A case study refers to the investigation of a contemporary phenomenon using real-life scenarios. The researcher will investigate a single unit or several single units and use the findings to generalize across a larger set of units (Gerring, 2004). It is a qualitative type of research. The researcher applies a clinical, ethnographic and observation approach. It is an important research method as it brings clarity about a complex issue or contributes evidence to what was known before the research. Case study research generally answers questions that begin with “why” and “how”.
The researcher will carry out a literature to ascertain the evidence that exists concerning the phenomenon. A thorough literature review assists in formulating the research questions that the researcher wants answered by the research. The next step is the design process where the researcher selects the real-life scenarios or cases to use in his study. He may use a single case or multiple cases. The more cases utilized, the higher the complexity of the research. However, even though multiple cases are used, they are treated as single cases. At this point, the decision is made on which data gathering instruments and approaches will be utilized.
The researcher may be studying a company in a particular industry. Data can be collected through various methods such surveys, interviews, questionnaires and observation. The researcher has to ensure that the process has construct, external and internal validity. Construct validity refers to the correct measures being used. External validity on the other hand refers to whether the findings from the research can be utilized or applied beyond the case studies. The more the variations in the case units and procedures used, the more the research has external validity. Internal validity is concerned with the causal relationships or the explanatory data.
There should also be reliability in the work conducted where there is stability and accuracy. The researcher will collect the data and analyse it using such tools such as graphs, flow charts and tables. There will be a report of the findings documented. The researcher will be reporting on the existing interrelationships between the different parameters examined.
Phenomenological Study
A phenomenological study is different from the case study research method. The case study is an objective method of research while the phenomenological study is subjective in nature (Groenewald, 2004). The phenomenological study is concerned with the perception and views of actors concerning a certain phenomenon in a particular situation. The researcher has to gather this information through methods such as interviews, discussions and participant observation. The researcher is interested in those assumptions of the actors which are usually taken for granted.
It is a gathering of information of personal perception and interpretation. These studies assist in understanding people’s motivations and actions. The pure phenomenological studies concentrate on description rather than explanations therefore there will be a tendency to start the research free from hypothesis and preconceptions. The research aims to challenge widely held assumptions. The research can be based on one group of people or several groups of people.
The general principle is that there should be minimal structure yet there should be maximum depth. There has to be a great level of rapport and empathy by the researcher towards the participants. These two attributes will help the researcher gather even more information especially where the topic is of a sensitive manner or there is a personal stake involved.
Analysing data in a phenomenological-based study is more hectic and tedious compared to the case study method. The researcher will find himself handling a lot of interview notes, tapes recordings and other pieces of information which has to be analysed. The information may not fall exactly into neat categories yet the researcher has to investigate and link the relationships and find causal relationships. Reporting is different from case studies in that the researcher has to make detailed comments from the individuals. At times the individual’s comments are written in direct quotes as long as confidentiality is maintained. The main challenge is for the researcher to keep personal bias out of reporting his findings. He has to be true to the participants and maintain the integrity of what they said in the meeting sessions.
Comparing case study and phenomenological research
In higher education, case studies would be more suitable than phenomenological research when it comes to pushing for change in policy or the law. In higher education, there are challenges and opportunities that several stakeholders would like to be considered for policy changes. The factual or statistical data obtained in an impersonal and objective way would be more highly considered by the policy makers.
The research question greatly influences the research method that will be used. A research on the teacher-student relationship in higher education would call for a phenomenological research in order to understand how the two parties view each other and the perceptions and interpretations that they have. Researchers may be interested to know how the teachers perceive themselves as assessors. This would also require phenomenological research. This is a subjective area of research.
References
Gerring, J. (2004). What is a Case Study and what is it good for? American Political
Science Review, 98(2), 341-354.
Groenewald, T. (2004). A phenomenological research design illustrated. International
Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3(1), 1-26.
