case studies

• case studies 


  where sociologists investigate in great detail a particular individual or group, as opposed to trying to gather a representative sample from the target population.
• examples of case studies

  willis learning to labour - used mix of observations and interviews

  ball - beachside comprehensive - why w/c underperformed in school - used participant observations
• • small scale research
  • focuses more on individual / specific group in society
  • uses multiple methods - often qualitative
• use Methodological pluralism - (using a wide range of research methods) to achieve triangulation (cross-checking of data to increase validity).
• The sample of the case study (the person, group, event, etc that is being studied) is often chosen because they are unique or exceptional in some way, and researchers want to learn more
• strengths of case studies

  practical - cheaper as it is small scale research

  ethical - usually gain consent

  theoretical - methodological pluralism, high validity, more verstehen
• weaknesses of case studies

  theoretical - small scale so no representative or generalisable to wider population

  practical - time consuming, expensive

  ethical - may be researching sensitive information
• life histories 


  specific type of case study that looks at overall life of one individual or small group

  often using in-depth unstructured interviews with personal documents