CASE STUDY IN LANGUAGE RESEARCH

HELDA ALICIA HIDALGO DAVILA

UNIVERSITY OF NARIÑOHUMAN SCIENCES SCHOOL

LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

A case study is a qualitative method of research that helps us to study and comprehend an issue that is interesting for the researcher who can recur to experience and the literature on the field.

Yin (1984) provides a definition of a case study as being a method for research that studies a “contemporary phenomenon” in a specific context. In this context, different kinds of evidence can be used.

CHARACTERISTICS:

Analysis of events Analysis of conditions Analysis of relationships Analysis of real life teaching

situations Contextualized topics for

analysis

Critique

Some researchers think that these case studies do not provide reliable conclusions because they are developed to a small scale.

Some other s argue that these case studies are not generalizable because they are developed to such a small scale

Some other researchers argue that case studies are useful only if exploratory studies want to be developed.

Although the critics, researchers keep on using case studies in real life contexts to solve real life problems

Authors who defend case studies:

o Robert E. Stakeo Helen Simonso Robert K. Yin

STEPS:

1. Define the research questions2. Select cases 3. Determine data collection procedures4. Determine data analysis procedures5. Be ready to collect data6. Evaluate the data collected7. Analyze the data8. Write the report

FOR CASE STUDIES :

- Be careful when selecting cases- Be careful when selecting the data collection

tools to increase the validity of the study- Select cases that are unique in some way- Select cases that can be considered typical- Select cases that can represent a geographic

region, or select a parameter to select cases.- Go back as many times as needed to check if the

case or cases satisfy the purpose of the study and can answer the research question

- When multiple cases selected, each one should be treated as a separate entity

- The conclusions can be taken as a set of conclusions for the whole study

STRENGHTS- It uses a variety of data collection

instruments- It can use a variety of data analysis

techniques- Data collection is for the most qualitative- Data collection can also comprise

quantitative techniques

DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES- Surveys- Interviews- Document reviews- Observation- Physical artifacts (anthropology ,

archeology)

EXAMPLE:From Context to Curriculum: A Case Study of Communicative LanguageTeaching in China by Guangyong Sun and Liying Cheng

This study presents a research based on a case study to implement communicative methodology in a China institution in which English is taught as a foreign language.

The context in this study is: The private Pui Ching Commercial CollegeThe case: to implement communicative teaching at this school by means of the adaptation of a program at the school for its implementation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Busha, C. H., & Harter, S. P. (1980). Research methods in librarianship, techniques and interpretation. New York: Academic Press.Chang, H. C. (1974). Library goals as responses to structural milieu requirements: A comparative case study. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 352-550.Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1984). Qualitative data analysis: A sourcebook of new methods. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

TASK 2

Answer the following questions

1. Do you think a case study can be applied in your research?

2. What characteristics from case studies can fit your paper?

3. Establish the difference between action research and case studies

4. Look for an example of a case study related to the topic you are researching about. From this study establish:

4.1 title and author4.2 Purpose or objective4.3 Context4.4 Case4.5 What is the relation of this case study and

your research topic.

REMEMBER TO SEND THIS TASK THROUGH MAIL

THANK YOU