Life Sciences Essay: Case Study Research Method

Case Study Research Method
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Case Study Research Method
Case study is a research method common in social science. It uses qualitative or descriptive approaches to carry out an in-depth analysis of a social unit including a person, a family, a cultural group, an institution, or even the entire community. It is more defined as a procedural investigation of a phenomenon or a group of interconnected events to create a better understanding of an issue of interest. It, thus, involves collecting and presenting the details of interest about an event, participant, or a social group, taking their tendencies or attributes into account (Gagnon, 2010). Unlike other research methods, a case study seeks to reveal the depth and fine details regarding the item or phenomenon under investigation. Descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory are the main types of case studies. Case studies that describe an event and the circumstances under which it occurred are referred to as descriptive. Exploratory case studies are conducted to seek clarifications about the outcomes of an intervention. Explanatory case studies seek to identify and explain the causal relationships between events or phenomena and their interventions (Widdowson, 2011). Some situations necessitate the researcher to use a multiple case study by exploring the differences within and between cases.
Case Study Applications
Case study applications are based on the idea that people learn from others, by engaging them with their ideas. Through this, their respective ideas can be questioned, challenged, and reviewed to improve their intended purpose (Hossieni, Dehkordi, & Aghapour, 2012). Case study approach in research is a great way to improve one's learning experience since it gets the learner involved and encourages immediate use of newly acquired skills. It facilitates a widespread skill application and personal participation. The approach assists researchers to identify critical issues by getting to know what, why, how, when, and where to engage based on the information retrieved. Case studies can be used as a teaching method and in practical application and testing of scholarly knowledge (Gagnon, 2010). In this case, it offers an approximation of various professional environments ranging from classrooms to more complex scenarios such as hospital and manufacturing industries.
There are several occasions where a case study may be considered appropriate. For example, a case study can be considered when the focus of the study is to find the answers to the "how" and "why" questions (Hossieni, Dehkordi, & Aghapour, 2012). It can be applied when the behavior of the study participants or samples cannot be altered. Also, a case study is legible where there is a need to...