CASE STUDY

List 5 data collection methods in a case study.

*1)* Document analysis *2)* Surveys *3)* Participant or non-participant observation *4)* Participatory or action research *5)* Interviews

What is the procedure in conducting a case study?

*1)* Determine the case *2)* Purposeful sampling *3)* Data collection extensive *4)* Holistic analysis (can focus on a few themes-context of the case) *5)* When multiple cases are chosen a typical format is to provide a detailed description of each case and themes/ within the case called within-case analysis (themes analysis); cross case analysis (thematic).

What are the characteristics of a case study?

*a)* A descriptive study *b)* Combines objective and subjective data *c)* Process-oriented *d)* In-depth investigation of experiences that allow to identify interactions and influences on *e)* psychological processes

What are the advantages of a case study?

*a)* Case studies are *more flexible* than many other types of research and allow the researcher to discover and explore as the research develops. *b)* Case studies *emphasize in-depth content*. The researcher is able to delve deep and use a variety of data sources to get a complete picture. *c)* The data is collected in a *natural setting and context*. *d)* Often *leads to the creation of new hypotheses* that can be tested later. *e)* Case studies often *shed new light on an established theory* that results in further exploration. *f)* Permitting *investigation of inaccessible situations*.

Who do case studies focus on?

*a)* Individuals *b)* Communities *c)* Social groups *d)* Organisations, institutions *e)* Events, roles, relationships and interactions

What are the disadvantages of a case study?

*a)* The uniqueness of the data usually means that it is *not able to be replicated*. *b)* Case studies have some level of *subjectivity* and *researcher bias* may be a problem. *c)* Because of the in-depth nature of the data, it is *not possible to conduct the research on a large scale*. *d)* There are *concerns about the reliability, validity and generalizability* of the results. *e)* Data can hold *unreliable memory distortions* from the subjects.

*Case study* definition

Case study methods involve systematically gathering enough information about a particular person, social setting, event, or group to permit the researcher to effectively understand how it operates or functions.