INTRODUCTION
Case study research excels at
bringing us to an understanding of a complex issue or object and can extend
experience or add strength to what is already known through previous research.
Case studies emphasize detailed contextual analysis of a limited number of
events or conditions and their relationships. Researchers have used the case
study research method for many years across a variety of disciplines. Social
scientists, in particular, have made wide use of this qualitative research
method to examine contemporary real-life situations and provide the basis for
the application of ideas and extension of methods. Researcher Robert K. Yin
defines the case study research method as an empirical inquiry that
investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context; when the
boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident; and in which
multiple sources of evidence are used.
Critics of the case study method
believe that the study of a small number of cases can offer no grounds for
establishing reliability or generality of findings. Others feel that the
intense exposure to study of the case biases the findings. Some dismiss case
study research as useful only as an exploratory tool. Yet researchers continue
to use the case study research method with success in carefully planned and
crafted studies of real-life situations, issues, and problems. Reports on case
studies from many disciplines are widely available in the literature.
This paper explains about case study.
DISCUSSION
A.
Definition
of Case Study
A case study is a story about something unique,
special, or interesting, stories can be
about
individuals, organizations, processes, programs, neighborhoods, institutions,
and
even
events.1 The case study gives the story behind the result by capturing what
happened
to
bring it about, and can be a good opportunity to highlight a project’s success,
or to
bring
attention to a particular challenge or difficulty in a project. Cases2 might be
selected
because
they are highly effective, not effective, representative, typical, or of
special interest.
A
few examples of case study topics are provided below—the case studies would
describe
what
happened when, to whom, and with what consequences in each case.
B. Advantages
and Limitations of a Case Study
The primary advantage of a case study is that it
provides much more detailed information than what is available through other
methods, such as surveys. Case studies also allow one to present data collected
from multiple to provide the complete story. There are a few limitations and
pitfalls however:
·
Can be
lengthy
·
Concern that
case studies lack rigor
·
Not
generalizable
C. Process
for Conducting a Case Study
1. Plan
·
Identify stakeholders who will be
involved.
·
Brainstorm a case study topic, considering
types of cases and why they are unique or of interest.
·
Identify what information is needed and
from whom (see “What are Potential Sources of Information?” and “What are the
Elements of a Case Study?”).
2. Develop
Instruments
·
Develop interview/survey protocols—the
rules that guide the administration and implementation of the interview/survey.
Put simply, these are the instructions that are followed to ensure consistency
across interviews/surveys, and thus increase the reliability of the findings.
The following instructions for the should be included in the protocol
3. Train
Data Collectors
·
Identify and train data collectors (if
necessary).
4. Collect Data
·
Gather all relevant documents.
·
Set up interviews/surveys with
stakeholders (be sure to explain the purpose, why the stakeholder has been
chosen, and the expected duration).
5. Analyze
Data
·
Review all relevant documents.
·
Review all interview/survey data.
6. Disseminate
Findings
·
Write report
·
Solicit feedback.
D. Elements
of a Case Study
1.
The Problem: It
is essential to identify what the problem was.
2.
Steps
Undertaken to Address the Problem: What was done
(activities/ interventions/ inputs), where, by whom, for whom?
3. Results: the results of your
intervention, particularly the significant or unique results.
4. Challenges and how they were met: This
focuses on what challenges or difficulties you encountered and what you did to
overcome them.
5. Beyond Results: Are the results are mentioned above
sustainable.
6. Lessons Learned: What
lessons were learned: programmatic, technical, financial, process.
E.
Types of Case Studies
1.
Explanatory: Used to do causal investigations.
Exploratory:
A case study that is sometimes used as a prelude to further, more in-depth
research. This allows researchers to gather more information before developing
their research questions and hypotheses.
2.
Descriptive: Involves starting with a descriptive
theory. The subjects are then observed and the information gathered is compared
to the pre-existing theory.
3.
Intrinsic: A type of case study in which the
researcher has a personal interest in the case.
4.
Collective: Involves studying a group of individuals.
5.
Instrumental: Occurs when the individual or group
allows researchers to understand more than what is initially obvious to
observers.
F.
Case Study Methods
1.
