Case Study as a research design in educational context

2. What is a Case Study?
Case study is a qualitative
research approach in which
researchers focus on a unit of
study known as a bounded system.

3. Case Study Definitions
 Case study is not a methodological choice but a
choice of what is to be studied. (Stake)
 An investigation of phenomenon that occurs
within a specific context. (Miles & Huberman)
 Case study is a research strategy that is an all-
encompassing method covering design, data
collection techniques, and specific approaches to
data analysis. (Yin)

4. Case Study is
 A qualitative approach to studying a
phenomenon
 Focus on a unit of study, or a bounded
system
 Not a methodological choice but a choice of
what to study
 An all-encompassing research method

5. When to Use the Case Study Research
Approach
A case study research method is
appropriate when the researcher wants
to answer a descriptive question such
as what happened? Or an explanatory
question how and why did something
happen?

6. Types of Case Study
There are three types of case study
commonly accepted.
1. Intrinsic Case Study
2. Single Instrumental Case Study
3. Multiple Collective Case Study

9. Single Case Study
 Also named ‘Instrumental’ case study
 Focuses on one issue
 One bounded case is used to illustrate the
issue
 Provides insight to an issue
 Helps to refine a theory

10. Multiple Case Study
 Also named ‘Collective’ case study
 Focus on one issue or concern
 Illustrate the issue
 Explore differences within and between
cases

11. Intrinsic Case Study
 Focuses on the case itself
 The case presents an unusual or unique
situation
 Try to better understand the case

12. Characteristics of Case Study Research
Particularistic
Descriptive
Heuristic

13. Particularistic Phenomenon
A case study researcher may
specifically choose a particular
instance of phenomenon under
investigation to understand a specific
problem that occurs in everyday
practice.

14. Descriptive Phenomenon
Descriptive phenomenon means
that the end result of the case
study, the narrative, includes
‘thick description’ of the
phenomenon, including many
variables and analyses of the
interactions.

15. Heuristic Phenomenon
Heuristic refers to the fact that
case studies ‘illuminate the
readers’ understanding of the
phenomenon under study’ beyond
the readers’ original knowledge.

16. Case Study in Terms of Disciplines
Anthropology
History
Psychology
Sociology

17. How to Apply Case Study Research
 Think through the different types and purposes of case study and the
origins from which each stems. This should strengthen how you justify
the type you choose.
 Decide what kind of case study you will conduct for what purpose and
what issues and questions it will help you address.
 Demonstrate and awareness of any potential difficulties you might
encounter and how you address these in your research.
 Do not spend too much time arguing why you have not chosen other
research approaches. This may be helpful to a degree. However, the
more important point is to present a convincing argument for why
case study is most appropriate for your research topic.

19. Designing a Case Study Research
 Determine the Research question
 Define the case under study
 Determine the role of theory development in case
selection.
 Determine the theoritical and conceptual framework of
the case study.
 Determine whether a single case study, a multiple case
study or a collective case study is appropriate.

20. Sample Selection
 Qualitative Approach
 Purposive Sampling
 Viability

21. Screening Procedure
 Review documents about the proposed case study site to
determine whether or not it is an appropiate choice
 Conduct informal interviews of key participants in the
study to determine their willingness to participate in the
study and to ensure that hey fully understand the nature
of their commitment.
 Determine whether the case study participants have the
necessary experience and knowledge of the phenomenon
under investigation and the ability to provide information.

22. Data Collection Techniques
Enquiring
Experiencing
Examining

24. Cross Site Analysis Strategies
 Unordered Meta Matrix
 Site Ordered Descriptive Matrix
 Site Ordered Predictor Outcome Matrix
 Time Ordered Meta Matrix
 Scatterplot
 Site Ordered Effects Matrix
 Causal Models

25. Cross Site Analysis Strategies
Unordered Meta Matrix: is a data
management tool that enables the
case study researcher to assemble
master charts with descriptive
data from each site on one large
sheet of paper.

26. Cross Site Analysis Strategies
Site Ordered Descriptive Matrix:
sites are ordered in a variable of
interest so that the researcher can
see differences.

27. Cross Site Analysis Strategies
Site Ordered Predictor Outcome
Matrix: moves the case study
researcher from working
descriptively/deductively to a more
explanatory/interpretive mode.

28. Time Ordered Meta Matrix
Time Ordered Meta Matrix extends
the cross site data analysis to
include chronology as an
organizing variable.

29. Time Ordered Meta Matrix
 Time Ordered Meta Matrix

30. Scatterplots
A scatter plot (Chambers 1983)
reveals relationships or association
between two variables. Such
relationships manifest themselves
by any non-random structure in
the plot.

31. Cross Site Analysis Strategies
 Scatterplots

32. Cross Site Analysis Strategies
Site Ordered Effects Matrix is used
by case study researchers to sort
through the research sites and to
display probable cause and effect
relations.

33. Cross Site Analysis Strategies
Casual Models extend the case study
analysis and assist the case study
researcher to identify how things go
together.

34. Strengths
 Case study enables the experience to be studied and interpreted in
depth.
 Case study is flexible.
 Case studies are inaccessible in language, audiences directly observe
events and accidents.
 Case study is useful for understanding and exploring the process.
 Case study has dynamics of change, especially in ‘real life settings’.
 Case study has the potential to engage participants in the study.
 Case study can include a range of methods, whatever is most
appropriate in understanding the case.
 It can explain how and why things happen.

35. Potential Limitations
 The subjectivity of the researcher is an inevitable part of
the frame.
 Audiences cannot capture the reality as lived.
 There are a number of ways to make inferences from a
case or cases that are applicable to other contexts.
 The findings are dependant on that very unique subject.

36. Case Study Examples
Genie
the Feral Child
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQNBSPY4QUc

37. Case Study Examples
 Jill Price – The woman who
can never forget
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoxsMMV538U

38. For your further studies;
http://casestudyhelp.com/

39. References
Stake, R. E. (1995). The art of case study research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Gerring, J. (2005) Case Study Research. New York: Cambridge University Press.
https://wikis.tamu.edu/download/attachments/16974757/Figure+2.png?version=1&modification
Date=1289873138000
http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/334/729
https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/instructionalstrategies/casestudies.html
http://busn8018researchblog-xwchan.blogspot.com.tr/
http://psych.answers.com/studies/famous-psychology-case-studies
http://psych.answers.com/studies/famous-psychology-case-studies

40. Bilkent University
Cirruculum and
Instruction
2015
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