This document provides an overview of case studies as a research method. It defines case studies as an in-depth analysis of a bounded system or small group. The document outlines the characteristics of case studies, including that they provide a unique example of real-world situations. It also discusses the strengths of case studies in capturing lived experiences and the weaknesses in generalizing findings. Additionally, the document reviews types of case studies, why they are useful research tools, best practices for conducting case studies, and different design approaches.

1. CASE STUDIES
Case Studies……Case Studies….Case Studies….Case Studies….Case Studies
EZEL MAE H. TADLAS

2. Definition and
Characteristics
Types
Why use
STEPS & Things
to avoid
Strengths and
Weaknesses
Case Study
Designs
CASE 1
CASE 2
CASE 3
ICEBREAKER
VOYAGE IN UNDERSTANDING
CASE STUDIES

3. DEFINITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CASE STUDIES

4. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+description

5. an in-depth description and analysis of a bounded
system.
the collection and presentation of detailed information
about a particular participant or small group, frequently
including the accounts of subjects themselves.
provides a systematic way of looking at events,
collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting the
results.
https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+description

6.  It provides a unique example of real people in real situations,
enabling readers to understand ideas more clearly than simply
presenting them with abstract theories or principles.
 Case studies can established cause and effect, indeed one of
their strengths is that they observe effects in real contexts,
recognizing that context is a powerful determinant of both
causes and effects
https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+description

7.  they can be defined with reference to
characteristics defined by individuals and
groups involved;
 can be defined by participants’ roles and
function in the case (Hitchcock and Hughes
1995: 319)
https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+description

8.  Case studies strive to portray ‘what is it like’ to be in particular
situation, to catch the close up reality and ‘thick description’
(Geertz 1973b) of participants’ lived experiences of, thoughts
about and feelings for a situation.
 They involve looking at a case or a phenomenon in its real-life
context, usually employing many types of data (Robson 2002:
178)
https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+description

9.  It is important in in case studies for events and
situations to be allowed to speak for
themselves, rather than to be largely
interpreted, evaluated or judged by the
researcher.
 In this respect the case study is akin to the
television documentary.
https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+description

10. https://www.google.searchcase+studies+research+characteristics

11. https://www.google.searchcase+studies+research+characteristics
1. Particularistic: focuses on a particular situation, event,
program or phenomenon
2. Descriptive: the end product is a rich, thick description of
the phenomenon being studied.
3. Heuristic: the cases studied illuminate the reader’s
understanding of the phenomenon under study
- brings about the discovery of new meanings
- extend the reader’s experience
- confirm what is already known

12. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+characteristic
Scientific
Reliable
Valid method
It is the best method to use for diagnostics and further remedial
teaching so very important for the teachers.
It provides complete information about individual’s behavior his
environment, insight to the nature of the cases of suffering personal,
social, emotional, and educational abnormalities
(e.g.: the movie taare zameen par (Every Child Is Special) is an
example of studying a problem of dyslexia child and the remedial
teaching done by Aamir khan his teacher.)

14. TYPES OF CASE STUDIES

15. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+types

16. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+types
Historical:
The study of the development of a particular phenomenon over time
1. Holistic analysis and description from a historical perspective
2. Preferred when there’s virtually no access or control
(i.e. an evening school for working adults in the early 1900s)
Observational:
The primary data collection method is participant observation
supplemented with formal and informal interviews
(i.e., the staff break room of an organization)

17. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+types
Illustrative Case Studies:
Primarily descriptive studies
1. Utilizes one or two instances of an event to show what a situation is
like
2. Tries to make the unfamiliar familiar and to give readers a common
language about the topic in question
Exploratory (or pilot) Case Studies:
Condensed case studies performed before implementing a large scale
investigation
1. Basic function is to help identify questions and select types of
measurement prior to the main investigation
2. Primary pitfall is that initial findings may seem convincing enough to
be released prematurely as conclusions

18. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+types
Cumulative Case Studies:
Serves to aggregate information from several sites collected at
different times
1. The collection of past studies will allow for greater
generalization without additional cost or time being expended
on new, possibly repetitive studies
Critical Instance Case Studies:
Examines one or more sites for either the purpose of examining a
situation of unique interest with little to no interest in
generalizability, or to call into question or challenge a highly
generalized or universal assertion
1. Useful for answering cause and effect questions

19. REASONS WHY IT IS GOOD TO USE CASE STUDIES

20. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+why?use

21. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+why?use
To diagnose what the problems or
issues in the case are, and why they
have occurred, to consider a variety of
solutions; and to justify what you
believe to be the best solution.

22. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+why?use
Knowledge is:
- More concrete
- More contextual
- More developed by reader interpretation
- Based more on reference populations determined by the
reader
 Depends on what the researcher wants to know
1. Specific “how” and “why” questions
2. When you have less control of the events
3. When variables are so embedded in the situation that they’re
impossible to identify ahead of time
4. Uniqueness of the situation

24. STEPS IN CONDUCTING CASE STUDIES

25. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+why?steps

26. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+steps
Steps in Conducting Case Study:
1. Determine topic
2. Determine type of case study method used and mode of data
collection:
- Documents
- Archival records
- Interviews
- Direct observation
- Participant observation
- Artifacts
3. Select participants
4. Collect data
5. Data Analysis
- Typically done holistically or through coding
6. Write up report

27. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+avoid

28. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+avoid
This is not to say that case studies are unsystematic or merely illustrative; case study data are
gathered systematically and rigorously. Indeed Nisbet and Watt (1984: 91) specifically counsel case
study researchers to avoid:
Journalism: picking out more striking features on the case, thereby distorting the full account in
order to emphasize these more sensational aspects
Selective reporting: selecting only that evidence which will support a particular conclusion,
thereby misrepresenting the whole case
An anecdotal style: degenerating into an endless series of low-level banal and tedious illustrations
that take over from in-depth, rigorous analysis;
Pomposity: striving to derive or generate profound theories from low-level data, or by wrapping
up accounts in high-sounding verbiage
Blandness: unquestioningly accepting only the respondents’ views, or including only those aspects
of the case study on which people agree rather than areas on which they might disagree.

29. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+icebreaker

30. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF CASE STUDIES

31. https://www.google. case+studies+res+strengths/weaknesses

32. https://www.google.case+studies+research+strengthsweaknesses
Strengths:
1.Anchored in real-life situations
2.Holistic account of the phenomenon
3.Advances a field’s knowledge base
4.Flexible
5.Contextualization of the phenomenon

33. https://www.google.case+studies+research+strengthsweaknesses
Weaknesses:
1. Difficult to generalize
2. Some say it’s too subjective
3. May be costly
- hard to rationalize cost in a budget request
4. Some ethical considerations
- financial - researcher integrity
5. Time consuming

35. CASE STUDIES DESIGNS

36. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+designs

37. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+designs
•Single vs. Multiple case
•Single case appropriate in certain conditions
•Multiple case design better in general
•Embedded vs. Holistic
•Holistic = one unit of analysis
•Embedded = several units of analysis

38. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+designs
Context
Case
Context
Case
Embedded
Unit of
Analysis 1
Embedded
Unit of
Analysis 2
Context
Case
Context
Case
Context
Case
Context
Case
Context
Case
Context
Case
Context
Case
Context
Case
U1 U2
U1 U2
U1 U2
U1 U2
Holistic
(single unit
of analysis)
Embedded
(multiple units
of analysis)

39. https://www.google.search?case+studies+research+end