How to undertake a Case Study Research: Explained with practical examples.

A case study is a detailed study of a specific subject, such as a person, group, place, event, organization, or phenomenon. Falling in the qualitative research paradigm case studies are commonly used in social, educational, clinical, and business research.

A case study research design usually involves qualitative methods, but quantitative methods are sometimes also used. Case study approach is best suited for describing, comparing, evaluating and in-depth understanding of different aspects of a research problem.

Undertaking a case study research study involves a systematic process to ensure a thorough and insightful examination of a particular case while using a number of steps to investigate it methodically. In this blog post we briefly discuss how to carry out a case study research using various practical examples.

A case study is an appropriate research design when you want to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world subject. It allows you to explore the key characteristics, meanings, and implications of the case with Thick description.

Case studies are often a good choice in a thesis or dissertation. They keep your project focused and manageable when you don’t have the time or resources to do large-scale research inquiry.

You might use just one complex case study where you explore a single subject in depth, or conduct multiple case studies to compare and illuminate different aspects of your research problem.

10 useful examples of case study research:

Here is a step by step guide, how to undertake a case study research:

Define the aim and objectives:

In conducting case study research, defining the purpose and objectives involves clearly outlining the overarching goal of the study and the specific aims to be achieved.

For example, the purpose of a case study might be to explore the effectiveness of a particular intervention in improving patient outcomes in a clinical setting. The objectives could include assessing the impact of the intervention on key outcome measures such as symptom severity, quality of life, and healthcare utilization, as well as identifying factors that facilitate or hinder successful implementation.

By defining the purpose and objectives upfront, you can ensure that the study remains focused and aligned with its intended goals, guiding the selection of appropriate methods, data collection strategies and analytical approaches. So you should focus on the following:

• Clearly articulate the specific questions or issues you aim to address through the case study.
• Define the goals and objectives of the case study, indicating what you intend to achieve.

Select the Case:

Once you have developed your research questions and defined research objectives, you should be ready to choose the specific case that you want to focus on. A good case study should have the potential to:

• Provide new or unexpected insights into the subject
• Challenge or complicate existing assumptions and theories
• Propose practical courses of action to resolve a problem
• Open up new directions for future research

If your research is more practical in nature and aims to simultaneously investigate an issue as you solve it, consider conducting action research instead.

Unlike quantitative or experimental research, a strong case study approach does not require a random or representative sample. In fact, case studies often deliberately focus on unusual, neglected, or outlying cases which may shed new light on the research problem for Contextual analysis and in-depth understanding. So you should remain focused on the following:

• Decide whether your case study will be exploratory, explanatory, intrinsic, instrumental, or another type based on your research goals.
• Clearly define the boundaries and scope of your case study.
• Select a case that aligns with your research questions and objectives.

Develop a Theoretical Framework:

While case studies focus more on concrete details than general theories, they should usually have some connection with theory in the field. This way the case study is not just an isolated description, but is integrated into existing knowledge about the topic. It might aim to:

• Exemplify a theory by showing how it explains the case under investigation
• Expand on a theory by uncovering new concepts and ideas that need to be incorporated
• Challenge a theory by exploring an outlier case that doesn’t fit with established assumptions

For example if you are investigated the system of recruitment and selection in the selected universities as a multiple case you may use General Systems Theory as a theoretical lens. To ensure that your analysis of the case has a solid academic grounding, you should conduct a literature review of sources related to the topic and develop a theoretical framework. This means identifying key concepts and theories to guide your analysis and interpretation. So if your case study involves theoretical concepts, you should build a theoretical framework and identify theoretical underpinnings.

Plan data collection methods:

There are many different research methods you can use to collect data on your subject. Case studies tend to focus on qualitative data using methods such as interviews, observations, and analysis of primary and secondary sources (e.g., newspaper articles, photographs, official records). Sometimes a case study will also collect quantitative data. So you should choose the sources of data, such as interviews, observations, documents, or a combination and develop interview guides, observation protocols, or survey questionnaires.

When planning data collection methods for a single or multiple case study research, it is essential to select approaches that align with the research questions and objectives while ensuring the integrity and reliability of the data.

For instance, if you are investigating the impact of telemedicine on patient satisfaction in a rural healthcare setting might employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative techniques such as semi-structured interviews with patients and healthcare providers could provide insights into their experiences and perceptions of telemedicine services, while quantitative surveys or analysis of electronic health records could yield objective measures of patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Additionally, document analysis of program protocols or implementation reports could offer contextual information about the telemedicine initiative.

By using a mixed-methods approach tailored to the specific research context, you can capture a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under investigation and enhance the credibility and validity of their findings.

The aim is to gain as thorough understanding as possible of the case and its context.

