Case study method

Case Study: Meaning Definitions, Objectives, Characteristics, Steps, Types, Sources, Advantages, Disadvantages

1. 1 Case Study Method Dr. Rajashekhar Shirvalkar M.Sc(Maths and Physics), M.Ed, M.Phil(Edn), NET(Edn), Ph.D(Edn) Principal Shri Murugha Rajendra Swamiji B.Ed and M.Ed College, Kalaburagi

2. 2 Introduction: The case study is a method of intensively exploring and analysing the life of a single social unit, be it an individual, a family, an institution or a community. The aim of case study method is to find out the factors that account for the behaviour patterns of the given unit and its relationships with the environment . Today sociologists, political scientists, Anthropologists, Psychologists and ethnologists make use of the case study method while conducting their research. Significantly this method acquired the necessary impetus and recognition or a systematic field-research technique in Sociology with the classic study. Again, anthropologists and ethnologists interested in the systematic description and study of the primitive as well as modern culture have utilised the case study method. It is important to note that case study is not a method of data collection but is a research strategy or an empirical enquiry that uses multiple evidential sources. In the previous unit we have discussed about Ethnography. In this unit we shall discuss another method of collecting data i.e. Case Study. Here we will learn about objectives and characteristics of case study, steps in case study, significance, advantages and disadvantages of Case Study.

3. Meaning and Definitions of Case Study According to H. Odum , “The case study method is a technique by which individual factor whether it be an institution or just an episode in the life of an individual or a group is analyzed in its relationship to any other in the group.” Meaning: The case study method is a qualitative analysis and involves a careful and complete observation of a social unit, be that unit a person, a family, an institution, a cultural group, or even the entire community . It is a method of study in depth rather than breadth. The case study places more emphasis on the full analysis of a limited number of events or conditions and their interrelations. The case study deals with the processes that take place and their interrelationship. Thus , the case study is essentially an intensive investigation of the particular unit under consideration. The object of the case study method is to locate the factors that account for the behavior patterns of the given unit as an integrated totality. According to P.V Young, “A comprehensive study of a social unit be that unit a person, a group, a social institution, a district or a community.” The case study method is a form of qualitative analysis wherein careful and complete observation of an individual or a situation or an institution is done; efforts are made to study each and every aspect of the concerning unit in minute details and then from case data generalizations and inferences are drawn . Kromrey says that case study involves studying individual cases, often in their natural environment and for a long period of time. 3

4. Objectives of Case study : 1) The first and foremost objective of case study method is to analyse the behavioural patterns of a single unit and its relations with the environment. 2) Another major objective of a case study is that it forms the basis for a detailed study in the future. So we can say that case study is a preliminary form of investigation. 3) Case study determines and defines the research question and develops hypothesis in a quantitative study. 4) Case study is used by researchers to refute generalization in research . 5) One of the objectives of case study is to test whether a quantitative study can be done or not. 6) Case study explores, explains and describe a particular situation. 4

5. Characteristics of Cases Study The Important characteristics of the case study method are as under:

6. The researcher can take one single social unit or more of such units for his study purpose, may even take a situation to study the same comprehensively. To obtain enough information for drawing correct inferences. To make a complete study of the social unit covering all facets. Try to understand the complex factors that are operative within a social unit as an integrated totality. The approach happens to be qualitative and not quantitative. Mere quantitative information is not collected. Every possible effort is made to collect information concerning all aspects of life. To know the mutual inter-relationship of causal factors. The behavior pattern of the concerning unit is studied directly and not by an indirect and abstract approach. It results in fruitful hypotheses along with the data which may be helpful in testing them, and thus it enables the generalized knowledge to get richer and richer. 6

7. TYPES OF CASE STUDY 7 1)Illustrative Case Studies: These are primarily descriptive studies. They typically utilise one or two instances of an event to show what a situation is like. Illustrative case studies serve primarily to make the unfamiliar familiar and to give readers a common language about the topic in question . 2)Exploratory (or pilot) Case Studies: This type of case studies performed before implementing a large scale investigation. Their basic function is to help identify questions and select types of measurement prior to the main investigation. The primary pit fall of this type of study is that initial findings may seem convincing enough to be released prematurely as conclusions . 3)Cumulative Case Studies: These serve to aggregate information from several sites collected at different times. The idea behind these studies is the collection of past studies will allow for greater generalisation without additional cost or time being expended on new, possibly repetitive studies . 4)Critical Instance Case Studies: These examine one or more sites for either the purpose of examining a situation of unique interest with little to no interest in generalisability , or to call into question or challenge a highly generalised or universal assertion. This method is useful for answering cause and effect questions.

8. 8 5)Intrinsic Case study : The study of a case(person, group, department, community) where the case itself is the primary interest in exploration, is known as intrinsic case study. Here the researcher does not have to select one particular case. For example evaluating the implementation of a new principle in an organization . 6)Instrumental Case study : In this kind of case study, the researcher begins with a research question and makes use of a case that simplifies or illuminates his analysis. So we can say that in Instrumental case study, the case is simply a preliminary technique that paves way for further research. For example , a researcher interested in women and food habits might set up a study with middle aged women and calcium intakes in their food . In this case, the women and the food habits are not the focus. The focus is learning the relationship between women and the food habits, and why certain women have weaker bones. 7)Pilot case study : Sometimes a researcher conducts some condensed studies before implementing a large scale investigation. Such studies are called pilot or exploratory case studies. The main objective of this kind of case study is to have identifying research questions and selecting types of measurement . 8)Historical case study : Historical case study is dependent on recordings, documents and interviews. This type of study traces the development of a person, organization or a system over time. For example the study of a political party from its formation till its rise to power.

