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Case studies

Case studies. How to do them. Case studies. Definition A comprehensive, in-depth investigation of a situation, a sequence of activities, or a procedure within its natural setting Purpose

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Case studies

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  1. Case studies How to do them

  2. Case studies • Definition • A comprehensive, in-depth investigation of a situation, a sequence of activities, or a procedure within its natural setting • Purpose • To understand a situation, a sequence of activities, or a procedure to learn what happened, how it happened, and why it happened

  3. Why a case study? • Investigate processes • Documenting an activity from first to last step • Investigate changes over time • Eg, changes in farm practices from Year 1 to Year 5 • Participatory, involves experiential learning • Can lead to exchange of information between researcher and local people • Can emphasize local people’s perspective

  4. Materials • Notebook • Tape recorder and microphone • Pencil • Still camera • Interview guide • Video camera • Observation guide

  5. Steps in doing a case study • Identify topic or focus • Design the study • Prepare an observation guide • Seek cooperation from people on site in advance • Gather information • Record the information • Validate the information • Analyse the information • Validate findings with the informants or other community members • Prepare a report • Give a copy of the case study to the community

  6. Steps in doing a case study • Identify topic or focus • What do you want to study? • What key question do you want to answer? • What problem do you want to find a solution for? • What promising new approach do you want to explain?

  7. Steps in doing a case study • Design the study • Select a unit of study: individual, group, institution, process, activity, or system? • Decide to study a single case (1 person, group, institution, or process) or multiple case (2+ persons, groups, etc.) • Choose what you want to find out • Decide how to observe and measure it • Select where to do the study • Set a timetable for gathering data

  8. Steps in doing a case study • Prepare an observation and interview guide • Observation guide = list of things to observe • Interview guide = questions to ask • Seek cooperation from local people

  9. Steps in doing a case study • Gather information • Interview people • Observe • Secondary data • Other methods (eg PRA) • Record information • In notebook, field diary or logbook • Record daily or according to schedule • Use audio recorder • Take photos

  10. Steps in doing a case study • Validate information • Cross-check with multiple sources • Get information from several informants • Check findings with published documents or maps • Measuring findings directly • Analyse the information • Identify themes, variables which are related • Look for strong evidence or corroboration • Rule out competing explanations

  11. Steps in doing a case study • Validate findings • With informants or other community members • Prepare report • Ensure a narrative flow - easily understandable pattern or progression • Eg, describe how things began, what led to what, and how events are linked • Give copy of finished case study to local people

  12. Sources • IIRR. 1996. Recording and using indigenous knowledge. International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Silang, Cavite, Philippines • Bennett, R. 1983. Management research: Guide for institutions and professionals. ILO, Geneva • Yin, Robert K. 1984. Case study research: Design and methods. Applied Social Research Methods Series 5, Sage, Beverly Hills

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