THE CASE STUDY AS A RESEARCH STRATEGY

1. THE CASE STUDY AS A RESEARCH STRATEGY Definition A case study is an empirical inquiry that: • investigates a phenomenon within its real-life context • relies on multiple sources of evidence • looks intensely and deeply at the phenomenon under investigation

2. 2. interview Sources of Evidence 1. documents and archival records  letters  diaries  calendars e.g.  progress reports  memoranda  newspaper clippings  administrative documents  organizational records  minutes of meetings

3. 3. observation 4. questionnaire 5. psychological tests 6. physical artifacts • direct observation • participant observation

4. Case Study Designs 1. Single-Case Designs Rationales for a Single Case: a. single case represents a critical test of a significant theory b. case represents an extreme or unique case c. revelatory case

5. 2. Multiple-Case Designs multiple cases are multiple experiments vs. multiple respondents

6. EXAMPLES

7. The Stresses and Coping Reactions of Separated Women: An Exploratory Study by Edelvina S. Relucio Statement of the Problem 1. What are the problems, stresses, and needs of the separated woman? What matters preoccupy her? What are her concerns?

8. 2. What are the ways by which the separated woman copes with her marital separation? How does she respond to the problems and stresses? How does she adapt to her separation? What are the effects of the separation on her? What are her insights and learnings? 3. What are the phases or stages that she goes through as she faces all these problems and stresses? What are the significant time points in the process of marital separation?

9. Sample 7 separated women who have children Measures/Sources of Evidence 1. Interview Schedule (open-ended questions) 2. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) 3. Focus Group Discussion 4. Genogram

10. A Multiple Case Study of the Dynamics of Five Filipino Families with Adolescent Suicide by Charina G. Cordova Statement of the Problem 1. What multigenerational patterns exist within Filipino families with adolescent suicide? 2. What structures exist within Filipino families with adolescent suicide?

11. 3. How do the members of the Filipino families with adolescent suicide communicate with one another? 4. How do the members of the Filipino families with adolescent suicide manage conflict? 5. What other factors are involved in the dynamics of Filipino families with adolescent suicide?

12. Sample 5 Filipino families, 2 members per family Measures 1. Genogram 2. Interview Schedule (open-ended questions) e.g.Tell me about your family. What are the significant/key events that took place in your family?

13. A Multiple Case Study of the Process and Factors Involved in Women’s Decision to Stay or Leave Abusive Relationships by Rosalie Ann R. Reyes Statement of the Problem 1. How do battered women respond to the abusive relationship? Is there a stage-like process that women go through in the way they respond to the battering?

14. 2. Is the process experienced as predicted by the Modified Stages of Engagement Theory? 3. What are the factors influencing the decision to stay or leave an abusive relationship?

15. Sample 10 battered women Measures 1. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) 2. Interview Schedule (with the Genogram)

16. How will you analyze the data? How will you organize and write up your results? How will you integrate your findings? You should be guided by: 1. Statement of the problem 2. Measures qualitative data (interrater reliability) quantitative data 3. Theoretical Framework

17. Reason for Hope: A Multiple Case Study on the Process of Surviving Cancer by Ma. Fiona Ella M. Gorospe EXAMPLE 1 Statement of the Problem What is the process of survivorship like for cancer survivors? Sample 11 cancer survivors

18. How were you diagnosed? What did you do and how did you feel when you found out you had cancer? How and why did you survive? Measures 1. Remarkable Recovery Registry (Information Sheet) 2. Informal Story-telling or Kuwentuhan 3. Survivor Attribution Checklist 4. Practices Checklist 5. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

19. Data Analysis and Write-up of Results immediately after diagnosis  Survivor 1: (name) reintegrating back into the world midway into survivorship practices for maintenance  Survivor 2  Survivor 11 A. The Survivor’s Subjective Experience (individual case write-up) (Remarkable Recovery Registry, Kuwentuhan, TAT) case write-up TAT themes process of survivorship

20. B. The Patterns of Survivorship (group analysis; quantitative) (Practices Checklist, Survivor Attribution Checklist, TAT) Practices Attributions for Recovery Coping Styles and Coping Effectiveness

21. EXAMPLE 2 The Psychological Dynamics of Successful Family Corporations by Queena N. Lee Statement of the Problem Does the founder permit his children to grow within the company, to make their own decisions, and to commit inevitable mistakes? Individuation:

22. Power: Who is the power in the family? How is this power exercised? How do the siblings relate to each other? Is there any hint of sibling rivalry? Sibling Relationships: In-Laws and other Extended Family Relationships: How are in-laws treated by the family?

23. Professionals and Other Non-Family Relationships: How are outsiders treated by the family? Are professionals hired into the family business? Sample  8 families, all running successful business

24. Measures 1. Demographic Questionnaire 2. Interview Schedule 3. Genogram 4. Beavers’ Self-Report Family Inventory 5. Beavers’ Interactional Scale of Family Competence and Style 6. Family Business Organizational Charts

25. Data Analysis and Write-up of Results A. Family Dynamics: An Overview Individuation • Power • Sibling Relations and Other Nuclear Family Alliances • In-Laws and Other Extended Family Relationships Professionals and Other Non-Family Relationships • Global Functioning

26. B. Write-Up Per Family • Individuation • Power • Sibling Relations and Other Nuclear Family Alliances • In-Laws and Other Extended Family Relationships • Professionals and Other Non-Family Relationships • Global Functioning  Family 2  Family 8  Family 1 - The Hernandez Family: Quality Shoes Genogram Organization Background

27. Individuation • Power • Sibling Relations and Other Nuclear Family Alliances • In-Laws and Other Extended Family Relationships • Professionals and Other Non-Family Relationships • Global Functioning C. Comparative Analyses and Conclusions Background

28. Strengths of the Case Study Strategy 1. it allows the researcher to answer “how” and “why” questions 2. it uses multiple sources of evidence, thus, it enables the researcher to understand a phenomenon in a more in-depth way 3. probably the best strategy for understanding the phenomenology or subjective world of the participant 4. it can combine qualitative and quantitative data

29. Misconceptions about the Case Study Strategy 1. lacks rigor 2. takes too long and results in massive documents 3. can only be used for clinical cases 4. can only be used for exploratory purposes

30. 5.usually confused with “qualitative research”  essence of qualitative research consists of two conditions a. the use of close-up, detailed observation of the natural world by the investigator (as in participant observation) b. the attempt to avoid prior commitment to any theoretical model

31. Statistical Generalization vs. Analytic Generalization Generalize to the population Generalize to theoretical propositions 6. provides very little basis for scientific generalization