Case Studies and Content Analysis

Question 1

What is a case study?

Answer 1

In-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual, group or event

Question 2

What kind of data does case study usually produce?

Answer 2

Qualitative data

Question 3

How do researchers construct case study?

Answer 3

Using interviews, observations, questionnaires or a combination of all of them

Question 4

What doe we call studies which take place over a long period of time?

Answer 4

Longitudinal

Question 5

Is case studies normally longitudinal?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

When doing a case study is it focused just on the individual of interest?

Answer 6

No, additional data can be gathered from family and friends of the individual

Question 7

Strengths of a case study:

Answer 7

• Rich, detailed insight on unusual or atypical forms of behaviours
• Help contribute to ‘normal’ functions
• May generate future hypothesis

Question 8

Limitations of a case study:

Answer 8

• External validity lacking = low generalisation

- Subjective selection and interpretation