Case studies
Origins
Case study research originated in the social sciences. A major concern of case study research is to
study a phenomenon within its social context. Thus, it is not just a technique (or set of techniques)
but also an attitude that requires a willingness to come close to the object of inquiry. In this regard,
it shares the features of other qualitative approaches in social and cultural sciences, such as
Grounded Theory (Glaser and Strauss 1967), ethnomethodology (Garfinkel 1967/1984), and
ethnography of communication (Hymes 1962), or interactional sociolinguistics (Gumperz 1982).
Thus, the origins of qualitative research lie in an interest in social phenomena as embedded in and
meaningful for a specific context. Stake (2000: 21) positions case studies in an anti-positivist
paradigm and argues that they aim at “perceptions and understanding that come from immersion
in and holistic regard for the phenomena.”
A case study is not a specific method but rather a research strategy (Yin 1981). Case studies
investigate properties, actions, attitudes, and social structures of individuals, groups, or institutions
by applying one or more methods, such as participant observation, interviews, and analysis of
documents (Thomas 2010). Furthermore, case study research is characterized as an approach “that
facilitates exploration of a phenomenon within its context using a variety of data sources” (Baxter
and Jack 2008: 544). The philosophical background is a qualitative, constructivist paradigm, based
on the claim that reality is socially constructed and can best be understood by exploring the tacit,
i.e., experiencebased, knowledge of individuals. Therefore, immersion and empathy are necessary
conditions for case study research (Hammersley and Gomm 2000: 1; Stake 2000: 21; Baxter and
Jack 2008: 545). Case studies are distinguished from other major types of social inquiry, such as
experiments and survey studies, by their explorative nature, their use of various methods, and their
bottom-up procedures (Hammersley and Gomm 2000: 2).
Case studies aim at investigating a social phenomenon through the lenses of the involved actors
The emic approach is an insider's perspective, which looks at the beliefs, values, and practices of
a particular culture from the perspective of the people who live within that culture. This approach
aims to understand the cultural meaning and significance of a particular behavior or practice, as it
is understood by the people who engage in it.
The etic approach, on the other hand, is an outsider's perspective, which looks at a culture from
the perspective of an outside observer or researcher. This approach tends to focus on the observable
behaviors and practices of a culture, and aims to understand them in terms of their functional or
evolutionary significance. The etic approach often involves the use of standardized measures and
frameworks to compare different cultures and may involve the use of concepts and theories from
other disciplines, such as psychology or sociology.
The previous identification and categorization of the phenomenon, or the case, distinguishes case
studies from ethnographic research.
Case studies do not have to be limited to individual cases. Rather, they may focus on a number of
instances of a single case or even on different, though interrelated, cases.
Cases can be studied over time, or in relation to a specific historical moment—i.e., researchers
may focus on developmental aspects in longitudinal projects—or they may be interested in the
“here and now” of a specific social phenomenon.
Limitations
Case studies aim at exploring a certain phenomenon or issue in depth. This leads researchers to
limit the number and size of the cases under investigation. Another limitation is that case study
research focuses on naturally occurring data, and therefore control of variables is not a major
concern. The generalizability of results and observations is limited, and the primary goal is to
develop an understanding of the case, and not the testing of theory-driven claims.
case study data may come from a variety of sources
Yin (2012: 10) lists the following six common data sources: direct observations, interviews,
archival records, documents, participant observation, and physical artifacts. For Translation and
Interpreting Studies, additional sources may include source and target texts or transcriptions of
authentic discourse (Meyer 1998).
Uses
In Translation and Interpreting Studies, research questions address interpreter roles in dialogue
and simultaneous interpreting, effects of translation exercises on language acquisition, or the
identification of ideological stance in different translations of the same source text. For examples
of TIS studies that are labeled as case studies, see the following section.
For sample studies, see your textbook.
