AMU Faculty Member Delivers Keynote Address

Aligarh : Professor Nawab Ali Khan, Chairman, Department of Commerce, Aligarh Muslim University shared his thoughts on the value and challenges of case studies in social research in the inaugural ceremony of the Two-Day National Workshop on Delivery and Design of Case Studies organised by Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management, (Punjab University) Ludhiana.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Khan said, like children in a sweetshop, researchers are often spoilt for choice when it comes to determining which tools to use to address a research question as an array of quantitative and qualitative research tools, ranging from desk-based literature reviews to in-depth case studies are included in it.

He further explained that a case study is an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. “The most significant benefit of case studies is that they enable a holistic review, unlike standalone research techniques which give more of a snapshot, e.g. surveys, a case study offers the opportunity for a researcher to use a range of tools on one subject”, he pointed out.

Professor Khan also highlighted the common criticism of the case studies that their findings can’t be generalized and also the Case studies can be time consuming but these can be overcome with forward planning, background research and informed participants’ selection.