What Is A Case Study?

Summary

This video explains the concept of case studies, using the *Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation* as a reference. It outlines the definition of a case study, its academic uses, and its categorization into exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory types. The video also provides a step-by-step guide on how to design, conduct, analyze, and report a case study, emphasizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Viewers are encouraged to apply this framework in their own research projects.

Takeaways

• 😀 Case studies are in-depth examples used to illustrate specific arguments or research topics.
• 😀 In academic terms, a case study is a method for developing a complete understanding of a process, program, or event.
• 😀 Case studies can integrate both quantitative and qualitative data, though they tend to focus more on qualitative insights.
• 😀 Case studies can serve various purposes, such as defining research questions, describing events within their context, or establishing cause-and-effect relationships.
• 😀 The three main types of case studies are exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory.
• 😀 An exploratory case study helps define questions and hypotheses for subsequent research, such as analyzing the success of a welfare program in a state.
• 😀 A descriptive case study presents a detailed and nuanced description of an event within its context, emphasizing specificities.
• 😀 An explanatory case study focuses on establishing cause-and-effect relationships, such as examining the effects of eating before swimming.
• 😀 Researchers typically follow four steps to conduct a case study: design the study, collect data, analyze the data, and prepare the case study report.
• 😀 During the design phase, researchers must develop clear research questions and a framework to guide the study.
• 😀 Researchers use a variety of methods, such as surveys, interviews, and document analysis, to gather data during the research phase.

Q & A

What is the definition of a case study in an academic context?

In an academic context, a case study is a method used to develop a complete understanding of a process, program, event, or activity. It is used as a research approach to gain an in-depth view of a specific issue or topic, often incorporating both qualitative and quantitative information.

What types of information do case studies typically focus on?

Case studies typically focus on qualitative information to provide a detailed and in-depth picture of the issue being studied. Although they can integrate quantitative data, the emphasis is on qualitative insights.

What are the main purposes of conducting a case study?

Case studies can be used for various purposes, such as defining questions and hypotheses for subsequent studies, presenting a detailed description of an event within its context, or establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

What are the three main categories of case studies?

Case studies are generally categorized into three types: exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory. Each serves a different research purpose, from defining hypotheses to explaining causal relationships.

What is an exploratory case study?

An exploratory case study is aimed at defining the questions and hypotheses of a subsequent study. It involves in-depth research and analysis of a specific case, such as the successful operation of a welfare program in a particular state.

How does a descriptive case study differ from other types?

A descriptive case study presents a complete, detailed description of an event within its context. It emphasizes nuanced, contextual specificities, providing a comprehensive account of the case being studied.

What is the focus of an explanatory case study?

An explanatory case study focuses on establishing cause-and-effect relationships. It investigates how certain causes lead to specific effects, such as examining the impact of eating before swimming on performance or health.

What are the four main steps in conducting a case study?

The four main steps in conducting a case study are: 1) designing the study, 2) conducting the study through methods like interviews and surveys, 3) analyzing the collected data, and 4) preparing the case study report.

What methods can be used to conduct a case study?

Case study research can involve various methods, such as interviews, surveys, questionnaires, document analysis, historical research, and other methods deemed appropriate for the study.

What should be included in the case study report?

A case study report should include the findings of the study, an outline of the context in which the study was conducted, a description of the data collection methods, and any limitations of the case study.