Case study: calling for a more open approach BERA Student conference Manchester 2009 David Menendez Alvarez-Hevia ESRI, Manchester Metropolitan University David.menendez.alvarez-hevia@stu.mmu.ac.uk

AIMS Explore the implications of the researcher in case study research considering postructuralist issues. Disentangle case study as an open approach in where different methods fit. Expose the main issues of case study approach through an example of a multiple case study research in the field of education.

INTRODUCTION “Explore the emotional involvement of professionals working with Special Need Education Students (SNES)” POWER KNOWLEDGE SUBJECTIVITY POSTRUCTURAL ISSUES PHYLOSOPHY / SYSTEM OF THOUGHT ONTOLOGY/ETHICS/GENERALISATION RESEARCHER SUBJECT VOICES

CASE STUDY: METHOD, APPROACH OR STRATEGY In general, case studies are the preferred strategy when “how” or “why” questions are being posed, when the investigator has little control over events, and when the focus is on a contemporary phenomenon within some real-life context. (Yin 1989:13)

CASE STUDY TRADITIONAL VIEW PROBLEM QUESTIONS INTERVIEW + OBSERVATION DATA ANALYSIS CONCLUSIONS CASES OPEN APPROACH

PREVIOUS REFLECTIONS FOR A RESEARCH BASED ON CASE STUDY RESEARCHER AS A PRODUCER OF KNOWLEDGE 3 CASE STUDIES “BOUNDED SYSTEMS” (Falls-Borda 1998) RELATION / CONNECTION CREATED RECOGNIZED (Stake, 2006) ONTOLOGY QUALITATIVE METHODS Documents of life School documents Interviews Observation Others OBJECT OF STUDY = “EMOTIONAL ISSUES OF THE PROFFESIONALS”

Is the case relevant to the quintain? Does the case provide diversity across context? Does the case provide good opportunities to learn about complexity and context? (Stake 2006)

MY CASE STUDY AS AN APPROACH CASE STUDY “APPROACH” METHODOLOGICAL PLURALISM Vs METHODOLOGICAL EXCLUSIVISM (Roth 1987) -METHODOLOGY SISTEM OF THOUGHT credibility DECONSTRUCTION OF CASE STUDY = EXPANSION OF MEANING ABANDON TERM: METHODS APPROACH OPEN TO DIFFERENT WAYS OF RESEARCH WHAT IS GOING TO BE STUDY , TIMES, STRUCTURE… MY CASE STUDY AS AN APPROACH - Different realities - Philosophy - Discourse analysis - Relation between cases - Methods of Data collection

RESEARCHER DECISIONS: POINTS OF PREASSURE OBTAIN GRADE Institution RESOURCESS = Founds moral SUBJECT CONSTRUCTION WORLD OF DISCOURSES ethic - WRITING languages

WHAT IS MY CASE? What is my case a case of? CASES “QUINTAIN” (Stake 2006) Phenomenon to be researched Multiple Case Study Emotional involvement of the prof. working with SNES

GENERALIZATION

David.menendez.alvarez-hevia@stu.mmu.ac.uk