What is a Case Study & The Techniques In Active Reading - Essay Example

Case Study Introduction: Case Study is very general and universal component in social sciences which is a common research methodology based on the investigation process of any individual, event or group. It is a longitudinal examination of any event (or case) based on a systematic way of looking at events in which relevant data is collected, properly analyzed and finally the results are reported. As a result of this systematic investigation, the researcher may get an understanding of why any particular event happened and what might require more in future research. So, we can say that case study helps both in generating and testing any particular hypotheses. Historical Significance: Case study is not a new trend. It goes back to 1829, when Frederic Le Play first introduced this methodology of testing hypotheses. However, in the current day world, popularity of case study method is increasing day by day. This methodology is commonly used in social science subjects like sociology, psychology and anthropology for educational evaluation. In business and legal education, these case studies are most often used as teaching methods for professional development. Furthermore, in the field of medicine, this methodology is used by physicians where they want to collect and share data or information. So, the purpose of case study, as a research strategy, is to investigate a fact or happening within its real context or we can say case study offers more thorough analysis of the situation. It is an analytical piece that involves heavy research and application of concepts, knowledge and theories. Case studies rely on quantitative evidences, multiple sources of facts and data that further benefit in the development of theoretical proposals. Developing a Case Study: When we talk about case study writing, we can see that there are three major steps including research, analysis and finally the actual writing. The research phase can be completed through libraries and internet and by interviewing people. Secondly, all the information gathered through various sources including articles, books and people, is organized to highlight the focus of study and thoroughly analyzed. Finally the case is written. Q1. Case Study Text: When we talk about case studies, we can see that case study text is of prior importance in case study writing. Text is a collection of written words. Remember, a single word sounds nothing until or unless it becomes the part of a text. Text lies within a situation that offers it a unique meaning. For example if we write ‘keep out of the reach of children’ on a simple Christmas card then it would quite difficult to understand. On the other hand, if the same text is written on a medicine bottle then the meaning will be obvious. So, we can say that text belongs to situation. If we do not know the situation then some collection of words might be meaningless. We can see that texts are organized for different situations. It is not essential that every text resides in a same situation. Texts are organized according to various situations. Similarly, case study text is also organized up to the situation or event going on. Six features of a case study text: Following below are the six features of a case study text. Out of these six, first three belong to the text itself and rest three features deal with the situation. Content: This involves the text about the person, organization or a whole firm. Content involves the substance or the information gathered about any event. Organization: It involves the development of particular sequence of happenings and events. This stage of text formation involves the description of events. This description is summarized in an organized way. Language: This feature varies according to one case to another. Language of a case study might be formal or informal depending on the situations and events occurring. Moreover, language may be personal or impersonal. Writer: As already mentioned that case studies might be educational, legal, business or medicine oriented. So, the writer depends according to the situation. He may be a lecturer or a journalist. Case study methodology is mostly used in social sciences so the writer may be a educationalist, sociologist or a psychologist. In medical field, mostly physicians use to write case studies. Reader: For the development of a case study, situation always matters a lot. The readers of a particular study might be students or general public. So, writer should be focused about the readers while developing any new study. Moreover, for readers, general understanding of the text is very essential. Good readers, usually, follow various techniques to meet the new words they don’t understand within a text. They may use dictionary or ask someone. However, it is important to understand that it is not necessary to understand each word within a text. In case of case study reading, you should be well aware about general idea behind rather than the meaning of each and every word. Purpose: As already mentioned, case study methodology is a research approach to investigate situation. So, the purpose behind any case study may be the collection of data regarding education, information or entertainment. Conclusion: We can finally conclude that case studies are used by researchers to build new theories. This research strategy is also used in order to explain any situation or to explore any event or phenomenon. This method is used to assist an understanding of complex situations connected with real life because of the fact that case studies are based on everyday experiences. So, case study text should be reader oriented, organized and understandable to make it more clear and comprehensible for readers. Q2: Techniques in Active Reading and Producing an Output from Reading a Case Study Text Case study is a popular way of doing research which is mostly used social science related subjects. It is an in depth study or investigation of an event, incident or group activity. So, active reading techniques are greatly required in order to construct an output from reading a case study text. Some essential active reading techniques are described here that can be used for any case study text. Be clear what output you want from the text First of all, you should understand how you read any particular text. Your output will all depend on it. Sometimes in case studies you just need to illustrate any particular idea while in some other situations you may require analyzing the whole situation. So, your reading strategy all depends on the output you want to produce. For example, if you want to produce an analysis then you should get the general idea of the text or overview the situation first. In more technical term it is known as mapping the case. Look quickly through the text Before reading the text in detail, it is essential to look quickly through first three or four paragraphs to glance at what they are generally about. For example if we take ‘US Airlines’ case as an example, we will find that the information in first three paragraphs generally indicate that over past 12 months, ‘US Airlines’ cut back benefits and squeezing additional revenues from passengers. Passengers travelling on these airlines complain that they are not receiving the same standards of services what they are heavily paying for their tickets. These airline passengers also face the problem of fewer scheduled flights which is further multiplied by the contractions in routes. So, these two or three lines put forward the general ideal of first three paragraphs. Think what you already know about the case Before going through any further detail, remind your general knowledge about the case. For example in above case, you can go through with general problems US airline industry had before this case had written. Think of questions that the text may answer If you want to pass through active reading technique in order to produce an output from case study text then you should have some small questions in your mind. These short queries assist you to understand the text completely. For example what is the text about or in case of ‘US Airlines’, what are the major problems of airline industry? While reading keep asking and formulating more questions in your mind. Read the text carefully and noticed how it is organized Next to it, carefully notice how various events are properly sequenced and organized within a text. Underline difficult words and use dictionary to sort out the meanings. You can also judge the meanings on general knowledge or in relation with the overall context. Write notes and produce summary of the text Finally, a reader should write notes, not exactly on the text but somewhere else. Moreover, you can also draw mind maps. This strategy is convenient to summarize thorough knowledge in one place. With the help of these notes produce a summary what you’ve learnt and understood through various reading techniques to produce an output. Conclusion: As already mentioned, case studies are used in research methodology. So, in order to take concrete data, the reader should know effective reading techniques to achieve maximum output and benefit from a case study text. The success of a case study all depends on reading techniques through which knowledge is gained and further utilized in a research. Sources: 1. Jim, Donohe., Lina, Adinolfi., and Prithvi, Shrestha., 2008. What is Case Study? 2nd ed 2009. The Open University: Walton hall, Milton Keynes. 2. The Case Study as a Research Method, [Online] Available at: http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~ssoy/usesusers/l391d1b.htm 3. How to write a case study? [Online] Available at: http://www.gttp.org/docs/HowToWriteAGoodCase.pdf Read More