In light of Case Studies...

As I approach the concept of Case Studies, I must admit defining them is altogether ambiguous. The one element I can pin down is that they are small in nature, having only a few participants or very small numbers of participants. Case studies definitely mix the methods up, relying on different ways of gathering information to create the sense of the "whole picture". In that regard, I really appreciate case studies for the intensive focus of a small piece of the larger world. Perhaps what distinguishes case studies from other methods is it pertains to a specific group and cannot be generalized to the larger populace. It also helps paint a whole picture of that group, unlike say focus groups that only answer a few questions. Case studies definitely tell a "story" rather than create concepts of general trends. I think though, a case study is the prerequisite to searching out larger questions you might pursue with other methods. This is the primary reason case studies are heuristic in nature; they lead to the bigger questions we hold and can pursue with other avenues. I think the primary deficit of case studies is truly how time intensive they are. To gather all the information and put it all together seems overwhelming. But perhaps, that is also the beauty of a case study; it gives you an opportunity to really press into an interest and learn all you can. This aspect of research may very well be applicable to the work I do with people with disabilities. Perhaps creating a case study of their livelihood and daily life experiences would help me asertain what larger questions exist as to quality of life and how to improve it.