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The Case Study as a Research

MethodPresented by: Gordon Amerson, La’Resha Lyles, Teri Osborn and Willie Jones III.

Case studies looks intensely at an individual or small participant pool, drawing conclusions only about that participant or group and only in that specific context.

Case studies typically examine the interplay of all variables in order to provide as complete an understanding of an event or situation as possible.

Unlike more statistically-based studies which search for quantifiable data, the goal of a case study is to offer new variables and questions for further research.

Case Study Research

A case study approach is often used to build up a rich picture of an entity, using different kinds of data collection and gathering the views, perceptions, experiences and ideas of diverse individuals relating to the case.

Case studies provide what is termed ‘rich data’.

Case Study Research

Using more than 2 data forms of collection.

Provides fuller and more robust picture of the case.

Trangulation

Case Study Research

In comparison to other types of qualitative research studies, case studies separate out a particular

sample of the larger population to investigate.

Researcher Robert K. Yin defines the case study research method:

....an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context; when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident; and in which multiple sources of evidence are used (Yin, 2009).

Case Study Research

Case Study ResearchOrganizational strategy for performing a case study (Yin, 2009).

Plan the Study!

Illustrative Case StudiesThese are primarily descriptive studies. They typically utilize one or two instances of an event to show what a situation is like.

Exploratory (or pilot) Case StudiesThese are condensed case studies performed before implementing a large scale investigation.

Cumulative Case StudiesThese serve to aggregate information from several sites collected at different times.

Critical Instance Case StudiesThese examine one or more sites. This method is useful for answering cause and effect questions.

Types of Case Studies

Design the Study!

Prepare for Action!

Collect the Data!

There are six types of data collected in case studies: Documents. Archival records. Interviews. Direct observation. Participant observation. Artifacts.

Data Types

Examples of what can be utilized: Personal Information:

Interviews Clinical Records Background and Statistical Information about the

person Life History Profile Things that person has produced (diaries, photos,

writings, paintings, etc.) Personality or other test results

Program level information: Program Documents Statistical Profiles, Program Reports Proposals Interviews with program participants and staff Observations of Program Program Histories

Data

Analyze the results!

Communicate your findings!

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• case studies produce much more detailed information than what is available through a

statistical analysis

• researchers are comparatively freer to discover and address issues as they arise in their

experiments

• case studies specialize in "deep data," or "thick description"

Weaknesses:

• opportunities for subjectivity in the implementation, presentation, and evaluation of case

study research

• High investment - A budget request of $10,000 to examine 200 subjects sounds more

efficient than a similar request to examine four subjects.

tables

Examples of Case Study Research in IE

4 Different Schools

Comprehensive schools

Independent schools

Mixed SES of pupils

Faith school (Catholic)

Limited success in exam

Informal interview pupils and parents for entry

Comparatively new

Success in exam across a broad range of grades

Mixed SES but increasingly middle class

Non- denominational

High degree of success on exams

Selection formal / by assessment of ability

Long established

High degree of success on exams towards upper grades

Case Study Activity

Questions?

Creswell, J. W. (2008). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Merriam, S. B. (1985). The Case Study in Educational Research: A Review of Selected Literature. Journal of Educational Thought, 19.3, 204-17.

Yin, R. K. (2009). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. SAGE

References