Case Study Knwl

8/2/2019 Case Study Knwl

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Case Study



A case study is an intensive analysis of

an individual unit (e.g., a person, group,

or event) Stressing developmental

factors in relation to context.



` "Case studies are analyses of persons, events,

decisions, periods, projects, policies, institutions,

or other systems that are studied holistically by

one or more methods. The case that is the subject of the inquiry will be an instance of a class of

phenomena that provides an analytical frame ²

an object ² within which the study is conducted

and which the case illuminates and explicates."



` Case study refers to the collection and

presentation of detailed information about a

particular participant or small group, frequently

including the accounts of subjects themselves.` The case study looks intensely at an individual or

small participant pool, drawing conclusions only

about that participant or group and only in that

specific context.



` Researchers do not focus on the discovery of a

universal, generalizable truth, nor do they typically

look for cause-effect relationships; instead,

emphasis is placed on exploration and description.



` It is generally believed that the case-study method

was first introduced into social science by Frederic

Le Play in 1829 as a handmaiden to statistics in

his studies of family budgets.

` The use of case studies for the creation of new

theory in social sciences has been further

developed by the sociologists Barney Glaser and

Anselm Strauss who presented their research

method, Grounded theory, in 1967.



`

The popularity of case studies in testing hypotheseshas developed only in recent decades. One of theareas in which case studies have been gainingpopularity is education and in particular educationalevaluation.

` Case studies have also been used as a teachingmethod and as part of professional development,especially in business and legal education. Such asproblem-based learning (PBL) movement.

` When used in (non-business) education andprofessional development, case studies are oftenreferred to as critical incidents.



`

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 weredoing.



` Cases are generally written by business school

faculty with particular learning objectives in mind

and are refined in the classroom before

publication



Illustrative CaseStudies

Exploratory (or

pilot) CaseStudies

Cumulative CaseStudies

Critical InstanceCase Studies



` These are primarily descriptive studies.

` They typically utilize one or two instances of an

event to show what a situation is like.

` Illustrative case studies serve primarily to makethe unfamiliar familiar and to give readers a

common language about the topic in question.



` These are condensed case studies performed

before implementing a large scale investigation.

` Their basic function is to help identify questions

and select types of measurement prior to the maininvestigation.

` The primary pitfall of this type of study is that initial

findings may seem convincing enough to be

released prematurely as conclusions.



` These serve to aggregate information from several

sites collected at different times.

` The idea behind these studies is the collection of

past studies will allow for greater generalizationwithout additional cost or time being expended on

new, possibly repetitive studies.



` These examine one or more sites

` The purpose of examining a situation of unique

interest with little to no interest in generalizability,

or to call into question or challenge a highlygeneralized or universal assertion.

` This method is useful for answering cause and

effect questions.



Pr ospective:

` A type of case study in which an individual or

group of people is observed in order to determineoutcomes.

` For example, a group of individuals might be

watched over an extended period of time to

observe the progression of a particular disease.



Retr ospective:

` A type of case study that involves looking at

historical information.

` For example, researchers might start with anoutcome, such as a disease

` Then backwards at information about the

individuals life to determine risk factors that may

have contributed to the onset of the illness.



` Direct observation:This strategy involves observing the subject, often in a naturalsetting. While an individual observer is sometimes used, it ismore common to utilize a group of observers.

` Interviews:One of the most important methods for gathering information incase studies. An interview can involves structured survey-typequestions, or more open-ended questions.

Documents:

Letters, newspaper articles, administrative records, etc.



` Archival records:Survey records, name lists, etc.

` Physical artifacts:

Tools, objects, instruments and other artifacts oftenobserved during a direct observation of the subject.

` Participant observation:

Involves the researcher actually serving as aparticipant in events and observing the actions andoutcomes.



` It is founded the case-based approach to be a useful method to

develop transferable skills. It includes:

` Gr oup working:

The benefits of group working are well documented, and it isfounded that a team case study approach can add to the learning

experience.

` Individual study skills:

Case studies are a good vehicle for encouraging students to carryout independent research outside of the lecture



` Inf ormation gathering and analysis:

Many case studies require resource investigation and

encourage students to utilize a number of differentsources, i.e. Internet, library, laboratory results and

contacting experts in industry.

` Time management:Longer case studies require students to really

consider how best to carry out the work so that it

is completed to the set deadline.



` Presentation skills:

Most of our case studies require students topresent their work in a variety of formats, these

include oral presentations, articles, posters and

reports.

` Practical skills:

Some of our case studies involve practical work on

the components that are being studied. Feedback

has shown that many students enjoy the hands-onapproach.



` case studies are predominantly coursework-based; however, this

style of work may not be suited to everyone.

` Some students may work more efficiently in a formal and time-

constrained setting, such as an examination,

`

One way in which we have tackled this, in some of our case studies,is to have both coursework and exam assessment on the case

study content.

` Provided that a balance in learning styles is maintained in the

overall course then the students are able to develop a range of skills

and no student should be unfairly disadvantaged compared to

another.

` Group working may also not be suited to all students.



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