During the seminar for Theme 6 we began with discussions on smaller groups of what we had learned and understood qualitative methods and case study research as. We had each read different papers, one using qualitative methods and one case study research. During our discussion we briefed each other what the paper considered and what made determined their form; qualitative or case study, and why. We discussed differences and tried to distinguish what defined them into each type. The most difficult part was the case study papers.
Even though we had all, at least all of us in my smaller initial group, done case studies before we had some troubles determining what actually made a case study a case study. What made it categorized as a case study? When looking back at my description in my pre-reflection if realize that it really does not clarify sufficiently. Even with backup of Kathleen Eisenhart’s definition; a case study is a strategy that focuses on understanding the dynamics present within single settings..., I cannot say that I fully am able to grasp what defines a case study.
However, just before the whole group came back together, Ilias sat down with us and dropped the bomb, so to speak. His explanation enabled me to see the common factor between all the case studies we had just read as well as the ones we had previously worked on. A case study investigates, in-depth, what makes something interesting. What makes an topic unique and stand out from adjacent or similar topics. The whole point is to build a theory around what makes that new something weird, noteworthy and why. What can we learn from examining that special factor. To support this claim we looked into some examples, such as Oliver Sacks who wrote the story The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Investigating the reason for this peculiar story becomes a case study since it has a weird and interesting turn of events that really sticks out. Another case study that I have processed regards Sephora and more precisely one of their success factors; Beauty Talk, an online forum where Sephora’s customers can discuss products, share tips and tricks and more or less market Sephora’s products by their own interest and without it costing Sephora anything at all. We conducted a case study of how that success factor came to work so flawless and what knowledge could be gained from the investigation.
Hi,
SvaraRaderathanks for reflection. In my group we also found difficulties describing a case study. I like that you emphasized the interest and extraordinary as a base of case studies. I think that your previous definition of case studies in pre-blog involved important points. For instance, the key word is understanding as the reason why scholars choose conduct case studies instead of other methods. Case studies are carried out when researches do not have enough knowledge about phenomena and want to go deep to get understanding about the object and finally make a new theory. In your pre-blog you made an important point that case studies can be done implying qualitative, quantitative or even both of these methods. That was new for me before starting the last week. Well done!
Hey Gunnar,
SvaraRaderaThank you for sharing your thoughts with us. A case study, for me, was also a "hard to explain" concept. I also posed the same questions as you did during my seminar and, similar to you, Illias was full of answers. How did you feel about your chosen case study article after you compared it with the criteria found in Eisenhart's article? It seems like, even though some case studies don't match all of these, it's still seen as a case study. This is something I thought about after our seminar and which I have to look up. How many of her criteria need to be met in order for the research to be seen as a case study?
Hi!
SvaraRaderaI enjoyed reading your reflection. You explanation, in your pre-reflection, of what a case study is was good, but I agree that it's easier to get the gist of case studies with the explanation provided here.
The example with Sephora seems like a great example of what a case study can be like, and sounds interesting.
Hi
SvaraRaderaThank you so much for sharing your post. The case study for me is a research strategy by using quantitative and qualitative methods in order to find something interesting to research or provide a new theory. But i think you present good in your post, espically the two examples your used in the last paragraph which make me impressed. I agree all of you told and very happy to read your post.