Investigates a phenomenon in its real-life context. Originated in clinical medicine  

A strong sense of time or place (Example a core sample in ice)  

Not a research method in itself but a collection of methods - May involve several methods  

Interview, questionnaires,  

Limitation of Case studies  

Strengths of Case studies  

> Eclecticism is a feature (can use mixed methods?)

_·               A case study can be a simple act of description, an account of something that happened. Case study research as a methodology has guidelines and has a lot of rigour behind it. 

_·               Case study research is very adaptable to different areas of inquiry – this is perhaps a key difference between case study research and ethnography. 

_·               Case study research is qualitative and methods used include documentation, interviews and observation. 

_·               The key text (Robert K Yin, Case study research) contains a lot of diagrams and guidelines for data collection, analysis, etc 

2.       There is increasing acceptance of the idea that artists can conduct research in the process of producing art, and that the resulting artwork can be a valid research output in itself. (Creative research methods in the social sciences)

3.       Studying our practice yields to benefits so it holds up principles of education against real world processes. (Heuristics). It can inform the development of tools and processes in those practices. (Rethinking Pedagogy for a Digital Age) 

4.       More accessible route to research for creative practitioners. Everyone has the right to artistic activity, which is usefully experimental and promotes creative thought. (Creative research methods in the social sciences)

 

It uses primary source materials: written, oral or visual - for example, personal histories, autobiography, photography, interview field notes, conversations, recordings etc.

 

It captures personal and human dimensions of experience over time, and takes account of the relationship between individual experience and cultural context.

The practitioner-researcher is «  someone who holds down a job in a particular area and at the same time carries out enquiry which is of relevance to the job » (Robson, 1993 referenced by Gray and Malins, 2013. Visualizing Research. Farnham: Ashgare Publishing Ltd )

 Practitioners who engage in action research strive to improve their practice as a direct result of the research (Thornton, 2013. Artist Researcher Teacher. Intellect: Chicago)