Case Study - Lecture No. 3 - Advanced Research Method

What is Case Study?

Case study approach is in-depth examination of a particular case e.g. a program, project, work unit, managerial practices and routines, introduction and sales of a new product etc.

The researcher applies multiple perspectives to the related complexity of the Case in focus.
It is up to the researcher to identify the case  and to set limits or boundaries.

Case study is often combined with some other researcher methods, quantitative and/or qualitative. Especially if it is business development and processes, marketing research, policy implementation etc.
Case study is often about a single entity that could be single individual or entire business.
Business schools use case study from real life. Product designers use it to examine new products.

What is a case? A case can be limited to characteristic , trait or behaviour i.e., of an administrator in an office or a production unit in a large corporation, distributors or salesmen/women in a particular region.

It can also be a limited to one type of situation, if the situations are special or unique. However, what is studied is critical to the design, analysis, and interpretation. 

Distinguishing Features

Objective is to is to increase knowledge and bring about change in what is being studied
Empirical inquiry
Contemporary phenomenon
Real-life context
Two elements: the subject of the case (the thing of the study) and object of the study (the theoretical or analytical frame).

How to select a case?

Typical
Exemplary
Unique, atypical or extreme

You never go for an average because you want to go in depth about you case not for generalization of the whole ‘class of things’ being studied.

Examples from business

Typical: a retail business that operates in a strip mall location and that has average yearly sales of X rupees.
Exemplary or model case: a retail business that operates in a multiplex mall with yearly sales far in excess of typical sales of businesses of this type.
Unusual or unique: a retail business that offers a specialized product not normally available in typical shops or stores.

QA methods presented so far

Ethnography
Questions/purpose: Study of cultures
Key Elements: In-depth observations in field
Other issues: Gaining access. Time-consuming


Grounded Theory
Questions/purpose: Theory emerges from data
Key Elements: Theoretical saturation. Constant comparative coding
Other Issues: Closely aligned with post-positivist and traditional approaches


Phenomenology
Purpose: Study of lived experiences
Key Elements: Interviews to determine essence of lived experiences, philosophical
Other issues: Understanding philosophical basis


Case Study
Purpose: Study of particulars, details
Key Elements: A limited and bounded case, Key informants
Other Issues: Identifying key players, getting access to documents.

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