RM- Case studies

Question 1

What are case studies?

Answer 1

Case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community.

Question 2

What is a longitudinal study?

Answer 2

A case study whereby a person/group can be tracked over a period of time in order to look for changes that might occur.

Question 3

Advantages of case studies:

Answer 3

• Case studies provide detailed rich qualitative information. Allow the researcher to investigate a topic in detail.
• They can stimulate new research. A case study can be completed and if findings are valuable they can lead to new and advanced research in the field.

Question 4

Disadvantages of case studies:

Answer 4

• Provides little basis for generalisation of results to the wider population. A case study with only one person/event/group can never ensure that it is representative of the wider body.
• Time consuming and expensive.
• Difficult to replicate as it involves qualitative data.