
the reader to question and examine the study and reach
an understanding independent of the researcher.
Some researchers report the case study as a story or
they present each case as a separate chapter.
Traditional prejudices against
the case study strategy
• Critics of the case study method believe that the study of a
small number of cases can offer no ground of establishing
reliability or generalizability of findings.
• Others feel that the intense exposure to the study of case
biases the findings.
• Some dismiss case study research as useful only as an
exploratory tool.
• Perhaps the greatest concern has been over the lack of rigor
of case study research. Too many times, the case study
investigator has not followed systematic procedures, or has
allowed biased views to influence the direction of the findings
and conclusions.