The case study method is a very popular form of qualitative analysis and involves a careful and complete observation of a social unit, be that unit a person, a family, an institution, a cultural group or even the entire community. It is a method of study in depth rather than breadth.
The case study places more emphasis on the full analysis of a limited number of events or conditions and their interrelations. The case study deals with the processes that take place and their interrelationship.
According to H. Odum, The case study method is a technique by which individual factor whether it be an institution or just an episode in the life of an individual or a group is analyzed in its relationship to any other in the group.
Pauline V. Young describes case study as “a comprehensive study of a social unit be that unit a person, a group, a social institution, a district or a community.”
Characteristics:
The important characteristics of the case study method are as under:
1. Under this method the researcher can take one single social unit or more of such units for his study purpose; he may even take a situation to study the same comprehensively.
2. Here the selected unit is studied intensively i.e., it is studied in minute details.
3. In the context of this method we make complete study of the social unit covering all facets.
4 Under this method the approach happens to be qualitative and not quantitative.
5. In respect of the case study method an effort is made to know the mutual inter-relationship of causal factors.
6. Under case study method the behavior pattern of the concerning unit is studied directly and not by an indirect and abstract approach.
7. Case study method results in fruitful hypotheses along with the data which may be helpful in testing them, and thus it enables the generalized knowledge to get richer and richer.
Advantages:
There are several advantages of the case study method that follow from the various characteristics outlined above.
(i) Being an exhaustive study of a social unit, the case study method enables us to understand fully the behavior pattern of the concerned unit.
(iii) This method enables the researcher to trace out the natural history of the social unit and its relationship with the social factors and the forces involved in its surrounding environment.
(iv) It helps in formulating relevant hypotheses along with the data which may be helpful in testing them.
(v) The method facilitates intensive study of social units which is generally not possible if we use either the observation method or the method of collecting information through schedules.
(vi) Information collected under the case study method helps a lot to the researcher in the task of constructing the appropriate questionnaire or schedule for the said task requires thorough knowledge of the concerning universe.
(vii) The researcher can use one or more of the several research methods under the case study method depending upon the prevalent circumstances.
(viii) Case study method has proved beneficial in determining the nature of units to be studied along with the nature of the universe.
(ix) This method is a means to well understand the past of a social unit because of its emphasis of historical analysis.
(x) Case studies constitute the perfect type of sociological material as they represent a real record of personal experiences which very often escape the attention of most of the skilled researchers using other techniques.
(xi) Case study method enhances the experience of the researcher and this in turn increases his analyzing ability and skill.
(xii) This method makes possible the study of social changes.
(xiii) Case study techniques are indispensable for therapeutic and administrative purposes.
Limitations:
Important limitations of the case study method may as well be highlighted.
(i) Case situations are seldom comparable and as such the information gathered in case studies is often not comparable.
(ii) Read Bain does not consider the case data as significant scientific data since they do not provide knowledge of the “impersonal, universal, non-ethical, non-practical, repetitive aspects of phenomena.”
(iii) The danger of false generalization is always there in view of the fact that no set rules are followed in collection of the information and only few units are studied.
(iv) It consumes more time and requires lot of expenditure.
(v) The case data are often vitiated because the subject, according to Read Bain, may write what he thinks the investigator wants; and the greater the rapport, the more subjective the whole process is.
(vi) Case study method is based on several assumptions which may not be very realistic at times, and as such the usefulness of case data is always subject to doubt.
(vii) Case study method can be used only in a limited sphere, it is not possible to use it in case of a big society.
(viii) Response of the investigator is an important limitation of the case study method.
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