Everything about Case Study totally explained
A
case study is one of several ways of doing
social science research. Other ways include
experiments,
surveys,
multiple histories, and analysis of archival information .
Rather than using large samples and following a rigid protocol to examine a limited number of variables, case study methods involve an in-depth, longitudinal examination of a single instance or event: a
case. They provide a systematic way of looking at events, collecting
data, analyzing
information, and reporting the results. As a result the researcher may gain a sharpened understanding of why the instance happened as it did, and what might become important to look at more extensively in future research. Case studies lend themselves to both generating and testing
hypotheses .
Another suggestion is that
case study should be defined as a
research strategy, an empirical inquiry that investigates a phenomenon within its real-life context. Case study research means single and multiple case studies, can include quantitative evidence, relies on multiple sources of evidence and benefits from the prior development of theoretical propositions. Case studies shouldn't be confused with
qualitative research and they can be based on any mix of quantitative and qualitative evidence.
Single-subject research provides the statistical framework for making inferences from quantitative case-study data. This is also supported and well-formulated in (Lamnek, 2005): "The case study is a research approach, situated between concrete data taking techniques and methodologic paradigms."
Case selection
When selecting a case for a case study, researchers often use information-oriented sampling, as opposed to
random sampling
Case studies have also been used as a teaching method and as part of professional development, especially in business and legal education. The
problem-based learning (PBL) movement is such an example. When used in (non-business) education and professional development, case studies are often referred to as
critical incidents.
History of Business Cases
When the
Harvard Business School was started, the faculty quickly realized that there were no textbooks suitable to a graduate program in business. Their first solution to this problem was to interview leading practitioners of business and to write detailed accounts of what these managers were doing. Of course the professors couldn't present these cases as practices to be emulated because there were no criteria available for determining what would succeed and what wouldn't succeed. So the professors instructed their students to read the cases and to come to class prepared to discuss the cases and to offer recommendations for appropriate courses of action. Basically that's the model still being used.
A critique of this approach
.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Case Study'.
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