Introduction
As the thesaurus defines it, research
is an inquiry or investigation into things or
matter for any reason. In any form we are collecting
data from our environment and absorbing it. But
to study it scientifically, structured ways have
been defined so that an opinion or a conclusion
can be drawn upon. Importance of research can
be built upon the fact that writing is not complete
without information. No information is of use
until and unless it is available in a structured
form and it only remains a data if not analyzed
accordingly. There are many techniques for collecting
data and all of them have their appropriate benefits
and uses for different purposes (Chatterji, “Importance
of Research”).
Generic research establishes general standards across the board, which results in a relevant form of data collection.
A research is either primary or secondary and answers to the pertinent question serving the needs of the time so as to educate or inform. So research is conducted in many forms but basically it is either experiential or survey based. In any kind of research, research focus is very important otherwise the purpose of it is lost. (Casey, 2002). Research knowledge comes from systematic data collection which if conducted in specific manner can bring to light many things which is the purpose of the data collection techniques. Research Interviews have been there since long. They have been and still are in practice quite frequently along with other data collecting instruments. On the other hand Case Studies are relatively new as a data collection technique but have proved to be very instrumental in highlighting critical incidents. Many experts differ on the definitions of these data collection techniques. Interviews have numerous definitions and attributes but the word itself means a conversation for a purpose like job application etc. But it is not that simple, there are numerous forms of interviews and their purposes. It can also been defined as a format of conversation with one or more than one for the purpose of giving or collecting information for the relevant reason. (Eurocontrol definition).
The Theory
Interviews have been developed
and modified over a long period of time and have
become a very important instrument for collecting
information. They have their uses in many forms
and in research methods they play a major role
and can be used in many diverse situations depending
upon the flexibility of the subject. Other major
benefit is easy accessibility to large number
of respondents. Interviews can easily be recorded
either electronically or manually and the records
can easily be maintained. The flexibility involved
in interviews is dependent on the subject matter
and the environment.
Different types of interviews are conducted which can include telephonic interviews, the uses of this kind of interview is dependable for example a call center might like to interview its candidates on the phone first. But this is a pre-planned questionnaire kind of an interview to get specific information for specific purpose. It has its limitations and benefits as well can be conducted according to different uses. In open-ended interviews a pre-determined format is available but can be modified the biggest advantage and use of the interview technique is the fact that the Interviewer can change the questions if need might arise according to the responses of the respondents. For example if a sensitive issue like adoption would require a very open ended interview, so that the interviewer can adjust his questions according to the sensitivity level and this would also allow the respondent to explain the situation in a better way. A specific flow can be maintained to reach a conclusion and to understand the diverse information that might be retrieved through an interview and not possible otherwise.
If the interview method is being used to collect information from a large number of audience or respondents which is also know as the large scale interview type then the best way would be to keep it close ended and short so that a systematic comparison can be made to understand the correlations for the purpose it was conducted. For example if an interview is being conducted for the purpose of collecting information to make a comparison for a study like the affect of work stress on life.
Interviews not only have the open-ended
and the close-ended format rather they can utilize
numerous techniques and can have multiple answer
question technique have numerous types A specific
format would have to be developed so that a comparison
could be made from different sources and conclusion
can be drawn upon.
Interviews have high response rate than the written questionnaires because many things can be made clear at the spot making the communication of thought better. This technique allows the interviewer with considerable leverage to explain his questions even if the other person is not aware of the terminology or is not literate enough. (“ Overview of Data Collection Techniques” 2004). This flexibility to get in-depth information through the interviews gives a clear understanding of the pertaining subject. For example if a child psychologist were interviewing a patient, he would need to get the very minor details to get to the core of the problem.
Interviews challenge the respondents with direct confrontations where this or any other reason might prompt them towards biasness or favoritism. For example, if anyone is asked about drugs or substance abuse, they might not tell the truth to the interviewer rather they would tell what is socially right. (Taylor and Summerhill 1992).
The validity of any measure would show that how accurate it is in bringing out the result for which it was conducted. There are many ways to check the validity of the interviews by conducting tests such as the pre-test or post-test. If the interview is not valid then the purpose of the data collection is lost. Similarly, reliability factor is very pertinent to the acceptability of any measure itself. That also has to be checked where interviews have varied validity and reliability for different cases.
It is said that interviews can
often be misleading if the respondent has little
reasons to reveal the truth. For example, in an
exit interview it is said that respondents might
not want to share the right reason with the management
for leaving their jobs for many reasons such as
they would feel threatened that they might be
pressurized. But that too can be dependent on
the type of questions asked. (“ Counselling
& Career Coaching” 2004).
