This week theme has ones again been confusing during
the readings and reflecting on the questions. But now it has become clear and
reachable.
The main discussion at the seminar was about the
definition of what is a Case Study? A lot of confused thoughts and reflections
around the topic were raised during the two hours. Some of the arguments around
the concept were about how to delimit the area. We also talked about that it is
like a frame in order to limit the investigation. Usually, you already know
which kind of theories you going to use before the study. Still I think it’s
unclear to distinguish between an ordinary study and a case study. But if I say
it in Swedish it’s much easier to define it.
After the seminar I can summarise a case study it as a
collection of collected data in form of both quantitative and qualitative
studies. During the discussion we also discuss how hypotheses can easily be
bent, especially if using specific methods to investigate the problem.
We also discussed weather the hypotheses are
non-realistic and don’t belongs to the argument of case studies. Fore me it
still easy to angle the theories you like to have and to follow in the study.
Hi Kicki!
SvaraRaderaNice to hear that the term/definition of what a case-study is has become more clear and reachable to you after the seminar! :) As I understood it, a case-study is an already defined problem or phenomenon that already exists, and by that you can investigaste different cases within that phenomenon. For example, in our seminar group Leif brought up the example about ADHD. Several years ago, we did not know this disease existed, so then you could not do a study about it. But today, we know it is a desease and you can investigate several variables with a connection to ADHD. One example could probably be to investigate how schools handle/take care of people with ADHD for example. So the difference between a case study and other kinds of studies it that you more thoroughly investigate a phenomenon that already exists! Your reflection about the hypothesis is interesting, is there a meaning to have a hypothesis with an already existing phenomenon, or is it unnecessary and irrelevant to make up a hypothesis if you are just investigating an already existing case? Great job!
/Hannah
Thanks for your useful comment, now it become clear. The ADHD example was good; we also talked a case study as investigation of a patient. As I understood, it’s a problem you already know and have to investigate whether it’s true or not and after the different studies, it leads to the “result” or “the disease”. Oh, it’s hard to describe. The investigation is a collection of different studies to summarise the result.
RaderaHi,
SvaraRaderaI agree with you that it is difficult to define case study in one definition, I think it varies case to case. I think its a documented study of a specific real-life situation or imagined scenario, it is an empirical inquiry that investigates a phenomenon in real-life context and over a certain period of time. It can involve others research methods as well, such as it can be based on any mix of quantitative and qualitative evidence. And as Leif told us that it can be of two types: one, researcher can define a case by himself from a broad field of research, and second, researcher can use an existing case to further investigate. I think second approach is similar with the point you mentioned that hypothesis can easily be bent.
Keep it up the good work!
Yes, that’s right. The second type you described is what I mean with the hypotheses. I should have discussed it deeper, but I will say that it’s hard to analyse a case study where the researcher use an already existing case to investigate further. It’s easy to analyse from one perspective to gain a better result. But I realised that a case study also can be a study that disprove an already existing study. Then the hypotheses are important to build a base fore the next study. Thank you for your good comment!
RaderaHi Kristina,
SvaraRaderaThe seminar also brought a clearer understanding for me what a case study is. Just like Hannah wrote, a case study is something that is already there. I think the example with ADHD is really good and explains in a good way what a case study is.
Great reflecations!
Sofia
Hi Kristina,
SvaraRaderaGood reflections! I like how you describe a case study as a frame in order to limit investigation. I never thought about it in that way. Do you mead the frame as the environment and the people of the chosen case to study? I also think its very interesting that you can apply the method of a case study on other areas in our daily life.