case study:an in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual, group, institution or event
how can case studies involve qualitative data?
researchers may construct a case history of the individual concerned, perhaps using interviews, observations, questionnaires or a combination of all
how can case studies involve quantitative data?
the person may be subject to experimental or psychological testing to assess what they are (or are not) capable of and this may produce quantitative data
what does it mean by case studies being longitudinal?
they tend to take place over a long period of time, may involve gathering additional data from family and friends of the individual as well as the person themselves
content analysis: a research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce e.g in texts, emails, TV, film and other media
coding definition
the stage of a content analysis in which the communication to be studied is analysed by identifying each instance of the chosen categories (which may be words, sentences, phrases)
thematic analysis: an inductive and qualitative approach to analysis that involves identifying implicit or explicit ideas within the data. themes will often emerge once the data has been coded
