GENERALIZING FROM SINGLE CASE STUDIES

• NCJ Number: 63401
• Journal: EVALUATION QUARTERLY Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 661-678
• Author(s): M M KENNEDY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EARLIER VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE WAS PRESENTED TO THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION, MARCH 1978, TORONTO, ONTARIO (CANADA)

Annotation

SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR GENERALIZING FROM SINGLE CASE STUDIES, EMPHASIZING THOSE METHODOLOGIES USED BY CLINICIANS AND COURT JUSTICES.

Abstract

BECAUSE RESEARCHERS ARE OFTEN CRITICAL OF THE METHODOLOGIES USED TO GENERATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GENERAL CASE, INTEREST IN SINGLE CASE STUDIES HAS GROWN. STUDIES OF INDIVIDUAL CASES ALLOW THE EVALUATOR TO LEARN THE INTRICATE DETAILS OF HOW A TREATMENT IS WORKING, RATHER THAN AVERAGING THE EFFECT ACROSS A NUMBER OF CASES. ALTHOUGH A GROWING BODY OF THEORY AND METHODOLOGY IS DEVELOPING FOR DRAWING CAUSAL INFERENCE FROM SINGLE CASES, LITTLE METHODOLOGICAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE AREA OF INFERENCES OF GENERALIZABILITY. THE PROBLEM OF GENERALIZABILITY FOR STUDIES OF SINGLE EVENTS AND FOR DISAGGREGATED STUDIES OF MULTIPLE EVENTS IS CONSIDERED AS WELL AS THE CRITERIA FOR GENERALIZING FOR EACH OF THESE TWO TYPES OF SINGLE CASE STUDIES. IN LAW, FOUR CRITERIA FOR GENERALIZING FROM CASES HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED: MATERIAL FACTS, APPROPRIATENESS OF THE DECISION, REASON FOR THE DECISION, AND GENERALITY OF THE DECISION. CLINICAL GENERALIZATIONS EMPLOY THREE CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION IN A CLINICAL REPORT: LONGITUDINAL INFORMATION, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT OF CLIENTS, AND PRECISION IN DESCRIPTION. THE APPLICATION OF THESE CRITERIA TO CASE STUDIES OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS IS DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)