CASE STUDY IN LANGUAGE RESEARCH HELDA ALICIA HIDALGO DAVILA UNIVERSITY OF NARIÑO HUMAN SCIENCES SCHOOL LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

A case study is a qualitative method of research that helps us to study and comprehend an issue that is interesting for the researcher who can recur to experience and the literature on the field. Yin (1984) provides a definition of a case study as being a method for research that studies a “contemporary phenomenon” in a specific context. In this context, different kinds of evidence can be used.

CHARACTERISTICS:  Analysis of events  Analysis of conditions  Analysis of relationships  Analysis of real life teaching situations  Contextualized topics for analysis

Critique  Some researchers think that these case studies do not provide reliable conclusions because they are developed to a small scale.  Some other s argue that these case studies are not generalizable because they are developed to such a small scale  Some other researchers argue that case studies are useful only if exploratory studies want to be developed. Although the critics, researchers keep on using case studies in real life contexts to solve real life problems

Authors who defend case studies: o Robert E. Stake o Helen Simons o Robert K. Yin STEPS: 1.Define the research questions 2.Select cases 3.Determine data collection procedures 4.Determine data analysis procedures 5.Be ready to collect data 6.Evaluate the data collected 7.Analyze the data 8.Write the report

FOR CASE STUDIES : -Be careful when selecting cases -Be careful when selecting the data collection tools to increase the validity of the study -Select cases that are unique in some way -Select cases that can be considered typical -Select cases that can represent a geographic region, or select a parameter to select cases. -Go back as many times as needed to check if the case or cases satisfy the purpose of the study and can answer the research question -When multiple cases selected, each one should be treated as a separate entity -The conclusions can be taken as a set of conclusions for the whole study

STRENGHTS -It uses a variety of data collection instruments -It can use a variety of data analysis techniques -Data collection is for the most qualitative -Data collection can also comprise quantitative techniques DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES -Surveys -Interviews -Document reviews -Observation -Physical artifacts (anthropology, archeology)

EXAMPLE: From Context to Curriculum: A Case Study of Communicative Language Teaching in China by Guangyong Sun and Liying Cheng This study presents a research based on a case study to implement communicative methodology in a China institution in which English is taught as a foreign language. The context in this study is: The private Pui Ching Commercial College The case: to implement communicative teaching at this school by means of the adaptation of a program at the school for its implementation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Busha, C. H., & Harter, S. P. (1980). Research methods in librarianship, techniques and interpretation. New York: Academic Press. Chang, H. C. (1974). Library goals as responses to structural milieu requirements: A comparative case study. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1984). Qualitative data analysis: A sourcebook of new methods. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

TASK 2 Answer the following questions 1.Do you think a case study can be applied in your research? 2.What characteristics from case studies can fit your paper? 3.Establish the difference between action research and case studies 4.Look for an example of a case study related to the topic you are researching about. From this study establish: 4.1 title and author 4.2 Purpose or objective 4.3 Context 4.4 Case 4.5 What is the relation of this case study and your research topic. REMEMBER TO SEND THIS TASK THROUGH MAIL