Case studies are different from other forms of research in that they look at a particular person or group of people in great depth. These studies are interested in finding out how certain things work or don't work within a very refined context. Also, researchers work hard not to change the interactions that occur so that a true glimpse of the actual processes or events occurring can be recorded.
Since these studies are so specific to time, location, events, etc., it is impossible to generalize the information that is gained. Ideas can come from the research that is done, but just because I do a case study on an ENGL 111 course I am teaching in Alamogordo, NM does not mean that I can tell instructors in New York City what methods are best for teaching their students.
Although case studies are not generalizable, they are heuristic in that they can create interest for others to do more research on the topic. The results of a case study can lead to different kinds of research that might be more generalizable.
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Tanya-
ReplyDeleteI think that focus on case study as observational rather than experimental is a really important distinction. I also like the way you are talking about this approach as a heuristic. I think case studies are great in that you can go in and look for pretty much anything - or nothing really - and just allow yourself to be open to what you find. I think that's harder in other types of research.
Jen