title: The case study as a research strategy.
abstract: A research strategy seldom used in the caring sciences is the case study. A case study is an empirical in-depth inquiry about an individual, family, group or organization. It is preferable when 'how' and 'why' questions are asked. The case study is mainly used to explain those causal links in real-life intervention that are too complex for either the survey or experimental strategies. Like other research strategies, its design includes questions or propositions, units of analysis, the logic linking the data to the questions or propositions, and the interpretations of the outcomes. A case study can be reported as a single case or as a compilation of a series of cases. In conclusion, a case study is a simple and excellent way for a care professional to present him or herself to the scientific world.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Promotion Research, Halmstad University, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fridlund
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods*; D009737:Nursing Records; D012107:Research Design