With other techniques in comparison, face-to-face interviews are also expensive to conduct, whereas telephonic interviews are relatively inexpensive and can be geographically dispersed but where the visual aids cannot be used.
Although as mentioned before the case study method is a relatively a new one but it has been identified as an important source of understanding the details of a particular problem. To understand intense issues like poverty, and other issues requiring complex details so that an in-depth analysis can be carried out, case studies are very useful. The added benefit of the case study is its “completeness in observation, reconstruction and the analysis” of the subject. (Zonabend, 1992).
The case study has been defined as “a careful study of some social unit (as a corporation or division within a corporation) that attempts to determine what factors led to its success or failure 2: a detailed analysis of a person or group from a social or psychological or medical point of view.” (Farlex, 2004)
The uses of the case study have evolved over the years and this methodology has been used in many scenarios since its evolution in Europe in the early 1900s. ( Tellis, 1997).
The case study method in the classroom
for was first introduced at the law schools where
the students had to put them in the lawyer’s
shoe in the mock sessions at the law court.
Case study has been very popular in the institutions right from the early start where it was used in the medical and the engineering field to understand complex problems so as to come to a conclusion or some point. This way if the case study is being utilized by the students then it allows them a better understanding of the topic and the problems and also provides them with the environmental situations which might have helped or hindered the case. Case studies are used in a number of fields where they establish the logics by giving ground to the related theory.
Many people have dismissed the case study just as an exploratory tool but it is successful in providing the researchers with the solution to a specific problem. Yin defines the case study method as “empirical investigation into the matter of things in the real life context.” (Yin, 1984, p. 23).
Case studies can be used in many
forms and has many benefits, despite the fact
that it was highly criticized as a research method
as it was considered inferior to the quantitative
analysis. But since then it has been proven time
that these quantitative methods also have their
limitations and that a case study can also incorporate
these quantitative methods. ( Hamel , 1993).
The case study method requires the data to the complex problem must come from multiple resources. These multiple resources can then be utilized by the case study writer so as to outline the uses and uses of the subject. For example a case study can be written for information power strategies, so that any other group using the strategies could benefit from it and understand the constraints and advantages of utilizing a particular technique.
Similarly another example can be
cited over here from the field of Human Resource
Management where many case studies have been written
by the Harvard Business Review authority to understand
the unit level problems of many organizations.
A case study on the balance scorecard was developed by the Harvard Business Review on Morgan Stanley’s unique way of utilizing a balance score card. That case study highlighted how the balance scorecard and the 360 degree feedback could be used in determining the performance of an employee. (PMS, Harvard Business Review).
Another important facet of the case study method is the definition of the central issue, which needs to be answered and addressed which is the basic element of the case study method.
The classroom instruction style of the case study method has been much in use as it provides the students with the real life challenges. It is important to understand the issues in the experiential form as it tests the mental ability of the students. It is basically the simulation of the live events giving it credibility so that information is interpreted accordingly in conformance to the requirements. The interesting thing about the case study method is that a lot of instruments are used to collect the data for the case study itself, which can give a good view of the subject problem. The case study technique requires lot of fieldwork, which enhances the effectiveness of the case study itself.
As mentioned before case study has become a very effective instructional design as the students get the opportunity to analyze problems at their end. The design of the case study itself can be based on single or multiple projects, where a case study based on the multiple designs has to follow a sequential method. It is said that the case studies go beyond the only the quantitative or the qualitative techniques, for example in a case study one can include the statistical data and graphs to prove a logic or point. Perspectives and views from all the respondents/stakeholders can also be added in the case study, which would result in a comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand. (Tellis, 1997, Volume III). A case study can be carried out in several ways where it can be for any purpose for example a classroom case study on the Quality Kaizen system of Toyota , Japan . This case study would show the continuous improvement quality processes of the company for which it is famous. This case study would give an insight into the workings of an organization so that other companies and other students can learn from it.
Both of these data collection have their importance but it’s the trade off that is important.
Case studies used for different disciplines also presents histories, but if the case study research follows a particular technique then effective results and conclusions can be drawn upon. A well-defined Case study would firstly define the research question, and then the data selection technique would be selected for the case study itself where the researcher has to be very careful and clear about the purpose. Field and experiential data have to be collected so that the information collected can be fairly analyzed. (“ The case study as a research method” 1997). |