User:Study zone

CASE STUDY WHAT IS CASE STUDY? According to Yin “Case study involves studying individual case, often in their natural environment and for a long period of time”. According to Kromrey “An empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident, and in which multiple sources of evidence are used” Case study is not a method of data collection; rather it is a research strategy, or an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon by using multiple sources of evidence. Yin and Hammersley both have supported this view, as for the definition of case study is concerned. Case study can be simple and specific, such as “ Ram, the delinquent boy”, or complex and abstract, such as “decision-making in a university”. But whatever the subject, to qualify as a case study, it must be a bounded system/unit, an entity in itself.

CHARACTERISTICS Hartfield has referred to the following distinguishing characteristic of case study: •	Its studies whole units in their totality and not some selected aspects or variables of these units. •	Its employs several methods in data collection to prevent errors and distortions. •	If often studies a single unit: one unit is one study. •	It perceives the respondent as a knowledgeable person, not just as a source of data. •	It studies a typical case.

PRINCIPLES The principle of case study: 1. Use multiple sources:  Use of one source of data collection does not give adequate for generalisation. But getting information from several sources (like interviewing, observing, analysing documents) is regarded as the major strength of the case study approach, because it also contributes to improving the reliability and validity of the findings. 2. Maintain a chain of evidence: The evidence from which conclusions are drawn in the case study has not only to be stated and specific case cited liked criminological investigation in a crime case in the court but it is also to be preserved for some time so that the evaluators should be able to verify the source and evidence. 3. Record data: The data may be recorded either in the form of sketchy notes in observation and interviews or it may be tape-re-corded in minute details. If a few notes are taken at the time of interview/observation, full notes may be written later on as soon as possible.

PURPOSE OF CASE STUDY Burns has pointed out the following purpose of a case study: 1. To use it as a preliminary to major investigation as it may bring to light variable, processes and relationships that deserve more intensive investigation. In this sense, it may even be a source of hypotheses for future research. 2. To probe the phenomenon deeply and analyse it intensively with a view to establishing grneralisation about the wider population to which the unit belongs. 3. To get anecdotal evidence that illustrates more general findings. 4. To refute a universal generalisation. A single case can represent a significant contribution to theory building and assist in focusing the direction of future investigations in the area. 5. To use it as a unique, typical and an interesting case in its own right.

TYPES OF CASE STUDY 1. Historical case studies 2. Observational case studies 3. Oral history case studies 4. Situational case studies 5. Clinical case studies 6. Multi-case studies