METHODS TOOLKIT (V2. Updated based on feedback)
Case Studies
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Description:
A case study is a way of doing research that focuses on one thing very closely. For example, you can study one person, one group, one place, one event, one organization, or one problem. You can use case studies to learn more about different aspects of your research topic, such as what it is, how it works, why it happens, and what it means. Case studies can be descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory. Case studies are often used in fields like sociology, education, psychology, business and media studies.
Method Affordances:
There are different kinds of case studies, depending on what you want to learn and how many things you want to study. For example, you can study just one thing or many things, you can study something new or something old, you can study something simple or something complex, and you can study something for its own sake or for a bigger purpose. Each kind of case study has a different name and a different goal.
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If you want to show what something is like, you can use an illustrative case study. You can use one or two examples to describe it.
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If you want to prepare for a bigger study, you can use an exploratory case study. You can focus on the real-life situation and find out what questions and methods you need for the next study.
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If you want to combine information from different sources or cases, you can use a cumulative case study. You can try to find general patterns or conclusions from them.
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If you want to study a special or rare case, or to challenge or change some ideas or theories, you can use a critical instance case study. You can also suggest what to do to solve a problem or what to study next.
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If you want to give a detailed description of something, you can use a descriptive case study. You can provide a complete picture of the case and its context.
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If you want to study something that is very interesting or valuable by itself, you can use an intrinsic case study. You are not interested in other cases, but only in the one you are studying.
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If you want to study something that can help you understand a bigger issue or phenomenon, you can use an instrumental case study. The case is useful for giving you insight and understanding of the research problem.
You can learn a lot about complex things and their context. You can see the whole picture and different points of view of the thing you are studying. You can study rare and unusual things that other methods might miss or ignore. It begins with a specific question about one or more cases.
Preparation/Supplies:
To do a case study, you need to follow some steps, such as choosing what to study, making a plan, collecting data from different sources, describing and analyzing what you found, and reporting your results. You also need to think about some issues, such as how to be ethical, how to be accurate, how to be consistent, and how to be relevant. There are many ways to collect data, for example:
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Interviews: You can conduct interviews with the people involved in the case, such as participants, stakeholders, experts, or witnesses. Interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured, depending on the level of flexibility and depth you want. Interviews can help you obtain personal perspectives, opinions, experiences, and insights about the case.
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Documents: You can collect documents that are related to the case, such as reports, memos, letters, emails, diaries, newspapers, magazines, or websites. Documents can help you verify, supplement, or contradict the information from other sources.
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Artifacts: You can collect artifacts that are associated with the case, such as photographs, videos, audio recordings, objects, or products. Artifacts can help you illustrate, demonstrate, or represent the case.
A list of necessary supplies needed for case study method, depending on what exactly you are focus on, here are some examples:
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A computer or laptop with internet access and software for data management, analysis, and presentation, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or ClickUp.
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A recording device, such as a camera, microphone, or voice recorder, for capturing audio and video data from interviews, observations, or events.
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A note-taking device, such as a notebook, pen, or tablet, for recording notes, reflections, or impressions during data collection and analysis.
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A storage device, such as a USB drive, external hard drive, or cloud service, for backing up and securing your data.
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A consent form, such as a paper or electronic document, for obtaining permission from your participants to use their data for your research purposes. (if you are doing interviews, focus groups, or surveys.
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Use-Case Scenarios:
Academic:
McDonald, Jared, and Melissa Deckman. “New Voters, New Attitudes: How Gen Z Americans Rate Candidates with Respect to Generation, Gender, and Race.” Politics, Groups & Identities, vol. 11, no. 2, 2023, pp. 345–365, https://doi.org/10.1080/21565503.2021.1962372.
Using case study to focus on this age group, collecting data from various sources, subjects then analyze the data and report the findings.
The article indicates that the combined characteristics of Gen Z – such as being tech savvy, prematurely mature, and pampered—are very different from those of the previous Gen Z voters or . The authors argue that Gen Z differs from previous generations in terms of their digital literacy, social awareness, diversity, and entrepreneurship. They also identify some of the challenges and issues that Gen Z faces, such as cyberbullying, mental health, education, and employment. The authors suggest that educators, employers, and policymakers need to understand and address the needs and aspirations of Gen Z to help them succeed in the future. They also suggest that Gen Z voters were influenced by social media, peer networks, and family members in their political decision-making.
Non-Academic:
One case study in business is about how AWS, a company that offers cloud computing services, helps other companies with their IT needs. This case study shows how Thomson Reuters, a big media and information company, benefited from using AWS, such as saving money, being more flexible, and working faster.
https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/case-studies/thomson-reuters/
The case study has four parts: an introduction that summarizes the problem and the solution, a background that gives more information about the company and the situation, an analysis that explains how the solution was applied and what challenges were faced, and a conclusion that highlights the results and the lessons learned.
Media Studies:
Oreo’s Super Bowl Tweet: This case study examines how Oreo capitalized on a power outage during the Super Bowl XLVII to create a viral tweet that said "Power out? No problem. You can still dunk in the dark." The case study reveals the behind-the-scenes strategy and execution of the tweet, as well as the impact and results it generated for the brand.
The Oreo’s Super Bowl tweet is an example of a case study in media studies because it analyzes how a brand used social media to create a viral and memorable marketing campaign during a major cultural event.
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Caveats:
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Case studies are very specific and detailed, so they may not apply to other situations or people. This means you cannot use them to make general claims or predictions.
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Case studies depend on the researcher’s interpretation and judgment, which may be influenced by their own opinions and feelings. This may affect the accuracy and objectivity of the case study.
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Case studies are hard to repeat or verify by other researchers, because they involve many factors and variables that are unique to each case. This may affect the reliability and validity of the case study.
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Case studies take a lot of time and money to collect, analyze, and report the data. They may also use different methods and sources of data, which may increase the complexity and cost of the case study.
Personal reflection:
Personally, I think the case study is one of the most versatile research methods; it can include many other methods while deploying it, and that helps to study and apply to many different topics, and fields of study. I also think it is especially helpful to learn about the context of complicated issues.
You can also learn more about the case study here:
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-write-a-psychology-case-study-2795722