Professor Jane Perryman |Three two-hour sessions | Autumn: 14:00 - 16:00 (UK time) Wednesday November 16, 23 (Room 901 in the IOE) and 30 (Room 828 in the IOE)

NB: This course accrues 2 training points.

Case studies concern a topic rather than a method.  They are a research approach, which can involve a variety of methods.  Although there are many different definitions of case study research, it is commonly agreed that it is an empirical enquiry of phenomena within a bounded context (single institutions, groups or events, or of a few of these). The strength of a case study approach is in its attention to detail, complexities and relations between the parts that make up the whole case. A case study can, more than any other method, include rich description and narrative, analysis of events, a focus on the perceptions and feelings of a group of those involved, the involvement of the researcher in the case, and presentation of the case in a way which captures the experience. Case studies do not aim to make the broad sweep of a survey, or to manipulate variables as in an experiment. Case studies describe, analyse and explain rather than measure.

These sessions will give you the opportunity to explore both the strengths and potential weaknesses of a case study approach. You will examine existing case study data and studies and explore such issues as: sampling, the status of different kinds of 'evidence', ways of analysing data, the generalisability of 'cases', and writing up case study research.  The sessions will be ‘hands-on’, practical sessions in which you will be able to discuss issues as they arise and present ideas to each other. 

Suggested reading:

Gillham, B. (2000) Case Study Research Methods.  London: Continuum.

Bassey, M. (1999) Case study research in educational settings.  Buckingham: OUP.

Merriam, S.B, (1997) Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers 

Richards, L. (2009) Handling Qualitative Data: A practical guide. London: Sage

Punch, K.F. (2009) Introduction to Research Methods in Education, London: SAGE Publications Ltd., Ch.7.

Stake, R. (2005) ‘Qualitative case studies’, in Denzin, N. and Lincoln, Y. (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, ch. 17.  London: Sage