Ensure ethical considerations:

Ensuring ethical considerations is paramount when conducting case study research, especially when dealing with human subjects. When conducting case study research, ensuring ethical considerations involves obtaining informed consent from participants, protecting their privacy and confidentiality, maintaining objectivity and integrity, respecting participant autonomy and dignity, obtaining approval from relevant body/committee and maintaining transparency and accountability throughout the research process.

This entails carefully explaining the study’s purpose and procedures to participants, safeguarding their personal information, minimizing any potential risks, maintaining impartiality and honesty in data collection and analysis, respecting participants’ right to make informed decisions, offering participants the opportunity to receive feedback on the study’s findings, and documenting research practices transparently to ensure accountability and responsible dissemination of findings. So you should do the following:

• If required, seek ethical approval for your study.
• Develop procedures to inform and obtain consent from participants.
• Implement measures to protect participant confidentiality.

Collect data:

When collecting data for a case study, you should employ a variety of methods to gather comprehensive and rich information relevant to the research questions and objectives.

For example, in a study examining the impact of a community health intervention on reducing obesity rates, data collection methods may include semi-structured interviews with community members, healthcare providers, and program administrators to capture their perspectives and experiences. Additionally, you could conduct focus group discussions to explore community attitudes towards healthy lifestyle behaviors and barriers to participation in the intervention.

Observation of program activities and community events related to health promotion could provide contextual insights into program implementation and community engagement. Furthermore, document analysis of program materials, reports, and participant records could offer additional data on intervention components, participant demographics, and outcomes.

By utilizing multiple data collection methods, you can triangulate information from different sources to develop a comprehensive understanding of the case under study and enhance the validity and reliability of their findings. So you should undertake the following:

• If using interviews, conduct them following your interview guide.
• If conducting observations, document behaviors, interactions, and events.
• Gather relevant documents, records, or artifacts.

Analyze data:

When analyzing data for a case study, you should systematically examine and interpret the collected information to derive meaningful insights and address the research questions.

For example, in a case study investigating the factors influencing the adoption of renewable energy technologies in a rural community, you may employ thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns in interview transcripts and documents related to renewable energy initiatives. They might categorize data into themes such as community attitudes towards renewable energy, perceived benefits and barriers to adoption, and strategies for promoting renewable energy uptake.

Additionally, quantitative data collected through surveys or program evaluations could be analyzed using descriptive statistics or inferential methods to quantify the prevalence of certain attitudes or behaviors within the community.

By integrating qualitative and quantitative analyses, you can triangulate findings to develop a comprehensive understanding of the case study phenomenon and draw robust conclusions that inform theory, practice, and policy. So you should ensure the following:

• Use coding techniques to analyze qualitative data by coding and categorizing it.
• If quantitative data is included, apply statistical methods.

Interpret and discuss findings:

When interpreting and discussing findings in a case study research, you should critically analyze the data in relation to the research questions and objectives, contextualize the findings within existing literature, and explore implications for theory, practice, and policy.

For instance, in a case study examining the impact of a school-based mindfulness program on students’ mental health, you might discuss how qualitative data from interviews with students and teachers reveal improvements in emotional regulation and stress management skills following program participation. They could then compare these qualitative findings with quantitative data on changes in self-reported anxiety levels or behavioral outcomes measured through standardized assessments.

Furthermore, you might discuss how these findings align with previous research on mindfulness interventions in educational settings and highlight the potential benefits of integrating such programs into school curricula to support students’ well-being. By engaging in a comprehensive discussion of the findings, you can offer insights that advance understanding of the case study phenomenon and contribute to broader knowledge in the field. So you should do the following:

• Present a comprehensive description of the case, incorporating data, quotes, and examples.
• Structure the case study logically, following a clear and coherent narrative.
• Provide interpretations and explanations of the findings in relation to your research questions.
• Compare your results with existing literature in the field.

Conclude and summarize:

When concluding and summarizing a case study research, you should recapitulate the key findings, revisit the research questions and objectives, and reflect on the implications of the study.

For example, in a case study investigating the factors influencing the success of small businesses in a rural community, the conclusion may highlight the critical role of community support networks, access to financial resources, and entrepreneurial skills in fostering business sustainability. The summary could reiterate how these factors interact to shape the outcomes observed in the case study and underscore the importance of tailored interventions to support small business development in similar contexts.

Additionally, you may discuss any limitations of the study, such as sample size or data collection methods, and offer suggestions for future research to address these gaps and build upon the findings. By providing a concise synthesis of the findings and their implications, the conclusion ensures that the study’s contribution are clearly communicated and actionable for stakeholders in academia, policy, and practice. So you should ensure the following:

• Provide a concise summary of the main findings.
• Draw conclusions based on your analysis.

Conclusion:

By following these steps, you can develop a comprehensive and well-structured case study that contributes valuable insights to your field of study.