Case study research

What is a case study?

A case study is an exploration of an 'entity' which draws on multiple sources of data. It is an approach to research within which a range of methods can be used. In higher education research, the 'case' may be ,for example:

• a set of higher education institutions
• a single university
• a subject area
• a group of students
• a course
• an individual person
• a teaching method
• ...

In developing a case study, the researcher discovers in detail characteristics of the case and how it operates within its context. A case study may be undertaken in its own right, in order to understand the particular case, or it may be a stage or a part of a study say, in action research.