Case study
When evaluating a case study as a form of research, it provides detailed and comprehensive investigations which focus on people, groups, event or community. Case studies are ideal for research as they aim at studying processes and developments over extended periods. Thus, the process involves gathering data from the communities using methods such as interviews and observations. Data collection assist in gaining insights by viewing vents and then reconstructing the history mainly used in the case of a single participant or in cases of a group of individuals. Case studies are qualitative and result mostly in narrations and descriptions of behaviors and experiences. Case studies in most cases emphasize exploration and explanation of occurrences(Flick, 2018).case studies are common in psychology giving more insights and enhancing investigations, observations, unstructured interviews and the use of the participants’ personal daily routine or belongings such as letters, diaries, notes, official documents, and reports(Crawford, 2017).
Advantages of Case Studies
My research revealed that conducting case studies as a method of research is advantageous and significant.The process has potential benefits and rewards for researchers. First, compared to other research methods cases studies are more flexible and give the researcher room and freedom to discover and explore events as research progresses(Taylor et al., 2015) (Flick, 2018). They also cover in-depth content which enables the researcher to engage in more profound researcher and enhance the use of various data sources to create a clear and complete picture of the occurrences and the impacts.
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Researchers who exploit the use of case studies benefit from exposure to natural setting and context which enables them to develop and create new hypotheses. Such reviews are also useful because they provide a holistic approach to research through its focus on specific cases. The setting allows for future hypothesis testing and conclusions(Taylor et al., 2015).In many instances, cases studies assist in the evaluation and provision of new information to further explorations. The method is also diverse as it allows researchers to study, analyze, and evaluate situations(Crawford, 2017). It offers positions to review events and behaviors which can be created in a laboratory setting but their natural environment. Case studies provide specific and compelling cases with a systematic approach.
Disadvantages of Case Studies
However, I noticed that case studies also have various limitations to researchers.In many cases, the uniqueness of the data used in the circumstances makes it difficult to repeat and apply in similar cases. Case studies have also been accused of their impossibility to answer questions entirely as the field offers a constricted approach. Case studies are subjective and prone to researchers’ bias which presents difficulties in the reliability of the information and conclusions derived(Taylor et al., 2015) The case studies are also limited to short scale use as they rely on the use of in-depth data which limits its use on large scale bases. The nature of the research has also lead to various concerns on its reliability, validity and the generalization of results(Crawford, 2017). Cases studies can subject a researcher to the collection of irrelevant data diverting the focus of the research.
Reasons for using the Case Study Approach
Cases studies are the most research methods used in psychology as they offer a narrowed focus, providing a high level of detail and can combine objective and subjective data with the aim of achieving an in-depth understanding of a situation. The studies are significant in the determination of how and why and hence suitable or use in the natural setting to provide comprehensive data analysis (Taylor et al., 2015).Cases studies also employ applicable methods of data collections such as observation and interviews which offer qualitative information. Researchers prefer case studies due to their efficiency and effectiveness to individual and group cases analysis. Case studies are significant in the exploration and understanding of complex issues as they provide a holistic and robust approach in cases here detailed investigations are demanded(Crawford, 2017). The method has been instrumental in research of the prominent problems affecting disciplines like psychology, sociology, anthropology, and education(Taylor et al., 2015). They have proven their reliability in their approach to social issues such as poverty unemployment addiction and illiteracy as it complements the limitations presented by quantitative methods due to its qualitative nature(Flick, 2018).. However, case analysis provides a way of exploring results presented by quantitative statistical results by providing an understanding of behavior from the perspective of the actor.
Sources of Information used for Case Studies
The researchers using cases studies exploit various sources to gain knowledge. They select different suitable methods of data collection and analysis to generate suitable materials for their studies. The significant sources of data used in case studies are observations and interviews. Observations involve the evaluation of the participant with interest in their daily routine and engagements(Crawford, 2017). On the other hand, discussions involve engaging the participant directly and people familiar to her. Other vital sources of information in the case of an individual include diaries, photographs, leers, and any personal notes. Information can also be obtained from official documents such as appraisals clinical notes cases notes and other reports(Flick, 2018).The data collected through the methods are qualitative mainly as it is offered in verbal and written descriptions.
Case studies are therefore useful tools for researchers interested in qualitative data offering various advantages in comparison to other methods. However, they have limitations on their reliability, validity, and generalizations which limit large scale use in analysis of situations as they are also time-consuming(Flick, 2018). Cases studies are used mainly due to their flexibility, provision f detailed information, ability to offer insights for further research and its permissiveness in the survey of the unethical situation. The primary sources of information are interviews and observation offering qualitative data.
References
Crawford, R. (2017). Introduction to Research: Less Fright, More Insight (Vol. 2). Dubuque, IO: Kendall Hunt.
Flick, U. (2018). An introduction to qualitative research . Sage Publications Limited.
Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., & DeVault, M. (2015). Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource . John Wiley & Sons.
