A Reflective Review on A case for case studies: exploring the use of case study design in community nursing research . Bergen A. and While A. (2000) . An analysis of the effectiveness of focus groups as a method of qualitative data collection with Chinese populations in nursing research. Twinn S. (1998) By Moshe Ebenstein Gila Kadosh-Dadon Nir Shani Joseph Waks 2/18/2019

Introduction Two research methods will be Introduced as presented in two Readings Reading 1 - The use of case study design in community nursing research. Overview, analysis. Reading 2 – Focus groups as a method of qualitative data collection. Overview, analysis A reflective comparative evaluation , validation and analysis between the two readings. Summary and Conclusions

A case for Case Study This paper Explores the suitability of community nurses for the role via a case study research method.( research question) Clarifies the Case Study research method through its characteristics and other issues arising by its use. Refers to the theory of Case Study Method, literature and arguments concerning the issue. Discusses the relationship of the case study to theory construction. Concentrates on issues arising from the definition of case study research method , used in a study by R.K.Yin (1993,1998) with reference to design in community nursing research. Explores the use of case study and Puts Emphasis on the research method theory rather then on the case itself.

Yin’s Approach A case study Investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. Copes with the technically distinctive situation in which there will be many more variables of interest than data points, and as one result Should Rely on multiple sources of evidence, with data converging in a triangulating fashion. Benefits from the prior development of theoretical propositions to guide data collection and analysis. The case research has to be designed carefully and accurately. A case design requires attention for the issues :

Case Study Design Case and context: A clear definition of the case (unit of analysis = the case itself). Sources of data collection (sub-unit) – subjects or variables to be measured. External validity: Searching for external support to the theory, creating theory generalization process. Triangulation (multiple methods of data collection): documentation, archival records, direct observation, participant observation, interviews and physical artifacts. Relationship to theory: The theory has to be developed, prior to the data collection, and evolved if findings contradict tit

Analysis This article focuses on Case study design based on Yin’s approach. Definition of the case ,context ,units of measurement and analysis are not clear enough. There is no reference and no answer to the research question. Triangulation is a valuable resource of research reliability. Yin’s approach is suitable for the specific research. (but since the research conducted in one method only it could not be compared to other methods)

Focus groups Focus groups interviews are now used in exploratory studies & the evaluation of health programs A focus group is a group of people with a common area of interest, occupation, opinion etc. gathered to discuss this subject. The Article explores the contribution of focus groups as a qualitative method of data collection amongst Hong Kong Chinese women. The Research conducted in two concurrent projects. focused on different subjects. In both projects the participants grouped into groups between 3-9 members in each group. As a result The focus is a suitable method to get quality data on Chinese population .

The research design and process Data collected from 2 research projects both used a case study design and each study used focus groups as a major method of data collection. In addition both studies involved samples of Hong Kong Chinese women Project A Multiple embedded design: case study design in 3 stages 1st stage: focus group interviews 4 community clinics – 26 nurses 9 focus groups- 3 to 9 members each Homogeneity groups: Registered nurses- Nursing officers Project B Multiple embedded design: two case studies in 3 stages 12 focus groups- 6 related to each case study, size 3-8 members

Factors Influencing the quality of data in focus groups Recruitment of participants. Group Homogeneity. Dominant participant. Number of participants in a group.( Not too small not too big 4-6). Group guide . Has to have leadership qualities. Language .(unique to this research) Interaction of the participants Contribution of individuals Relationships between participants and moderators

The advantage of Focus groups A major advantages of focus groups as a method of data collection results from the group process and the interaction of groups members The synergism created from the interaction is considered significant to the stimulation of new ideas and high levels of energy in discussion. This approach to data collection provides the opportunity of collecting in depth-information about complex topics in a relatively short space of time particularly since the aim of focus is not necessarily to achieve consensus amongst group members.

Analysis There is no definition of focus group( in this research context). There is no reference to the research question (deliberately). The technique used to compare between the 2 concurrent researches is unclear. What is quality data? The theoretical base ground of focus groups method is not solid. No mention about validity & reliability . The generalization of the case results is not evident. The research conducted in one language the analysis in another one.