Prospective: A type of case study in which an
individual or group of people is observed in order to determine outcomes. For
example, a group of individuals might be watched over an extended period of
time to observe the progression of a particular disease.
2.
Retrospective: A type of case study that involves
looking at historical information. For example, researchers might start with an
outcome, such as a disease, and then backwards at information about the
individuals life to determine risk factors that may have contributed to the
onset of the illness.
G.
Sources of Information Used in a Case Study
There are a number of different sources and methods
that researchers can use to gather information about an individual or group.
The six major sources that have been identified by researchers are:
1. Direct
observation: This strategy involves observing the subject, often in a natural
setting. While an individual observer is sometimes used, it is more common to
utilize a group of observers.
2. Interviews:
One of the most important methods for gathering information in case studies. An
interview can involves structured survey-type questions, or more open-ended
questions.
3. Documents:
Letters, newspaper articles, administrative records, etc.
4. Archival
records: Census records, survey records, name lists, etc.
5. Physical
artifacts: Tools, objects, instruments and other artifacts often observed
during a direct observation of the subject.
6. Participant
observation: Involves the researcher actually serving as a participant in
events and observing the actions and outcomes.
H. Presenting
Case Studies
Case studies are flexible in that they can be
presented in a number of ways, there is no
specific
format to follow. However, like all evaluation results, justification and
methodology of the study should be provided, as well as any supporting
information (i.e., copies of instruments and guides used in the study). Case
studies may stand alone or be included in a larger evaluation report. If
presented as a stand-alone report, the following report outline is suggested:
1. Introduction
and Justification
2. Methodology
·
Describe the process of selecting the
case and data collection sources, as well as how data was collected.
·
Limitations of this method.
·
instruments were used to collect data.
·
sample(s) is/are being used.
·
period of time was this data collected
3. The
Problem
4. The
Steps Taken to Address the Problem
5. The
Results
6. The
Challenges and How They were Met
7. Beyond
Results
8. Lessons
Learned
9. Conclusion
10. Appendices
A well-written report
would contain the following elements:
- Executive summary. This
is a concisely written statement, less than one page, placed at the front
of the report. It briefly summarizes the major points of the case and your
solution. It should describe the major issue, the proposed solution, and
the logic supporting the solution.
- Problem statement. Present
the central issue(s) or major problem(s) in the case here. Do not rehash
the facts of the case; assume that anyone reading the report is familiar
with the case.
- Alternatives. Discuss all relevant
alternatives. Briefly present the major arguments for and against each
alternative. Be sure to state your assumptions and the impact of
constraints on each alternative.
- Conclusion. Present the analysis and
the logic that led you to select a particular solution. Also discuss the
reasons you rejected the other alternatives.
- Implementation. Outline a plan of action
that will lead to effective implementation of the decision so that the
reader can see not only why you chose a particular alternative but how it
will work.
Preparation of an oral
case report should include the following:
- Description of the case situation. Present
a brief overview of the situation in the case. Sometimes a teacher will
ask a student to start off the classroom discussion with this overview.
- Problem statement. Describe
the major issue(s) or problem(s) in the case.
- Analysis of the key alternatives. Present
the results of your analysis of relevant alternatives in a concise manner.
Depending on the type of analysis, this is sometimes called "running
the numbers."
- Conclusion. Briefly describe the
logic that led you to choose the alternative. Summarize why the other
alternatives were not chosen.
- Implementation. Present your
implementation plan.
CONCLUSION
Case studies are complex because they generally
involve multiple sources of data, may include multiple cases within a study,
and produce large amounts of data for analysis. Researchers from many
disciplines use the case study method to build upon theory, to produce new
theory, to dispute or challenge theory, to explain a situation, to provide a
basis to apply solutions to situations, to explore, or to describe an object or
phenomenon. The advantages of the case study method are its applicability to
real-life, contemporary, human situations and its public accessibility through
written reports. Case study results relate directly to the common readers
everyday experience and facilitate an understanding of complex real-life
situations.
REFERENCES
Palena neale. 2006. Reparing a case study: A guide for designing and Conducting a case
study for Evaluation input. USA.
http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/ag/agecon/391/casestudmeth.html
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