Pilot study & Case study

By
Dr.Nandeesh V. Hiremath

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Pilot study
 A preliminary / exploratory study
undertaken, before getting into an
elaborate and in-depth research

 Objective : to get insight into

effective designing of research,
before a mega-research project is
underatken

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Why Pilot study
Advantages
 Saves resources – time, money, HR etc
 Gives better focus & clear direction to in-
depth research

Disadvantages
 If any mistakes are done in pilot study
stage, it gets magnified in later stages also
 Extreme care is required in going for this
method
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 Case Study - Meaning

 Case Study is a method of exploring and

analyzing the life of a social unit or entity, be
it a person, an institution / MNC or a
community

 Importance of case study in research &

social science : Gives insights on ground
realities
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Contribution of Frederick Leplay –
Introduction of case study method into social
investigation

Contribution of Herbert Spencer –

First social philosopher who used case study in
comparative studies of different cultures

Contribution of William Healey –

Use of case study in study of juvenile delinquency
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 Assumptions of Case Study

1. Dependency upon wit, common sense and

imagination of the person doing the case study

2. In case of writing life history in first person, it must
be as complete and coherent as possible
3. Unbiased approach should focus on collecting real
facts, realities etc
4. Analysis should not be done during data collection
5. Life history should be written for knowledgeable person

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 Assumptions of Case Study

6. Advisable to supplement case data by observational,

statistical and historical data since these provide
standards for assessing the reliability and consistency
of the case material
7. Efforts should be made to ascertain the reliability of
life history data through examining the internal
consistency of the material
8. Judicious combination of techniques of data collection
is a prerequisite for meaningful and scientifically
significant data

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 Advantages of Case Study Method

1. Needed for in-depth study

2. Reveal the complexities in the problem

3. New courses of action/ measures / solutions can be
taken based on the outcome of the study
4. Easy to see how the exploratory research objectives
generating insights
5. Hypothesis will be well-served by use of this
technique

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 Disadvantage of Case Study Method

1. Biases and subjectivity could affect the findings

2. Takes more resources than other methods like
questionnaire / observation, as it is more detailed
3. Lack of trained staff could pose a challenge in the case
study research

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 How to make case study effective?

1. Subject must be viewed as a specimen in a

cultural series
2. Organic motto of action must be socially relevant
3. Strategic role of the family group in transmitting
the culture must be recognized
4. Specific method of elaboration of organic material
onto social behaviour must be clearly shown

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 How to make case study effective?

5. Continuous related character of experience for

childhood through adulthood must be stressed

6. Social situation must be carefully and continuously
specified as a factor
7. Life history material itself must be organized
according to some conceptual framework, this in turn
would facilitate generalizations at a higher level

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 Case Study as a method of market research

 Useful for understanding the inherent complex set of

variables generating the results

 Understanding the characteristics of the stellar
performers
 More productive when there is active curiosity and
willingness to deviate away from the initial plan

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