Case study

A case study is similar to a kind of drama with subsequent evaluation. There are roles for contributors and there will be a situation or a (problem ) case is assumed in the work the people within their assigned capabilities and freedom of action a solution. The goal is to find a solution to a problem that was not or only inadequately been observed. From a case study is spoken in various contexts, such as in the context of the empirical / qualitative social and medical research, on the other hand, in the context of action and entscheidungsorientiertem lessons or in personnel selection procedures.

• 7.1 Case studies in the classroom

Social Research

Here, the case study of the research of individuals or groups serves. Through the case study, the researchers tried explorative and descriptive to obtain statements about the subject matter.

By the method of densities description a holistic understanding of the object of study with the inclusion of so many recognized as relevant variables as possible to reach attempts. Case studies to be associated with methods of ethnography, field study and participant observation.

Whether the lessons learned are transferable and can be used for obtaining representative data depends on, inter alia, of which ratio of universal and particular is used. If the General juxtaposed with the particular, then is the significance of the case analysis of the procurement of hypotheses at the beginning of research that is applied to generalization on the basis of statistical representativeness ( hypothesis generation model). Conversely to this position can be found, in which apart from general statements case analyzes. It is instead represented the view that the individual case itself is sufficient ( social reportage model).

Action and decision theory

In order to enrich the education of young people - such as adult education, case studies are often used. The solution is here left open as a rule, the learners themselves should develop a plausible result. Also, there are case studies which should also supply the solution and encourage the learners to the debate and a search for alternatives. A case study (Case, Case, Case Study) is therefore a description created for educational purposes and a situation and its influence factors, which is intended both active engagement with the content as well as concrete actions of the learner. Such a case study is not a synonym for example.

Case Types

• Problem identification case ( Case Study Method )
• Decision case ( Case Method)
• Assessment (case problem method, Stated Problem Method)
• Information case ( Case Incident Method)
• Case study ( Stated Problem Method)

The case types are differentiated by the following learning experiences:

• Information: The relevant case for the solution data may be complete, incomplete or even do not exist.
• Problem: The problem of the case study is based, or the underlying problems can be explicitly named. In contrast, but can also be the learner be required to automatically recognize the problems and to consider their relevance.
• Solution: alternative solutions are to be sought by the learner, he may be asked to choose one. Equally, however, can anticipate the solution and be made the subject of debate.

Case studies in personnel selection procedures

A case study may be part of a personnel selection process, for example in the assessment center. In this case, the applicants will be one or more times and work-related cases submitted that he should resolve within a tight time period. A distinction is made between so-called short cases and prolonged case studies. In the short cases, the candidate receives a plurality of shorter problems that are to be processed sequentially. With a longer case study comprehensive information, the applicant will be a complex problem to serve a solution. With this method, the resistance to stress, problem-solving skills and the professional qualifications of the applicant are to be verified in the practical application.

Origin of the case method

The "Case Study Method ", directly translated, the case study method has its origin in the training of law students at Harvard Law School ( cf. Schoenfeld, Hanns -Martin: The leadership training in the corporate functional structure, 1967). According to a report by the Harvard Magazine in 2003 by Davis A. Garvin, the case study was introduced by a new lecturer at the Law School in the year 1870. This was the belief that in law prevail regularities that could be taught inductively through hands- court situations with examples. He replaced the original lecture and drill method by an appealable, exemplary teaching method, the Case Study Method. The lecturer also continued the Socratic question-answer technique in order to ensure that the teaching time was used efficiently (see Harvard Magazine, September / October 2003, p.56).

The Harvard Business School followed in 1920 with the first case studies. The Deputy Dean, a graduate of the Law School, campaigned for the introduction of the case study method. After a professor was convinced to apply a first collection of cases, the collection was expanded by additional funds from the Dean (ibid.). Today, the collection of case studies at Harvard Business School has more than 1,000 specimens tested ( cf. Kaiser, 1983, p.12).

In 1985, the Harvard Medical School of Case Study tradition followed. Again, the belief that up very typical and representative examples from practice are well suited to prepare students for practice.

Types of case studies

One can distinguish different types of case studies:

• Illustrative case studies
• Exploratory case studies
• Cumulative Case Studies
• Case studies of critical events
• Individual theories
• Organizational theories
• Social theories

Data in case studies

For Yin ( 2003, pp. 85 ff ) six types are usable and distinction to triangulierender data sources in the context of case studies: