Case study method 1-2
Case study
Exhaustive study of a person or a group. First used by Herbert Spencer and later bye Radcliffe brown Oscar Lewis.
Features
Research takes a single unit of study
Comprehensive study of the unit over a period of time. More qualitative than quantitative
Find interrelationship between factors
Better and comprehensive coverage of the topic
Documents letters records biography.
Advantage
Deepens our perspective and insight
Reveals new unique concept and interrelationships.
Limitations
n
ot comparable
dependsmuch on perspective of
researcher
.
More subjective.
Exceptions may seem like generalizations.
Time consuming
Information may be
incomplete.
Sampling bias
Outdated - Nairs of today vs then
Examples. Case study of trobriand islanders used by malinowski to create theories of functionalism.