1. 10.4 Qualitative Research
Case Studies
Ms. Binns

2. Learning Outcomes Evaluate the use of case studies in research
Explain how a case study could be used to investigate a problem in an organization or group (team, family)
Discuss the extent to which findings can be generalized from a single case study

3. Case Studies An in-depth investigation of human experience
One person
Family
Social group
An event
An organization
Design can be a single case study or multiple case studies which are compared
A research strategy that uses many data sources

4. Willig (2001) Intrinsic case studies Instrumental case studies
Represent nothing but themselves
Interesting in their own right (wolf children)
only one phenomenon which is unusual
Instrumental case studies
More general phenomenon – losing a child, homeless, illness
Any individual that experiences the phenomenon is a useful case in instrumental studies

5. Willig (2002) Descriptive case studies Explanatory case studies
Generate a detailed description of a phenomenon
Generates new knowledge
Data is not analysed in terms of existing theory
Explanatory case studies
Aim to describe and find possible explanations for the phenomenon
Analysis is based on existing theory or may generate new theory (grounded theory)

6. Willig (2001) Case studies should always be seen in context
Psychological, sociocultural, historical and biological dimensions must be identified and explored
Individuals can not be understood in isolation
Data collection
Semi-structured interviews (most common)
Focus groups, letters, diaries, notes, questionnaires
observations
Triangulation for different perspectives- rich data
Conclusions based on multiple sources more trustworthy and accurate

7. Strengths
Allows us to study phenomenon outside of the lab that can not be created in the lab
Clive Wearing
Permits insights into social processes in a group
Group culture, communication, beliefs, attribution
Stimulates new research
Case studies in brain damaged people started research in memory processes and BLOA
Contradicts established theory and helps develop new ones
Czech twin study showed that some deprived children were resilient and sparked studies on factors that promote resilience.

8. Limitations Difficult to define a case study
Multiply data collection modalities
When does a collection of studies on a topic become a case study?
Researcher bias (as in all research)
Memory distortions and effects of social desirability
Data depends on peoples cognitions (perceptions, memory) and these can be affected by desire to fit in (conformity) and reactivity

9. Ethical Considerations
As participants are either single or small groups it is harder to maintain anonymity and confidentiality
Data collection of participants self-reflections may cause psychology harm

10. Generalization
By definition individual case studies can not be replicated (Clive Wearing, HM, little Hans)
If evidence from other studies confirms finding then there could be generalization
Transferability
Results can be generalized to existing theory to support the theory but not to specific populations (Yin, 1994)

11. Tasks Be a critical thinker p. 374 Be a researcher p. 374
Read p and answer questions
Review the learning objectives for case studies at the beginning of the chapter/PP. Create a product (mind map, booklet, poster, electronic flash cards) that will help you answer these objectives.