CASE STUDY

What Is the Focus of the Investigation in a Case Study?

A case study differs from an ethnography (focus on culture) and phenomenological study (focus on
a phenomenon). Stake describes a case as a “ specifi c, complex, functioning thing ,” that is, a
bounded system. “ The case is an integrated system. The parts do not have to be working well, the
purposes may be irrational, but it is a system. Thus people and programs clearly are prospective
cases. Events and processes fi t the defi nition less well ” (Stake, 1995, p. 2). Examples of systems
include an organization, a corporation, an ongo-ing support group, or a group of college students. A
system may be bounded by space (e.g., a particular college), time (e.g., class of 2010), or purpose
(e.g., education majors).

A system is characterized by wholeness, interdependence of its parts, nonsummativity (a sense that

the overall case or system is greater than the sum of its parts), and a tendency toward equilibrium. A
family, for example, demonstrates the characteristics of a system. It is defined by (1) wholeness — it
is an entity unto itself and distinct from other families; (2) interdependence — the actions of one
member have a reverberating infl uence on other family members; (3) nonsummativity — the family
is greater than the sum of its individual members because its rituals, traditions, intimacy, and history
are greater than any individual member; and (4) equilibrium — the family creates habitual patterns
of behavior that, whether functional or dysfunctional, are diffi cult to change. An organization, an
event, a program, and a political or social group are just a few examples of systems.

There are several types of case studies. A researcher may choose to conduct a single case study or a
collective case study . A collective case study involves a comparison of several related cases, such as
a comparison of several corporate organizations. A case study can also be focused on one person,
and called a biographical case study , or focused on one event, and called a critical incident study.

A Case Study of Criminal Rehabilitation Andrews and Andrews (2003) conducted a longitudinal
observation of a secure criminal rehabilitation unit in Great Britain. Specifically, the researchers
were interested in the role of sports as a method for rehabilitation. They discovered that sports
activities that did not focus on regulations and were not highly competitive, but did include positive
feedback, did show evidence of rehabilitation benefi ts. They cautioned, on the basis of their one
case, that the introduction of sports that did not have these three characteristics might have
detrimental effects.

What Is the Role of the Researcher in a Case Study?

The role of the researcher is less specifi cally defi ned in a case study than in other qualitative
methods. The researcher ’ s voice and perspective are typically more prevalent than the voice and
perspective of the informants.

How Does a Case Study Focus on Meaning?

The purpose of a case study is to understand the characteristics that defi ne a particular bounded
system, and perhaps to describe an event or process occurring within that system.
Where Do You Do a Case Study?

Case studies are sometimes conducted on site, and sometimes conducted from historical
documents. The researcher does, however, need to defi ne a sampling rationale for the case or cases
selected for analysis. The sampling rationale varies according to the nature of the research question.
Sometimes a researcher will select cases that are similar; at other times, he or she will select cases
on the criterion of difference. Sometimes the researcher will select cases based on typicality and
sometimes on the criterion of uniqueness.

How Do You Do a Case Study, and What Form Does It Take When It Is Done?

The outcome of a case study is a description and interpretation of the case. Of particular focus is the
description of the context of the case , which is the social, economic, cultural, geographical, or
historical setting. In addition to description, the researcher presents an analysis of the major themes
or issues that emerge from the investigation, and may also provide interpretations or
recommendations (Stake, 1995; Stake, 1994). As you can see, the researcher ’ s voice is much more
apparent in a case study than in an ethnography or phenomenological study.