RM: case studies

What is a case study?

A case study is an in-depth, detailed investigation of a single individual, group, or event. Case studies are used to explore rare or unique situations, providing rich qualitative and sometimes quantitative data, but their findings may not be generalisable.

What are strengths of case studies?

1. provide unique insight into behaviour

2. Large amount of both qualitative and quantitative data

Why is a strength of case study that they provide qualitative and quantitative data?

A strength of case studies is that they provide qualitative and quantitative data because case studies collect detailed descriptive information (qualitative) and sometimes measurable numerical data (quantitative), giving a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the individual, group, or event being studied.

What are limitations of case studies?

1. Cannot be generalised

2. Long time to compete so expensive

3. Participants may respond to demand characteristics researcher effects

Why can’t case studies be generalised?

Case studies can’t be generalised because they focus on a single individual, group, or event. The findings are specific to that case and may not apply to other people or situations, limiting their generalisability.

Why is a limitation of case studies that they take a long time to compete?

A limitation of case studies is that they take a long time to complete because collecting detailed, in-depth data from a single individual, group, or event requires extensive observation, interviews, and analysis, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Why may participants respond to demand characteristics in case studies?

Participants may respond to demand characteristics in case studies because they are aware they are being studied in detail. This awareness can influence their behaviour, causing them to act in ways they think the researcher expects, which can reduce the validity of the findings.

Why may participants respond in researcher effects in case studies?

Participants may respond to researcher effects in case studies because the researcher’s expectations or behaviour can unintentionally influence how participants act. This can lead participants to behave differently than they naturally would, reducing the validity of the study.