VCSEwiki:Case study development: Difference between revisions

== What is a case study? ==                        

Detailed examination of the single particular issue, case study represents PRACTICAL contribution to the theme based on experience more than readings. It is:

"...'''complex example''' which gives an insight into the context of a problem as well as illustrating the main point." <ref>Fry H, Ketteridge S and Marshall S (1999) A Handbook for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Kogan Page, Glasgow, pp408</ref>

"...based on topics that '''demonstrate''' theoretical '''concepts in an applied setting'''." <ref>Davis, C. & Wilcock, E. (2003) Teaching Materials Using Case Studies. The UK Centre for Materials Education. Available from http://www.materials.ac.uk/guides/casestudies.asp </ref>

...investigation of the case study is driven by an interest in '''indivudual''' cases, not by the methods of inquiry, as it "...focuses on a '''single''' actor, single enterprise etc. usually under natural conditions so that to understand it (bounded system in its natural habitat)" (Dillon & Reid, 2004).

...case studies allow to investigate what works and what does not <ref> Corcoran, P. B., Walker, K. E., & Wals, A. E. (2004). Case studies, make-your-case studies, and case stories: a critique of case-study methodology in sustainability in higher education. Environmental Education Research, 10(1), 7–21.</ref>

==Types of case studies (Dillon & Reid, 2004)==                        

* '''Intrinsic''' – case study undertaken by an individual who wants to better understand particular case - the case does not represent other cases (driven by interest in particular)

* '''Collective''' – number of cases studied jointly to inquire into some issue, helps theorizing about larger collection of cases – basis for naturalistic generalization <ref> Dillon, J., & Reid, A. (2004). Issues in case-study methodology in investigating environmental and sustainability issues in higher education: towards a problem-based approach? Environmental Education Research, 10(1), 23–37.</ref>  

* but some of the case studies present extraordinary activities or endeavors with innovative potential so that they could not be subsumed under some existing conceptual framework!

* on the other hand, these are also suspected to be used as corruptive agent – providing non-reproducible data or information that might demonstrate non-existing qualities - see [[criticism of the case study method]] with regard to its validity and reliability.

== Writing a case study (Corcoran et al, 2004)==

In order to write a good case study, you should:                        

* choose a local issue with global dimension and describe it

* try to express the nature of the case                        

* illustrate the physical setting                        

* express its context (cultural, legal, economic, political, aesthetic, as appropriate)

* find about other cases through which the case could be recognized

[[Writing manual|Writing process]] is similar to any other academic discourse - please follow [[Blank page|instructions]].                    

* there should be a clear purpose of the case study and the study should address it - case writing is not pure description of the situation

* it is important that all of the actors that represent potentially diverging interests are involved in the case study and their role is explained

* it should be explained how the case study could be useful for the situations outside its context, because...                      

* ...your case study will be displayed as an "Example of your work" in the [[Globalisation 2010/2011 Case Studies]] and serve the next generation of students.

 

* instrumental – lead to prescriptive guidelines, criteria and norms                        

=== Other resources (rather for teachers :-))===

* [http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/pdf/CaseWritingGuide.pdf Case Writing Guide]. ''Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence''. Outlines a step-by-stepprocess and provides in-depth guidance on how to organize and presentinformation in the case format.

* '''Active Learning – Case-Based Learning''': [http://cte.umdnj.edu/active_learning/active_case.cfm http://cte.umdnj.edu/active_learning/active_case.cfm]                      

* The Case Method of Teaching Science [http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/teaching/teaching.html http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/teaching/teaching.html]                        

* Teaching Materials Using Case Studies [http://www.materials.ac.uk/guides/casestudies.asp http://www.materials.ac.uk/guides/casestudies.asp]