Case Study

Definition

An in-depth study of a single case or a small group.

Example

A researcher wants to study the process of recovery from depression. She conducts structured and/or unstructured interviews with one individual, or a small group of individuals, who have experienced the recovery process and analyzes the responses for themes and patterns. This is a form of qualitative research, and often precedes theory building in research.

Why It Matters

Case studies can provide researchers with an opportunity to identify patterns that may contribute to better understanding of some phonomenon. These insights can serve as a building block for theories that help to explain human behavior.

Related Terms

• qualitative research