case studies and content analysis

Question 1

what is a case study

Answer 1

• in depth investigation of a single individual, group, event
• qualitative data
• unusual events

Question 2

what are the strengths of a case study

Answer 2

• rich, detailed insights
• contribute to our understanding of typical functions - case of HM
• generate hypotheses for future studies

Question 3

what are the limitations of a case study

Answer 3

• difficult to generalise
• information made into the final report is subjective
• personal accounts may be prone to inaccuracy and bias
• low in validity

Question 4

what is content analysis

Answer 4

• enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce
• coding
• thematic analysis

Question 5

what is coding

Answer 5

• initial stage of content analysis
• communication to be studied is analysed
• identifies each instance of the chose category
• quantitative data produced

Question 6

what is thematic analysis

Answer 6

• identify themes - recurrent idea etc
• more descriptive
• qualitative data

Question 7

what are the strengths of content analysis

Answer 7

• not as many ethical issues
• much of material analysed is easily accessible and online
• high external validity
• produce both types of data

Question 8

what are the limitations of content analysis

Answer 8

• studied indirectly - communications produced are outside of the context where it occurred
• researcher can be bias and attribute opinions