What Is a Case Study?

When you’re performing research as part of your job or for a school assignment, you’ll probably come across case studies that help you to learn more about the topic at hand. But what is a case study and why are they helpful? Read on to learn all about case studies.

At face value, a case study is a deep dive into a topic. Case studies can be found in many fields, particularly across the social sciences and medicine. When you conduct a case study, you create a body of research based on an inquiry and related data from analysis of a group, individual or controlled research environment.

As a researcher, you can benefit from the analysis of case studies similar to inquiries you’re currently studying. Researchers often rely on case studies to answer questions that basic information and standard diagnostics cannot address.

Study a Pattern

One of the main objectives of a case study is to find a pattern that answers whatever the initial inquiry seeks to find. This might be a question about why college students are prone to certain eating habits or what mental health problems afflict house fire survivors. The researcher then collects data, either through observation or data research, and starts connecting the dots to find underlying behaviors or impacts of the sample group’s behavior.

Gather Evidence

During the study period, the researcher gathers evidence to back the observed patterns and future claims that’ll be derived from the data. Since case studies are usually presented in the professional environment, it’s not enough to simply have a theory and observational notes to back up a claim. Instead, the researcher must provide evidence to support the body of study and the resulting conclusions.

Present Findings

As the study progresses, the researcher develops a solid case to present to peers or a governing body. Case study presentation is important because it legitimizes the body of research and opens the findings to a broader analysis that may end up drawing a conclusion that’s more true to the data than what one or two researchers might establish. The presentation might be formal or casual, depending on the case study itself.

Draw Conclusions

Once the body of research is established, it’s time to draw conclusions from the case study. As with all social sciences studies, conclusions from one researcher shouldn’t necessarily be taken as gospel, but they’re helpful for advancing the body of knowledge in a given field. For that purpose, they’re an invaluable way of gathering new material and presenting ideas that others in the field can learn from and expand upon.

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case study and grounded theory

Case Study Vs Grounded Theory

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  • January 19, 2023

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case study and grounded theory

Case Study vs Grounded Theory: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to research methods, there are many to choose from. Two popular methods are case studies and grounded theory. But what are the differences between these two approaches? In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between case study and grounded theory and how to choose the right approach for your research project.

What is a Case Study?

A case study is an in-depth exploration of a single person, group, event, or situation. It involves gathering information from a variety of sources including interviews, documents, and observations. The researcher uses the data to gain an understanding of the situation and draw conclusions.

Case studies are particularly useful in exploring complex issues and developing new theories. They can also be used to test existing theories or to identify patterns in a particular situation.

What is Grounded Theory?

Grounded theory is an approach to research that seeks to generate new theories from data collected through systematic observation, interviewing, and analysis. The researcher begins with a few broad questions and then collects data to refine the questions and develop a theory.

Unlike a case study, grounded theory is not focused on a single person, group, or situation. Instead, it seeks to identify patterns and relationships in a variety of data. The researcher then uses the data to develop a theory about the phenomena under study.

Which Method Should You Choose?

When deciding which method to use for your research project, consider the type of information you need and the research question you are trying to answer. If you need to gain an in-depth understanding of a single person, group, or situation, then a case study may be the right approach. If you need to identify patterns or relationships between different elements, then grounded theory may be a better approach.

Case studies and grounded theory are both valuable research methods that can provide valuable insights into complex issues. However, the most appropriate approach for your research project depends on the type of information you need and the research question you are trying to answer.

– Attride-Stirling, J. (2001). Thematic networks: An analytic tool for qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 1(3), 385-405.

– Bryant, A. & Charmaz, K. (Eds). (2007). The SAGE Handbook of Grounded Theory. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.

– Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2014). Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

– Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

– Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. The Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532-550.

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