Case studies are a research method used in various scientific disciplines to gain deep insights into specific events, situations or phenomena. This method enables researchers to investigate complex questions by analyzing individual cases in detail. Below you will find out what case studies are, how they are carried out and practical tips for creating your own case studies.
What are case studies? #
Case studies are detailed examinations of a single subject, a group, an event or a community. The aim is to develop a deep understanding of the object under investigation and to test theoretical findings in the real world or develop new theories. Case studies are often used in the social sciences, psychology, anthropology and business administration.
How are case studies carried out? #
- Selection of the case: The choice of the case to be studied is often based on its uniqueness, its representativeness or its ability to shed light on unusual or complex phenomena.
- Data collection: Data can be collected through interviews, observations, document analysis and other methods. It is important to create a broad data basis in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the case.
- Analysis: The collected data is analyzed to identify patterns, test hypotheses and draw conclusions.
- Reporting: The results are summarized in a detailed report that describes the case studied, outlines the analysis and presents the conclusions.
Practical tips for your own case study #
- Choose the case carefully: It should be interesting, relevant and as unique as possible.
- Use a variety of data sources: This increases the credibility and depth of your study.
- Remain objective: Make sure to exclude your personal opinions and prejudices as much as possible.
- Document the process: Detailed documentation of your methodology and data sources is essential.
FAQ #
Can any situation serve as a case study? In principle, yes, but the best case studies offer the opportunity to gain deep insights or test theoretical concepts in practice.
Are case studies only qualitative? No, case studies can include both qualitative and quantitative data, depending on what information is relevant to answering the research question.
How long does it take to conduct a case study? The duration can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the case, the availability of data and the depth of the analysis.
Summary #
Case studies are a valuable research method that makes it possible to gain deep insights into specific phenomena. By studying individual cases in detail, researchers can investigate complex issues and test theoretical findings in practice. Conducting case studies requires careful planning, extensive data collection and precise analysis in order to achieve meaningful results.
Sources:
[1] https://www.bachelorprint.de/methodik/fallstudie/
[2] https://www.acad-write.com/ratgeber/tipps/fallstudie/
[3] https://www.textundwissenschaft.de/blog/2020/10/16/forschungsmethode-fallstudien-case-studies/
[4] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallstudie
[5] https://www.e-fellows.net/fallstudie/definition
[6] https://goitsystems.de/de/forschungsmethoden/qualitative-methoden/fallstudien
[7] https://www.scribbr.de/methodik/fallstudie/
[8] https://hausarbeithilfe.com/blog/fallstudie-case-study-als-forschungsmethode