RESEARCH METHODS

Research Methods

Research Methods

This paper provides a comprison of two the most widely used research methods; namely - naturalistic observations and case study.

Case Study

The case study approach is a method used to study an individual, an institution, or any unique unit in a setting in as intense and as detailed a manner as possible. The word unique here is critical because the researcher is as interested in the existing conditions surrounding the object of study as much as the object of focus itself.

Strengths

Case studies offer several advantages over group studies of behavior, be it of an individual or an institution. First, case studies focus on only one individual or one thing (for example, a person or a school district), and this allows close examination and the collection of a great deal of detailed data that can be further analyzed. Case studies are often used in a clinical teaching setting because of this advantage (Jennex, 2005). Second, because case studies encourage the use of several different techniques, a more varied collection of information becomes available. For example, personal observations, interviews, and other techniques all shed light on the focus of the study. Third, there is simply no way to get a richer account of what is occurring than through a case study, which is what Freud did in his early work. Fourth, case studies do not necessarily result in hypotheses being tested, but they do suggest directions for further study.

Weaknesses

Although a major tool in the qualitative methods kit, case studies do have shortcomings. First, by their nature, they are limited in their generalizability. Studying one thing of anything does not easily apply to other, similar cases, be they individuals or institutions. The whole notion of a case study is to focus on the individual—by definition, indicating that individuals differ greatly ...