Case Study

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;
and in which multiple sources of evidence are used (Yin, 1991: 23). Case study research
involves individual cases and studies over an extended period of time (Kromrey, 1986: 320).
Case studies are not a method of data collection but a research model, and employ a number of
methods of data collection and analysis in a variety of contexts (Bromley, 1986). Case studies
research is by no means uniform. It is employed in both quantitative and qualitative research,
although to a different extent and for different reasons. In general, case studies are employed as
pre-research, as the main study and as post-research. In quantitative research they are employed
as pre-research, that is, an exploratory study. In qualitative research they appear as main studies,
as research enterprises of their own that aim to develop hypothesis or even theories.

Types of case studies

Stake (1995: 237) refers to three different types of case study. They are:
1. The intrinsic case study
2. The instrumental case study
3. The collective case study

The intrinsic case study

An intrinsic case study is normally conducted for its own sake; in other words, to learn about this
case only. There is expectation that the results will be generalized to explain similar cases.

The instrumental case study

An instrumental case study is used to inquire into a social issue or to refine a theory. The results
have a wider application, beyond the study itself.

The collective case study

A collective study includes a number of single studies investigated jointly for the purpose of
inquiring into an issue, phenomenon, group or condition. It normally includes several
instrumental studies.

The Research Process / Research Design for a Collective Case Study

In qualitative research, social inquiry follows a well-constructed design that covers in detail all
the steps of the investigations. In this sense, research is perceived as progressing in a sequence of
steps that are closely interrelated and develop from the first to the last, and in which the success

of such depends on the successful completion of the preceding step. Following are the process of
our research which we follow:
Step 1: Choosing research Topic
Step 2: Methodological construction of the topic
Step 3: Sampling procedures
Step 4: Data collection
Step 5: Data analysis and interpretation
Step 6: Reporting

Research Topic: Invisibility of Women in Agricultural Sector

Objectives:
1. Reasons for their invisibility
2. Their awareness about their contribution in agricultural sector
3. Their awareness about the role they play for earning family income by doing various works at
field and at home.

Method:
Case Study Collective case study
Community- Women as house wives in village/rural areas

Location: Hawor Region, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh

Some general questions for our case study:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

What is your name and age?

Have you been to school?
What does your husband do?
What do you do?
Who looks after your home and your children?
Do you help your husband in fields or any other works?
How do you help your husband?
In spite of doing so much work, dont you think your work should get recognition?

Characters:
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Faika Rahman (103): 1. Supervisor

2. Respondent 3 (village house wife)
Tanvir Alam (35): Researcher 1
Ayesha Siddika (31): Respondent 1 (village house wife)
Rakib Munsi (101): Husband of respondent 1
Thasina Takia (16): Researcher 2
Khondaker Nusrat Sharmin (29): 1. Researcher 3
2. Respondent 2 (village house wife)

In the play, at first the researchers come to meet the supervisor and the supervisor informs them
about the research topic. The supervisor discusses the topic with them and tells them about what
the research aims to know and who should be their subjects. One feedback we got from our
course instructor about the conversation between researchers and supervisor is that the supervisor
should have mentioned, more clearly, about the objectives of the research.
Next the researchers discuss themselves about the topic and prepare themselves by doing the
required pen paper work and make questionnaire for conducting the individual case studies.
The Researchers go to the selected location and interview their subjects. We had three
researchers and we only showed three interviews with three different subjects. During the
researcher- researched conversation we wanted to focus on some ethical issues. For example
before taking every interview, the researchers informed the respondents about their research and
their purpose which served as an ethical issue of avoiding deception.
Researcher 1 and Respondent 1
During their conversation the respondents husband was not interested in letting his wife to get
interviewed. Moreover he was interrupting repeatedly while his wife was talking. This showed
the obstacle researchers face when they conduct their case studies. The researcher asked the
respondent about whether he could use her original name but the respondent denied and the
researcher ensured her that he would use a pseudonym. This reflects the ethical issue of
maintaining privacy.
Researcher 2 and Respondent 2
During her field work, the researcher took photographs of women working in the fields without
even asking them so this was against the ethical issues. Moreover she switched on the recorder
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without asking the respondent which also violated the ethical terms and conditions. Moreover
she went there for the case study while the respondent was busy at her works which she should
have been careful about and should have chosen a convenient time.
Researcher 3 and Respondent 3
In this case study the researcher asked some personal questions directly to the respondent which
the respondent did not want to answer.

Findings:
The main problem associated with womens invisibility in agricultural sector is that their work is
never recognized. Women help their husbands in fields and after the crop is brought home, all
most all the works are done my women. Starting from sowing seeds to the final process before it
enters market; women have important roles in every step.
Women also participate in livestock farming and significant family income is earned through
selling items such as milk, eggs etc. Women take care of these domesticated animals, feed them,
and protect them.
Besides doing all house hold chores women also engage themselves in these works but they are
not count as contributors in agricultural sector because both the men and women in the society
think that it is the moral duty and familial responsibility of a woman to take care of her home,
help her husband and do all kinds of things which will bring fortune to their family. Helping their
husband and working in farms or managing livestock are mere responsibilities for them. While
they appreciate their husbands hard work, the women themselves underestimate their work as
they consider it as a responsibility. Household works or agricultural related works are Work for
males but responsibility for females.
Another problem is that when researches are undertaken, most of the time both the researcher
and the respondent are male, for which women related issues are never even mentioned or
thought of. Sometimes the husbands or other male members of the family dont let the women of
their home to face such interviews giving excuses of religious instructions on maintaining
purdah (veil).

Feedbacks:
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After the play had finished, we received both positive and negative remarks. Our portrayal of
ethical issues was well appreciated but our use of language was criticized. The researchers
should have talked with the respondents with a local tone because if the respondents dont feel
easy while talking then the interview would not be that much fruitful.
The supervisor researcher communication was not portrayed in the play. The supervisor should
have inquired about the research by contacting the researchers during the field work and the
researchers should have given updates about the research progress to the supervisor.

Reference
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Sarantakos, S. (2005). Social research. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.