Case Study Research
The investigation of “how does growing up as an adolescent in a violent environment make you become cruel to animals?” would employ the case study research. A case study is “an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident” (Yin, 2003, p. 13). A case study research seeks to derive detailed accounts of a single or more cases that provide information on the topic for investigation (Creswell, 2003). A case study research works well in investigations intended to provide an understanding of complex problems with the outcome capable of expanding or strengthening existing knowledge in previous research (Holloway, 1997). The emphasis of case study research is to utilize contextual analysis of a small number of cases (Marshall & Rossman, 1999). This is the appropriate research design for the study because the intention is to determine growing up in a violent environment as the context to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon of cruelty to animals. Most studies looked into the relationship of a violent domestic or family environment and animal cruelty but most studies employed the quantitative approach. Although, these studies were able to establish the correlation between these two variables, these were unable to provide an in-depth explanation of how violent family environment comprise a context for animal cruelty. Employing a case study research would allow the derivation of in-depth information on how a violent environment influence cruelty to animals based on the experiences of those with first hand experience of the phenomenon.
Case study research has some weaknesses that comprise criticisms of this research design. One is its provision of a weak basis for generalization of findings because of the small number of cases as source of primary data. Another is the dismissal of case study as an important exploratory implement. However, the use of the case study research is important in the investigation of how growing up in a violent family environment leads to animal cruelty. (Creswell, 2003) Although, the data derived from the study may give rise to the issue of reliability and generalizability, drawing in-depth information is necessary to determine how growing up in a violent environment would influence animal cruelty. Moreover, this contributes explanatory data to existing knowledge on the link between violent family environment and animal cruelty. Employing the case study method would yield data intended to fill the knowledge gap on the research topic.
The other option for research design is phenomenological study, which also seeks to derive in-depth information from first hand participants. The difference between case study and phenomenological study is the purpose of the data gathering and analysis. While the case study method seeks to derive data to derive contextual explanations, the phenomenological study seeks to draw data to capture the experiences of the research respondents. (Holloway, 1997; Marshall & Rossman, 1999) Investigating how a violent environment could lead to animal cruelty involves the consideration of cases to understand violent environment as a context of animal cruelty and not to capture the experiences of participants involved in animal cruelty as a means of supporting an outside understanding of the phenomenon as experienced by first hand participants. The case study method captures the requirements of the investigation better than a phenomenological study.
The type of case study research is explanatory, which suits causal studies such as the investigation of how growing up in a violent environment leads to animal cruelty. An explanatory case study involves pattern matching as the analytical strategy (Creswell, 2003). Utilizing the explanatory case study fits the requirements of the study of deriving in-depth causal explanations for how growing up in a violent environment can cause animal cruelty.
In application, a case study research design would have four sections. First is a section providing an overview of the research by providing the problem/s for investigation and the objectives of the research project. Second is a section discussing the field procedures such as the methods of gathering, analyzing and interpreting data. Third is the identification of questions in drawing data. Fourth is the development of a guide for the research report including the outline and format in completing the write-up. (Yin, 2003) Employing the case study research design means complying with these four basic sections.
Concurrently, a case study research should also have five components. First component is the research questions, which should guide the data collection process. Second component is the research propositions if any have been identified for the study. Third component is the identification of the unit/s in analyzing the data. Fourth component is the application of critical or logical thinking to relate the data collected with the propositions predetermined prior to the data collection process. Fifth component is the identification of criteria for the interpretation of the findings. (Yin, 2003)
There are many sources of evidence for case studies including documents, archive records, interviews, observations, and physical artifacts (Creswell, 2003). These sources of evidence could be used in the study singly or in combination to draw contextual explanations. However, the use of combination of sources would support a more reliable research outcome. In the current study, using a combination of sources such as interviews, observations, and history records of the research participants would ensure the drawing of in-depth information to provide an understanding of violent environment as the context of animal cruelty.
Commonly, the data collection methods in case studies are open-ended questionnaires or in-depth interviews and participant observation (Yin, 2003). Interviews enable the collection of in-depth data and room for follow-up questions to ensure quality data. Participant observation also allows the researcher to gain insight into the phenomenon being studied.
In analyzing data derived from a case study research, the result of the analysis should be of high quality. This is achieved by showing that the analysis of the data was directly derived from relevant evidence. The analysis should also mention rival interpretations of data in the analysis to ensure an objective approach to the research. The analysis should also meet the important aspects of the case study. There should also be evidence of prior research of existing knowledge and expert research knowledge to advance the analysis. (Yin, 2003)
References
Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Holloway, I. (1997). Basic concepts for qualitative research. Iowa: Iowa State University.
Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (1999). Designing qualitative research (3rd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and method (3rd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
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