X. Evaluation Tools & Measures
I. Using Case Studies: Collecting Data
Case studies typically involve collecting in-depth information about one or more program participants. However, case studies can also be done for programs as a whole, or for particular exemplars of a program (a case study of participatory management style, for example). Case studies can provide a rich descriptive look at aspects of a program, and are often useful for helping to "tell the story" of a program or program participant. Case studies can involve a variety of data collection methods, including interviews, observation, questionnaires, etc. A high quality case study will involve more than one type of information. Case studies can be used effectively as a part of an evaluation to illustrate various aspects of a program. For example, you might select to do case studies on one male and one female participant in a program to illustrate the different kinds of experiences that males and females have. Case study methods can also be done as a primary method of evaluation. For more information about using case study methods for evaluation, see Case Study Research: Design and Methods, by Robert Yin, Sage Publishers, Thousand Oaks California, 1994.
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