CASE STUDY

Case study - a method of studying a problem in some depth within a limited time scale. Usually focuses on one individual, one family, one group, one institution Allows you to examine the ‘inner workings of a situation. Allow the investigator to find out ‘how’ and ‘why’ rather than just ‘who, what and when’

CASE STUDY Provides a 3 dimensional picture - illustrates relationships and patterns of influence in a single context.

Descriptive Research Methods Case study Is it a research method?

The case study itself is not a research method The case study itself is not a research method. It uses a wide range of research methods to collect data about a particular case. A case can be ............. A case study is an in-depth, intensive and sharply focused exploration of the above.

Case Studies an intensive description and analysis of an individual or related group Research method originated in clinical medicine and takes an idiographic approach In-depth investigation of experiences to identify interactions and influences on psychological processes May consist of a case history (background) interviews, observation and questionnaires and may take place over a long period of time

Case study An in-depth study of one or a few individuals consisting of information gathered through other methods including observation, Interview Surveys Questinnaires and perhaps psychological testing

Case studies have the following characteristics: Idiographic Approach. Researchers are concerned with the particular rather than the general. This can be contrasted with the nomothetic approach, which aims to identify general laws and principles by averaging out individual variation. Holistic Approach. Considers the case within its particular context. Cases cannot be considered in isolation.

Types of CASE STUDIES Longitudinal Cross-sectional

Types of case studies

Case Studies can be used in 3 ways: as a free-standing method of research before a survey – to identify key issues after a survey - to follow up and put flesh on the bones

Famous Case Studies Phineas Gage Baby Albert Piaget’s children Three Faces of Eve Sperry’s Split Brain patients Kitty Genovese Little Hans HM Clive Wearing

Intrinsic versus instrumental case studies

Intrinsic case studies Intrinsic case studies represent nothing but themselves. The cases in intrinsic case studies are chosen because they are interesting in their own right. The researchers want to know about them in particular, rather than about a more general problem or phenomenon.

Instrumental case studies Constitute exemplars of a more general phenomenon. They are selected to provide the researcher with an opportunity to study the phenomenon of interest. The research question identifies a phenomenon (e.g. stress, bereavement, fame etc) and the cases are selected in order to explore’ how the phenomenon exists within a particular case’. In this design, individuals who are experiencing the phenomenon under investigation are all suitable cases for analysis.

Descriptive versus explanatory case studies

Descriptive case studies Descriptive case studies are concerned with providing a detailed description of a phenomenon but it is not explored in terms of existing theoretical formulations, but it is assumed that the description will generate new insights.

Explanatory case studies Explanatory case studies aim to generate explanations for the occurrences with which they are concerneds, i.e. descriptions of what is going on are accompanied by attempts to use explanatory concepts within the accound, so this kind of case study goes beyound the mere narrative or description.

Advantages of CASE STUDIES Highly detailed and in-depth. High ecological validity of the data gathered. It actually measures behaviour that is representative of behaviour occurring in a natural environment. Often experiments lack ecological validity due to their artificial setting. Often the only method suitable for studying forms of rare behaviour. allows the researcher to concentrate on a specific instance or situation allows the researcher to identify the various interactive processes at work. Yields large amount of data

More advantages Methodological triangulation Theory generation or support for existing theories

Case Studies as basis for Theory Development Detailed analysis can generate new insights into social ad psychological processes and this in turn can give rise to new theories and hypotheses. A good example of this would be Freud. Some claime that all theories are initially based on one particular case or object. Case studies are also very important in testing existing theories by looking at deviant or extreme cases.

Involves Triangulation A range of data collection methods are used to gain an in-depth knowledge of the research area. Triangulation enriches case study and helps researchers appreciate many dimensions of the case. Data collection methods are varied and can involve the following: Diaries, interviewing, observation, self- reports, official notes and documents (clinical notes). Any method that is deemed appropriate by the researcher.

Disadvantages of CASE STUDIES No cause-effect can be legitimately inferred. Difficult to generalise to the whole population as it is usually a very small or unrepresentative a sample. Reliability can be questioned due to; Recall of past events which may be open to memory distortion, lack of observer objectivity. Difficult or impossible to replicate. Time consuming and expensive. Possible observer bias Possible demand characteristics Potential privacy issues