Case+Studies

= = = = = = = Paper # 3 Markschemes for Case studies =
 * Evaluate the use of case studies in research.


 * Explain how a case study could be used to investigate a problem in an organization or group (for example, a football team, a school, a family).

**Discuss the extent to which findings can be generalized from a single case study**

 * NOVEMBER 2009
 * One individual can be the focus of a qualitative case study. Discuss the extent to which findings from a qualitative case study of one individual may be applied to others.**

Often, case studies are intrinsic, and will represent nothing but themselves, and there is no intention to generalise the findings. However, if a case study is extrinsic, it is chosen because it can be generalised. An individual may be chosen from a larger population because they have similar characteristics. - Small sample in a case study is not statistically representative, but if evidence from other studies confirms the findings, it is possible to generalize to other people who are similar to those in the case study. - Single case study may be used for inferential generalization – may be applicable to similar settings (transferability). - Yin (1994) – results of a single case study can be generalized to existing theory, but not to populations. First, the patterns found in the single case study must be found in multiple cases. Representational generalization - Are findings from interviews with people in a study on the homeless representative of homeless people in general? - Research normally involves small samples that are not selected to be statistically representative, and non-standardized interview methods may be used. - However, if evidence from other studies confirms the findings, generalization is possible (Hammersley 1992). Inferential generalization - Can the findings be applied to settings outside the setting of the study? - This is also called “transferability” or “external validity”. - This may depend on the depth of the description of the researched context and the phenomenon, but it will just be a hypothesis until it is supported by other evidence. Theoretical generalization - Theoretical concepts from the study can be used to develop further theory. - The findings from the study may contribute to wider social theory (for example, effective policies to help homeless people).