A case study involves a technique used by researchers to gather information that supports investigation. The method is used to gather information that may not be easily available because of ethical and moral guidelines during social research. The information for case studies can be obtained through the use of clinical notes, articles, notes, observations, and interviews. The information obtained in case studies allows for researchers to support their inquiry. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of using the case study technique that researchers should be aware of. The analysis of the definition, advantages and disadvantages, reasons for using, and acquisition of information through the case study approach should provide an understanding regarding how case study method can be beneficial for any type of inquiry.
Definition of a Case Study
A case study can be defined as a close observation of an animal, event, treatment method, or individual (Crawford, 2017). The American Psychological Association further defines a case study as a report of case material obtained when working with an organization, community, group, or individual (“American Psychological Association”, 2010). Through the study, the researcher is able to acquire information by making using of various methods and sources. Case studies can be used in several fields and are popular for the use in social sciences such as psychology. Case studies are used to arrive at conclusions can be represented through the use of tables and figures. The tables and figures should be cited with the appropriate legends and captions to ensure easier and better understanding (“American Psychological Association”, 2010).
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Studies
One advantage of the use of case studies is that it is preferably used for research questions that explain something in terms of why and how. It is thus used in studies that require in-depth descriptions and explanations (Gog, 2015). Case studies can also be applied in a wide variety of studies such as political science, sociology, psychology, business, social work, and anthropology (Yin, 2014). The approach is also useful when studying a rare phenomenon that has very few participants. Case studies can also be divided into single and multiple case studies. Multiple case studies are advantageous because they can be used to gain strong and reliable evidence regarding a specific inquiry. The strong evidence can be compared to other theories and findings from the research questions of other researchers.
Case studies are disadvantageous because they can be time-consuming. It can take a lot of time to collect, evaluate, and come up with conclusions from the data. The case study can also be directed to a specific group, event, or person and lead to undue generalizations. With such generalizations, it is difficult to determine whether the conclusions can be applied throughout the larger group or population. Case studies also involve a deep involvement of the researcher which can result in bias that affects the conclusions from the data (Yin, 2017).
Reasons for Using the Case Study Approach
There are several reasons that a researcher can make use of the case study approach. Researchers may use the case study approach to gather information that could be used to answer the research question dealing with how and why (Gog, 2015). Case studies involve detailed investigations that can be used to develop theories. The application in social sciences and medicine can be used to make observations and gather critical information. The result is that the data collected from case studies can be used to generate reports that provide descriptive information about a specific phenomenon or individual. Qualitative information gathered can provide an understanding of the relationship between the individual and their environment. Case studies can also be used to analyze participants in a study based on their relationship to the independent variable. For instance, between-subjects design analyzes participants exposed to one level of the independent variable while within-subjects design analyzes participants exposed to all levels of the independent variable (Crawford, 2017).
Sources of Information Used by Researchers for Case Studies
There are different ways of acquiring information and data when conducting case studies. The different sources include direct observations, document analysis, interviews, physical artifacts, and archival records. Direct observation involves the researcher observing the participant within their natural setting. Document analysis involves the analysis of documents such as administrative records, articles, newspapers, and letters. The documents can be used to provide information and paint a clear and generalized picture of the participants. Interviews involve the use of questions that provide detailed understanding and knowledge about the participants. Archival records include various documents such as survey records, census records, and name lists. These records can be used to help the medical researcher to study and analyze historical information (Cozby & Bates, 2015).
Conclusion
The use of case studies for research and inquiry is beneficial in gathering data and developing accurate evidence. It is also advantageous in social sciences and medicine where the research can gather data to formulate or verify theories. There are some disadvantages of using the approach that include generalization, its time-consuming nature, and bias. Researchers should be aware of these limitations and try to minimize them when conducting a study. The use of case studies in social sciences and medicine can be used to create solutions for individuals and the public to realize a healthy future. Many individuals can benefit from analyzing the effectiveness of treatments and therapy.
References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Cozby, P. C., & Bates, S. C. (2015). Methods in Behavioral Research (12th ed.). New York, McGraw Hill.
Crawford, R. (2017). Introduction to Research: Less Fright, More Insight: A Customized Version of Research Methods: Are You Equipped? Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company .
Gog, M. (2015). Case study research. International Journal of Sales, Retailing & Marketing , 4 (9), 33-41.
Yin, R. K. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and methods . Thousand Oaks: Sage publications.