Common issues in the articles In Both There are two main subjects: the research method and the research question. In Both the major conclusion refers to the research method. The authors (in both) claim that the research method used is suitable for the Conducted research, therefore they both deliver the required results. The Design method in Both: embedded multi case design method. There is no hard evidence that the research gives the answers to the research question. There is no Description of the complete design process. Both apply to the research community in the areas of nursing ,education Ethnographic sciences and professionals in the nursing area. Both Generalize the research results.

Differences case Study focus group Introduces the theory and the debate on case study research method. Concentrates on the theory of the research process. Generalization Based on theory. Theoretical Introduces some references to questions in focus groups theory. Concentrates on the issues arising the research process in details . Generalization based on induction Descriptive: recruitment, organization & work frame

The Quest for Theory Generalization Projection from singularity to commonality. The importance a general theory is a source of knowledge and reference. A case study deals with local and limited sources of data. In order to generalize a theory, a lot of experiments and case study researches have to be conducted. Replication logic has to be taken into consideration as part of the solution, together with supporting and contradicting theories and external sources of data . Extend or change the theory in accordance to new Data, theories. Determine the Limiting conditions to the generalization.

Summary What Can we learn from the articles ? what is required for a research method design Are those articles suitable for WBP?

Research method design Accurate definition of the Phenomena, the case and its context. Definition of the research Objective/Question (What is the research for?). Theoretical approach and support (to the research method and to the research question). Participants (Who is involved? ). Reliability of Data and results .Triangulation, cross reference data methods and external validity . Define units of measurement. Design the research process, based on the factors mentioned. How to operate the research ?how to save data? Data analysis. (methods, theories) Conclusions. Generalization.

Conclusions Two different research methods. Both utilize the research as a vehicle for promotion reserch method in practice. Any research method requires careful definition, design and analysis. The research method is suitable for the conducted research . The preferred research method for WBP is the case method.

Thanks for Attention

Case and Context

Units of analysis

Case Study A case for case studies: exploring the use of case study design in community nursing research . Bergen A. and While A. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2000,31(4),926-934.

Focus Groups An analysis of the effectiveness of focus groups as a method of qualitative data collection with Chinese populations in nursing research. Twinn S. (1998) – Journal of advanced nursing, 28(3), 654-661

WBP Reading 1 A practical study Research design, findings & conclusions fully described Descriptive: recruitment, organization & work frame Non explorative validity & reliability: unfounded scientific research base Reading2 Clear research design & data collection methods Fundaments a reliable case study research method Case studies examines objects as well as processes

Comments Reading 2 No mention about validity & reliability Two languages, diverse case studies Different Data analysis to find categories & sub-categories: Semi structured interviews – matrices (Miles & Huberman, 1994) Less structured interviews – coding system (Polit & Hunger,1995) Readg 2

Case study The research design Case and context: a clear definition of the case (unit of analysis=the case itself). Case within the case (teacher & pupil in order to build the school’s picture). Sources of data collection (sub-unit) – subjects or variables to be measured. External validity: not just case study approaches, is seldom an entirely new understanding of phenomena, but rather a `refinement of understanding‘. `by counter example [each] case study invites modification of the generalization. Pattern matching: whereby several pieces of information from the same case may be related to some theoretical proposition' (Yin 1994) & the results of the entire case are compared both with other cases and with the proposed theory. Literal replication occurs where there are predicted similar results. Triangulation: documentation, archival records, direct observation, participant observation, interviews and physical artifacts. Relationship to theory: The role of theory development, prior to the conduct of data collection, is one point of difference, to Yin (1994), between case studies and related methods, such as ethnography and grounded theory, although, like these, the case study may also be used for theory-building.

Focus group Research design Define the research Objective: get quality data using focus groups. Participants : Nurses, patients, Group leaders. How to recruit participants ? interviews,Lectures. The research process. How to operate it ?how to save data?( by tapes and semi structured forms). Data analysis. Summary and Conclusions