2. HISTORY
Frederic Le Play first introduced the case-study method into social
science in 1829 as a Handmaiden to statistics in his studies of
family budgets.
Other roots stem from the early 20th century, when researchers
working in the disciplines of sociology, psychology, and
anthropology began making case studies.
3. DEFINITION
It is a systematic inquiry into an event or a set of related events
which aims to describe and explain the phenomenon of interest.
(BROMLEY, (1990)
Case studies, In their true essence, explore and investigate
contemporary real-life phenomenon through detailed contextual
analysis of a limited number of events or conditions, and their
relationships.
4. DEFINITION (CONT…)
It is an in-depth investigation of a single entity or small number of
entities, which could be an individual, family, group, institution,
community or other social unit.
5. TYPES OF CASE STUDY RESEARCH
• YIN (1993) has identified:
Exploratory :
Usually precursor to a formal large scale project. The goal is to prove
that further investigation is necessary.
Example: Veterans coming home from active combat.
Explanatory:
Causal investigations and focuses on an explanation for a question or a
phenomenon.
Example: Automobile crashes caused by faulty brakes. Brakes not
6. TYPES OF CASE STUDY RESEARCH (CONT.)
Stake (1995) included three others:
Intrinsic :
When the researcher has an interest in the case.
Example: “Genie” Case is example of Intrinsic.
Instrumental:
Uses a case to gain insights into a phenomenon.
Example: A researcher interested in child obesity rates might set up a
study with middle school students and an exercise program.
7. TYPES OF CASE STUDY RESEARCH
(CONT.)
Collective OR Multiple-Case Studies:
Use information from different studies to formulate the case for a
new study. The use of past studies allows additional information
without needing to spend more time and money on additional
studies.
Example:
When studying what contributes most to wartime stress disorder.
A researcher could use case studies from different war.
8. STEPS OF CASE STUDY
Step:1 Determine and Define the Research Questions:
Generally starts with a “how” or “why.”
The researcher establishes the focus of the study by forming questions
about the situation or problem to be studied and determining a
purpose for the study.
Step:2 Select the Cases and Determine Data Gathering and Analysis
Techniques:
During the design phase of case study research, the researcher
determines what approaches to use in selecting single or multiple real-
9. STEPS OF CASE STUDY
(CONT.)
Throughout the design phase, researchers must ensure that the
study is well constructed to ensure construct validity, external
validity and reliability.
Step:3 Prepare to Collect the Data:
To prevent the researcher from becoming overwhelmed by the
amount of data and to prevent the researcher from losing sight of
the original research purpose and questions.
Advance preparation assists in handling large amounts of data in a
documented and systematic fashion.
10. STEPS OF CASE STUDY
(CONT.)
Step:4 Collect Data in the Field:
The researcher must collect and store multiple sources of evidence comprehensively
and systematically.
Case study research is flexible, but when changes are made, they are documented
systematically.
Step:5 Evaluate and Analyze the Data:
The researcher examines raw data using many interpretations in order to find
linkages between the research object and the outcomes with reference to the
original research questions. throughout the evaluation and analysis process,
11. STEPS OF CASE STUDY
(CONT.)
The case study method, with its use of multiple data collection methods and
analysis techniques, provides researchers with opportunities to triangulate
data in order to strengthen the research findings and conclusions.
Step:6 Prepare the Report:
The goal of the written report is to portray a complex problem in a way that
conveys a vicarious experience to the reader.
Researchers pay particular attention to displaying sufficient evidence to gain
the readers confidence that all avenues have been explored, clearly
communicating the boundaries of the case, and giving special attention to
conflicting propositions.
12. TYPES OF DESIGN’S
1) Single Case- Holistic (Extreme or Unique Case)
2) Single Case-Embedded
3) Multiple – Holistic (Literal or Theoretical Replication)
4) Multiple –Embedded
13. 3 PRINCIPLES OF DATA
COLLECTION
Use Multiple Sources of Data,(Triangulation):
Create a Case study Database:
Case study notes, Case study documents ,Narratives.
Maintain a chain of Evidence:
Research questions to ultimate conclusions, the circumstances.