9. 9 9)Situational case study : Situational case study studies a particular event or situation. All participants of the event are sought and their views are recorded. That helps the researcher understand and analyse the situation as a whole. For example the reasons behind strike of workers in a factory. Here the management, the participant workers, the police force who arrived at the scene to control the situation are all interviewed.

10. Steps of Case Study 1) Step 1: Selection of the Case – Whether or not to opt for a Case Study depends on the type of research a person is conducting. If a case study is required, then he/she has to identify the main objective of conducting the study. The selection of a particular case depends on whether the study is simply a preliminary reading for further investigation or whether the researcher is interested in solving a particular problem through the Case Study 10

11. Step 2: Collection of Data – After selecting the case, the researcher has to make preparations for data collection through the case. Here, he/ she can use different methods such as personal interviews, survey of records and interviews etc. Generally quantitative techniques of data collection are applicable in this procedure. 11

12. Step 3: Preliminary Data Analysis – The third stage in a case study is systematically analysing the preliminary data collected from the case. This will help the researcher to raise more important questions relating to the research as well as to form relevant hypothesis. 12

13. Step 4: Thorough study of the case — After identifying the important questions and constructing the hypothesis the researcher conducts a thorough study of the case. Here, he/she uses the method of prolonged observation and formal as well as informal interviews. The researcher keeps on investigating until he/she finds satisfactory answers to the problem and can draw a clear picture of the investigation. 13

14. Step 5: Follow-Up Investigation—In order to ensure the reliability of the data so far collected, the researcher repeats the process of observation and interview and repeats questions whenever and wherever necessary. This follow –up helps him/her to arrive at reliable and valid conclusions. 14

15. Step 6: Generalization of the findings—Through the conclusion of the case study, the researcher ensures a generalization of the data collected and analysed . Through this generalization he/she can draw a clear picture of the investigation and extend this understanding to arrive at a conclusion. 15

16. SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION FOR CASE STUDY 16 In case study method researcher employs both primary and secondary sources of data collection. The secondary data may be collected by using a number of sources like books, magazine, newspaper, government reports, organizational meetings etc. Generally these sources are used to specify events and issues as well as study an object over a period of time. Case studies often employ two main techniques of primary data collectionInterview and observation. Interview : Interview is the simplest form of primary data collection in a case study. In most of the times, it is seen that interviewers choose unstructured interview while conducting case studies. This is because the usually open-ended questions of unstructured interviews pave the way for in-depth conversation that might be helpful to create a clear picture of the problem at hand. Observation : In case studies , the observation methods used could be of two kinds- participants and non-participants. Both these methods help the researcher to understand the reality of a situation from the view point of an outsider.

17. There are several advantages of the case study method, some of them are being: 1) To understand fully the behavior pattern of the concerned unit. 2) Helps to obtain a real and enlightened record of personal experiences. 3) This method enables the researcher to trace out the natural history of the social unit and its relationship with the social factors and the forces involved in its surrounding environment. 4) It helps in formulating relevant hypotheses along with the data which may be helpful in testing them. 5) It facilitates the intensive study of social units that’s why the case study method is being frequently used, particularly in social researches. 6) It helps a lot to the researcher in the task of constructing the appropriate questionnaire. 7) The researcher can use different methods such as depth interviews, questionnaires, documents, study reports of individuals, and so on. 8) It has proved beneficial in determining the nature of units to be studied along with the nature of the universe. So it is known as the “mode of organizing data”. 9) It means to well understand the past of a social unit because of its emphasis on historical analysis, also it’s a technique to suggest measures for improvement in the context of the present environment of the concerned social units. 10) It represents a real record of personal experiences which very often escape the attention of most of the skilled researchers using other techniques. 11) It enhances the experience, analyzing ability, and skills of the researcher. 12)It facilitates the drawing of inferences and helps in maintaining the continuity of the research process. 17 Advantages of Case Study Method

18. Disadvantages of Case Study Method Important limitations of the case study method may as well be highlighted. Case situations are seldom comparable and as such the information gathered in case studies is often not comparable. Since the subject under the case study tells history in his own words, logical concepts and units of scientific classification have to be read into it or out of it by the investigator. Read Bain does not consider the case data as significant scientific data since they do not provide knowledge of the “impersonal, universal, non-ethical, non-practical, repetitive aspects of phenomena.”8 Real information is often not collected because the subjectivity of the researcher does enter in the collection of information in a case study. The danger of false generalization is always there in view of the fact that no set rules are followed in the collection of the information and only a few units are studied. It consumes more time and requires a lot of expenditure. More time is needed under the case study method since one studies the natural history cycles of social units and that too minutely. The case data are often vitiated because the subject, according to reading Bain, may write what he thinks the investigator wants; and the greater the rapport, the more subjective the whole process is. The case study method is based on several assumptions which may not be very realistic at times, and as such, the use of case data is always subject to doubt. The case study method can be used only in a limited sphere, it is not possible to use it in the case of a big society. Sampling is also not possible under a case study method. Response of the investigator is an important limitation of the case study method. He often thinks that he has full knowledge of the unit and can himself answer about it. In case the same is not true, then consequences follow. In fact, this is more the fault of the researcher rather than that of the case method. 18

19. although the above stated limitations, we find that case studies are being undertaken in several disciplines, particularly in Education, as a tool of scientific research in view of the several advantages indicated earlier. Most of the limitations can be removed if researchers are always conscious of these and are well trained in the modern methods of collecting case data and in the scientific techniques of assembling, classifying, and processing the same. Besides , case studies, in modern times, can be conducted in such a manner that the data are amenable to quantification and statistical treatment. perhaps, this is also the reason why case studies are becoming popular day by day. 19