2. CASE STUDY
- Is a process whereby researchers examine a specific subject in a
thorough, detailed way. The subject of a case study could be an individual, a
group, a community, a business, an organization, an event, or a phenomenon.
Regardless of the type of subject, case studies are in-depth investigations
designed to identify patterns and cause-and-effect relationships. Case studies
are often used by researchers in the field of psychology, medicine, business,
social work, anthropology, education, or political science.
3. A Person
A Group
An Organization
A Location
Some case studies focus on one
particular person.
Group case studies could look at a
family, a group of coworkers, or a
friend group.
An organizational case study could focus
on a business, a nonprofit, an institution,
or any other formal entity.
An event case study focuses on a specific area. It could be used
to study environmental and population changes or to examine
how people use the location.
Event case studies can be used to cover anything from a
natural disaster to a political scandal. Often, these case
studies are conducted retrospectively, as an investigation
into a past event.
An Event
4. Critical
Instance
Intrinsic
Cumulative
Descriptive
Exploratory TYPES
OF CASE
STUDY
Explanatory
An explanatory case
study tries to explain
the why or how behind
something.
A critical instance case study is
similar to an explanatory or intrinsic
study. Like an intrinsic study, it may
have no predetermined purpose
beyond investigating the subject.
An intrinsic case study
has no goal beyond a
deeper understanding
of its subject.
A cumulative, or collective, case study
uses information from several past
studies as the basis for a new study
A descriptive, or illustrative,
case study is designed to
shed light on an unfamiliar
subject. Case studies like this
provide in-depth, real-world
examples of whatever the
researcher wants to help the
audience understand.
An exploratory case
study, or pilot case study,
often serves as the first
step in a larger research
project.
An instrumental case study is the
opposite of an intrinsic study
because it serves a purpose
beyond understanding the
immediate subject
Instrumental
5. Advantages of Case Study
1. It turns client observations into useable
2. It turns opinion into fact.
3. It is relevant to all parties involved.
4. It uses a number of different research methodologies.
5. It can be done remotely.
6. It is inexpensive.
7. It is very accessible to readers.
Disadvantages of Case Study
1. It can have influence factors within the data.
2. It takes longer to analyze the data.
3. It can be an inefficient process.
4. It requires a small sample size to be effective.
5. It is a labor-intensive method of data collection.
6. How to write a case study?
1. Choose the situation on which to write
2. Gather as much information as possible about the situation
3. Analyze all of the elements surrounding the situation
4. Determine the final solution implemented
5. Gather information about why the solution worked or did not work.
