Essay On Case Study

Group Members:
Uzair Siddique (40165)
Mahnoor Fawwad (40948)

Research Technique And Analysis

(Tuesday – Thursday)

Submitted to: Dr. Zubair Ali

Date: 8th August, 2019

 “QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS”

“CASE STUDY”

INTRODUCTION:

Case study is an empirical research and research strategy that examines the matter in a
real context. Case studies are based on an in-depth investigation of an individual,
group, or incident to investigate the underlying theories. Case study is one of the best
methodology when a complex, in-depth research is needed. Case studies are being
used in many researches. The qualitative research method of case study is a research
method that allows for exploration. The phenomenon is related to the use of multiple
sources. This ensures that the problem is not digging through single aspect, but a
variety of ways that explore many aspects and phenomenon of the issues that arise and
understand.

There are two major methods that guide the case study methodology. One suggested by
Robert Stack (1995) and the other by Robert Yen (2003, 2006). Both of them are trying
to make sure that the topic of interest is well researched, and that the essence of the
event unfolds, but the methods of each job they employ are completely different and
debatable. (Baxter Pamela and Jack, 1990)

HISTORY:
The history of case study methodology is clearly noticeable by periods of intense use
and periods of disuse. The earliest use of case study research can be traced to Europe,
mostly to France. The methodology in the United States of America was most closely
associated with The University of Chicago Department of Sociology. From the early
1900's until 1935, The Chicago School was best in the field and the source of a great
deal of the literature. (Tellis, 1997)
At that time Chicago had a wealth of material. Since that was the period of immigration
towards United States and various aspects of immigration of various national groups in
the city were studied and reported on. Issues of unemployment, poverty and other
conditions deriving from immigration were ideally suited to the case study
methodology. (Tellis, 1997)

STRENGTHS OF CASE STUDY RESEARCH:

One strength of the case study research is the chance of making novel literature.
Creative insight often stems from a summary of conflicting or contradictory evidence.
The creation of ideas from such a case study is directly at the heart of the case study.
That is, attempts to reconcile cases, data types, and evidence between different
investigators and between cases and literature add to the possibility of creative ideas of
developing a new theoretical vision. (Eisenhardt, KatEisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building
theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 1989)

The second power is the emerging ideology. It may be possible to experiment with
constructions. Concepts that can be easily measured and copied proved to be wrong.
There is a possibility of measurable construction. Because they are already measured
during the theory making process. For the same reason the resulting hypotheses are
likely to be verifiable. (Eisenhardt, KatEisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from
case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 1989)

The third Strength is that the resulting theory is inherently correct. Due to theory
building it is more likely valid theory because this process is so closely tied to the
evidence that there is a very high probability that the resulting theory would be
consistent with logical observations. In well executed theory building research,
Researchers responds to the data from the point research started. This closeness can lead
to the close sense of things how they feel, smell, seem" (Mintzberg, 1979). This close
interaction with real evidence often develops and makes theory which closely reflects
the reality.(Eisenhardt, KatEisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study
research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 1989)
WEAKNESSES OF CASE STUDY RESEARCH:
However, some features that build strength in theory formation from case studies also
lead to weaknesses. For example the determined use of actual evidence can lead to a
theory that is overly complicated. A symbol of good theory is parsimony, but generally
the given volume of data, there is a temptation to create an ideology that seeks to capture
everything. The result can be theory which is full of detail and explanation, but lacks
the simplicity of the whole perspective. Researchers working from case data can lose
their ability to judge the relative importance or seriousness of things (sense of
proportion) as they compete clearly, big data. Since they lack quantitative gauges like
regression results, observations across numerous studies etc, they are unable to identify
which are the most important relationships and which are only relevant in a particular
case.(Eisenhardt, KatEisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study
research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 1989)

Another weakness is that theory making from case study may result in narrow, specific
or typical theory. Making theory from case study is a vision that the detail of the data
makes the generalizations of theory. The threats are that the theory explains a very
typical phenomenon or that the researcher is unable to extend the general level of
theory.(Eisenhardt, KatEisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study
research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 1989)

AREAS IN WHICH METHOD IS APPROPRIATE:

In normal science, theory is developed through incremental actual testing and
extensions. Thus the case study approach relies on past literatures and actual
observation or experience as well as the perception and awareness of the researcher to
make incrementally more strong and powerful theories.

Sometimes findings in the theory testing study suggests a need of new context or
perspective. In these situations case study method is accurate and more
relevant.(Eisenhardt, KatEisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study
research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 1989)
REFERENCES:
Baxter Pamela and Jack, S. (1990) ‘Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study
Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers.’, TheQualitative Report, 13(4),
pp. 544–559. Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol13/iss4/2.
Eisenhardt, KatEisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research.
Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532–550.hleen M. (1989) ‘Building theories
from case study research’, Academy of Management Review, 14(4), pp. 532–550.
Tellis, W. M. (1997) ‘The Qualitative Report Introduction to Case Study Introduction
to Case Study’, The Qualitative Report, 3(2), pp. 1–14. Available at:
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/%0Ahttp://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr%5Cnhttp://nsuworks.
nova.edu/tqr.