ABSTRACT
The main distinguishing characteristic of Case study research (CSR) is its focus on a single or small number of "cases" of a phenomena or event. CSR differs from cross-sectional research because it does not investigate the relationships between limited variables. In CSR, the focus of research is on not only the "case,"—the individual, group, or event—but also the context, that is the environment that surrounds the individual, group, or event being studied. It is also possible for CSR to serve as an exploratory study that can inform future nomothetic studies on the same issue. CSR has been employed across many disciplines, including sociology, psychology, health research, business, and education, but its popularity has been subject to ups and downs based on methodological critiques that the research results are merely anecdotal. CSR can be a powerful method for researchers who want to explain a complex whole and make connections between factors in a real-time, real-life scenario.
