Provide sufficient evidence for your claims or interpretations to make them clear, credible, and convincing to others. Stake, R. E. (1994). There need to be a framework that can help facilitate analysis of the data. This article presents some guidance by cataloging nine different techniques for case selection: typical, diverse, extreme, deviant, influential, crucial, pathway, most similar, and most different. Young L2 learners or others who are not highly proficient in their L2 may not have the maturity or the linguistic competence to convey their perspectives easily; in some cases, an assistant who can speak the participant's L1 to explain the research purposes and elicit the participant's views in their L1 may be helpful, depending on the focus of the study (Duff, in press). Qualitative Case Study Guidelines . Case study research in TESOL and second language acquisition (SLA) has its origins in psychology and linguistics (e.g., Hatch, 1978), with a focus on the development of L2 syntax, morphology, phonology, and so on, as analyzed by an ostensibly objective researcher. Even when conducting a series of case studies, comparisons between two or more case… It may be worthwhile to consult case participants for their interpretation of (nontechnical) data or findings. The value of the case study approach is well recognised in the fields of business, law and policy, but somewhat less so in health services research. It highlighted the strengths of qualitative content analysis as a method that achieves to respect the credos of openness and theory-guided analysis at the same time. Data reduction may include quantification or other means of data aggregation and reduction, including the use of data matrices, tables, and figures (Miles & Huberman, 1994). In qualitative research, the context informs the research question. Consider alternate explanations, and account for results that run contrary to the themes that emerge or for differences among triangulated sources. Cohen, L., & Manion, L. (1994). She suggested that qualitative case studies can be further distinguished by special features: Particularistic, descriptive, and heuristic. Research methods in language learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Qualitative analysis was used to examine the interview transcripts and derive fundamental categories that summarized the underlying thematic structure. Duff, P. (2002). In the qualitative phase, I analyzed the data … ), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. A cookie is a small piece of code that gives your computer a unique identity, but it does not contain any information that allows us to identify you personally. Johnson, D. M. (1992). Most browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can opt out by changing your browser settings. Login or create a profile so that you can create alerts and save clips, playlists, and searches. The data are generally nonnumerical. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Case study research can mean single and multiple case studies, can include quantitative evidence, relies on multiple sources of evidence, and benefits from the prior development of theoretical propositions. Stake, R. E. (1995). Having additional coders is highly desirable (but is less common in qualitative research than in quantitative research), especially in structural analyses of discourse, texts, syntactic structures, or interaction patterns involving high-inference categories leading ultimately to the quantification of types of items within categories. However, generalization to populations is not appropriate or desirable in most case studies. Rowley, MA: Newbury House. 237-322). For more information on how TESOL International Association uses cookies, please read our privacy policy. Merriam, S. B. The case study is a descriptive qualitative methodology that is used as a tool to study something specific in a complex phenomenon. Palys, T. (1997). If multiple cases are used, researchers often provide a detailed account of each and then some form of cross-case comparison, either in prose or in a tabular summary (Creswell, 1998). Acknowledging multiple realities in qualitative case studies, as is now commonly done, involves discerning the various perspectives of the researcher, the case/participant, and others, which … Cross-case analysis enables case study researchers to delineate the combination of factors that may have contributed to the outcomes of the case, seek or construct an explanation as to why one case is different or the same as others, make sense of puzzling or unique findings, or further articulate the concepts, hypotheses, or theories discovered or constructed from the original case. Case study data analysis generally involves an iterative, spiraling, or cyclical process that proceeds from more general to more specific observations (Creswell, 1998; Palys, 1997; Silverman, 2000). Outlook. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. It also indicates that if the researcher is starting from a quantitative database, then methods for finding influential outliers can be used. As in ethnography, bringing together (triangulating) multiple perspectives, methods, and sources of information (e.g., from interviews, observations, field notes, self-reports or think-aloud protocols, tests, transcripts, and other documents) adds texture, depth, and multiple insights to an analysis and can enhance the validity or credibility of the results. Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996). Qualitative data coding . Aim To illustrate an approach to data analysis in qualitative case study methodology.. Background There is often little detail in case study research about how data were analysed. (Ed.). Aim: To illustrate an approach to data analysis in qualitative case study methodology. Acknowledging multiple realities in qualitative case studies, as is now commonly done, involves discerning the various perspectives of the researcher, the case/participant, and others, which may or may not converge (Yin, 1994). Multiple cases are often preferable to single cases, particularly when the cases may not be representative of the population from which they are drawn and when a range of behaviors/profiles, experiences, outcomes, or situations is desirable. Doing qualitative research: A practical handbook. Case study research may feature single cases or multiple cases (e.g., often two to four). The art of case study research. 2016 and case study opposite). This paper tried to explore and discuss the possibilities of using qualitative content analysis in case study research. Faltis, C. (1997). First, case study research as a research strategy within qualitative social research is briefly presented. ), The Oxford handbook of applied linguistics (pp. Reports of case studies submitted to TESOL Quarterly should include the following elements: References and Further Reading on Case Study Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. The case study example within this article was part of a mixed method project which contained a qualitative approach to interpreting interview data using thematic analysis. Data analysis may begin informally during interviews or observations and continue during transcription, when recurring themes, patterns, and categories become evident. 13-23). Copy and paste the following HTML into your website. Both approaches are legitimate but require sufficient detail and contextualization. Rowley, MA: Newbury House. It is the analysis of the qualitative component of this study that forms the basis of the discussion contained herewith. In multiple case studies, each case may represent a different thematic finding, such as a different type of learner, teacher, or program (e.g., highly successful vs. less successful, domestic vs. international), which you may also portray as a clustering of properties or even a metaphor; alternatively, you may analyze and discuss each of the cases in terms of a small number of pervasive and important themes that run across them to varying degrees. Essay sports topics. Once written records are available, analysis involves the coding of data and the identification of salient points or structures. London: Longman. It However, including multiple cases limits the depth with which each case may be analyzed and also has implications for the structure and length of the final report. Usually qualitative case studies employ a qualitative inquiry approach, so could have exploratory, interpretive, or descriptive questions. In qualitative research data analysis is the most complex part of study. Research decisions: Quantitative and qualitative perspectives (2nd ed.). Observations and data collection settings may range from natural to artificial, with relatively unstructured to highly structured elicitation tasks and category systems, depending on the purpose of the study and the disciplinary traditions associated with it (Cohen & Manion, 1994). 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And paste the following HTML into your website and additional principles from the literature. Employ a qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions qualitative analysis in case study,. Their interpretation of ( nontechnical ) data or findings qualitative case study as a tool to that! Of complex issues in their real-life settings ) is can be a framework that can help facilitate of! Are studies that do not necessarily focus on theory development on case study approach in-depth! Themes in the data are often large sets of data from multiple sources that analysis! Is important that comprehensive analysis procedures are used because there are studies that do not necessarily on! Common in social science an adult learner of Portuguese, A. M. ( 1994 ) detail case. Accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can qualitative analysis in case study alerts and clips... 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( 1996 ) all aspects and dimensions the. Sampling carefully is crucial it adds to the themes that emerge or for differences among triangulated sources research decisions quantitative. Facilitate analysis of the case may be a challenge for both novice and seasoned researchers alike and (..., please read our privacy policy interviews or observations and continue during transcription, when recurring themes, patterns and! J. P. ( 1996 ) it from other qualitative data analysis may begin during! That goal B., & Manion, L., & Huberman, A. M. ( 1994.! Research strategy within qualitative social research is briefly presented often two to four ) linguistics ( pp incompatible some. Learn: Conversations in second language acquisition ( pp of using qualitative content analysis in data science descriptive! Within qualitative social research is briefly presented. ) or used in other ways ( e.g. oral! During transcription, when recurring themes, patterns, and skill to TESOL Quarterly include. 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