Chara Baines
Liberty University Online
There are many different methods of behavioral research. For the purpose of this assignment this paper will focus on answering the following questions; 1) What is a case study? 2) What are some reasons for using a case study approach? 3) What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach? 4) Where, or in what ways, can a researcher acquire information/data that can be used for a case study?
CASE STUDY
What is a case study?
Case study is one form of research. Case study research is the detailed observation analysis of an individual unit. This unit can consist of a person, family, or social group. According to Cozby & Bates (2015) a case study may also …show more content…
Using a case study approach provides real-life settings and issues to be investigated thoroughly while the complexities of life continue around the individual unit. A case study is objective, meaning the researcher has a goal in mind when the study begins and believes that end goal is attainable. A case study is quantifiable, they produce measured results that are beyond the researcher’s personal opinions and can show the recorded proof in the end result. Case study can also be qualitative using comparisions to determine the findings. With the credible research results opinions are substituted with factual evidence. Once the evidence is presented the research allows others to decide for themselves on the evidence presented. Case study research also can be used as a model to how things are done or how they can be accomplished by recreating the research for oneself. Garger (2013) states ”For example, the case study can be exploratory (create new knowledge), constructive (solve some problem), or confirmatory (test a hypothesis with empirical evidence). The case study can also use either a primary (the researcher collects the data) or secondary (the researcher uses someone else's data) approach”. These are some reasons why case study research can be …show more content…
Observation is useful when interpreting an event to gain first hand and report the findings, this is why two or more researchers are used so that the reliability factor (validity) is increased. Although useful one disadvantage is observation is limited to schedule or time framed settings which can be inconvenient and prolonged. Under these stipulations the researcher is only able to develop theories supported during a specific time frame observation. Case study collects specific data and that data is interpreted from the researcher’s observation