Case Studies- Research Method - Advantages and Disadvantages

As a research method deployed within social and behavioural scientific research, the case study is utilised in order to gain an in-depth contextualised examination of social interaction within a single social setting; this may be within anorganisation or focused on the playing-out of a specific social process (Yin:1994).These studies generally utilise several data collection methods for example, observation, interview and documentary analysis. Case study research is exploratory in nature, and is typically used to generate models and hypothesis of the process under investigation in a specific context, which can then be tested through larger scale quantitative surveys. It is not possible to generalise about the wider social situation directly from the findings of a single case study.

Case studies as utilised within policy analysis would typically study the micro-workings of large scale organisations, for example an in-depth observation of staff in a single health care unit in order to understand how public health policies are implemented at ground level. They are also used by clinicians in order to gain a detailed understanding of a disease process in context outside the laboratory, or by medical anthropologist's engaged in biographical research in order to gain a personal narrative of the experience of living with a chronic illness over time.

Advantages 
 The most important advantage of using a case study is that it simplifies complex concepts.
 Case studies expose the participants to real life situations which otherwise is difficult.
 It truly helps in adding value to the Participants through discussion on concrete subjects.
 It improves -analytical thinking, communication, developing tolerance for different views on the same subject, ability to defend one’s own point of view with logic and enhances team work of the participants making them efficient over time.
 The many solutions which come out of the case act as ready reference when participants face similar problems at work place.

Disadvantages 
 It might be difficult to find an appropriate case study to suit to all subjects.
 Case studies contain the study of observations and perception of one person. There are chances that the person presenting the case study may completely present it in one manner missing other aspects completely.  Managing time is a criterion in a training program. Case studies generally consume more time when compared to other instruments. For shorter duration programs case studies may not be the best medium.
 Since there is no one right answer, the problem arises in validation of the solutions because there are more than one way to look at things.
 Its best suited to advanced training programs when compared to basic level training programs and a certain level of maturity of participants is required as they have to participate in the case discussion.

The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages as the case study approach provides for experiential learning and is a great tool in stimulating learning in training programs.