Case Studies and Content Analysis

Cat book: Pg 12-15

Mask book (AS book): Pg 270-293

Digital book: Pg 64-65

A case study is an in depth investigation, description and analysis.

It involves collecting qualitative data.

Researchers construct a case history - Interviews, questionnaires etc.

Involves testing - producing qualitatative data.

They take place over a length of time - Longitudinal study.

The rich, detiled insights shed light on unusual or atypical behaviour.

May generate hypothesis for future studies, or may lead to the revision of a theory.

It's a holistic approach.

Can have small sample sizes causing low external validity.

They are based on subjective selection and interpretation of the researcher + personal accounts may be prone to inaccuracy.

Longitudinal studies take a lot of time, effort and are expensive.

Ethics - confidentiality and anonymity.

Enables indirect study of behaviour through email, games, books, TV, film etc.

Is a type of observation.

The aim is to summarise and describe communication systematically, so that conclustions can be drawn.

Coding: Initial stage, where categories and themes can be identified and tallied - Qualitative data.

Thematic analysis: 

• Inductive and qualitative approach
• Identifying ideas within the data
• Themes may emerge once data has been collected and catagories may develop into broader categories.

Strengths of thematic analysis:

• Detailed
• High ecological validity
• Reduces ethical issues - based on what people are doing
• Qualitative and quantitative data
• Easily repeated

Weakness: 

• Interrator reliability is low - Different interpretations 
• Cultural bias