This document discusses the case study method of research. It defines a case study as a detailed examination of a person, group, or event that aims to understand phenomena in their real-world context. The document outlines characteristics of case studies such as their particularistic, descriptive, and inductive nature. It also discusses advantages like providing rich data, and criticisms around generalizability and lack of rigor. Finally, it concludes that case studies present real-life data but cannot generalize, yet remain useful for exploratory research.

1. Case Study Method
Presented by Ms Rabia Javed Iqbal
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
1

2. Meaning
• A detailed intensive study of a unit, such as a corporation or a
corporate division, that stresses factors contributing to its
success or failure.
• A detailed analysis of a person or group, especially as a model
of medical, psychiatric, psychological, or social phenomena.
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
2

3. 13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
3

4. Definitions
• An empirical inquiry that investigates a current
phenomenon within its real-life context (especially
when the boundaries between phenomenon and
context are not clearly evident).
• 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 an object — within which
the study is conducted and which the case illuminates
and explicates. G. Thomas, 2011
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
4

5. Continue…
• A case study uses as many data sources as possible or
practicable, to investigate individuals, groups, organizations or
events.
• Case studies are performed when a researcher needs to
understand or explain specific phenomenon, or examine the
phenomena in situation.
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
5

6. 13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
6

7. When to Use Cases Studies
• In general (though not exclusively), when ‘how?’
And/or ‘why?’ Questions are being used, when
the investigator has little control over events,
and when the focus is on modern phenomena in
real-life contexts.
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
7

8. Characteristics
• Particularistic—focus on particular.
• Descriptive—rich, detailed data.
• Heuristic—a vehicle to give fresh insight.
• Inductive—principles/generalities (are ‘grounded’ in)
i.e. Emerge from data studied.
• The number of unit to be studied is small.
• It studies a social unit deeply and thoroughly.
• It is qualitative as well as quantitative.
• It covers sufficient wide cycle of time.
• It has continuity in nature.
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
8

9. Stages in a Case Study Method of Data
Collection
• Choice of a case or selection of a problem.
• Description of the events.
• Factors influencing study.
• Data processing.
• Data recording.
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
9

10. Categories of Case Study Method
Yin’s described these 3 categories:
1. Exploratory—set to explore any phenomenon in the data
which serves as a point of interest to the researcher.
2. Descriptive—saying what happened e.g. Accident inquiries
or success stories etc.
3. Explanatory—explaining why something happened as well
as how it occurred. Also examine the data closely both at a
surface and deep level in order to explain the phenomena in
the data.
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
10

11. Advantages
• Rich data.
• Clues for those seeking further research ideas.
• Can be used to gather descriptive, explanatory data,
initiate change and theory generation.
• Can suggest why events occurred.
• Lots of data sources-across the spectrum.
• Make decision making easier
• Improve the analytical quality of decisions
• Reduce the time required to make decisions
• Increase the frequency of correct decisions.
• Deeper understanding.
• Fact-driven
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
11

12. Criticisms of Case Method
• Concern over lack of ‘rigour (objectivity)’ compared to
quantitative methods.
• Lack of generalization.
• Lack of clearly defined methods.
• Time-consuming.
• Costs.
• Bias in data collection and analysis.
• Case studies cannot be used to determine causation.
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
12

13. Conclusion
13/12/2022
Tom
Cockburn
wintec
Research
methods
lecture
7
2004
13
• Case studies are considered useful in research as they enable
researchers to examine data at the micro level.
• As an alternative to quantitative or qualitative research, case studies
can be a practical solution when a big sample population is difficult to
obtain.
• Case studies present data of real-life situations and they provide
better insights into the detailed behaviors of the subjects of interest.
• Case study also criticized for their inability to generalize their results.
• Often time, case study is dismissed as useful only as an exploratory
tool. Despite these criticisms, researchers continue to deploy the case
study method particularly in studies of real-life situations governing
social issues and problems.
• Case studies from various disciplines and domains are widely
reported in the literature.