Gevalstudies

Gevalstudies is the Dutch term for case studies, a research method used to gain a deep, contextual understanding of a bounded system or phenomenon by examining it in its real-life setting. A gevalstudie may involve a single case or a small number of cases and focuses on explaining what happened, how it happened, and why, rather than seeking broad statistical generalization.

Design choices include intrinsic case studies (driven by the interest in the case itself), instrumental case studies (the case serves to understand a broader issue), and collective or multiple-case studies (comparing several cases). Researchers typically use purposive sampling to select information-rich cases and employ triangulation across data sources to strengthen validity.

Data collection methods commonly include interviews, observation, examination of documents, reports, and artifacts. Data analysis often involves coding, thematic analysis, pattern matching, explanation building, and cross-case synthesis if more than one case is studied.

Strengths include rich, contextual insights, the ability to explore processes and mechanisms, and the potential to generate hypotheses for further study. Limitations include limited generalizability, possible researcher bias, time and resource intensity, and reliance on the quality and accessibility of sources.

Ethical considerations cover informed consent, confidentiality, data security, and transparency about potential conflicts of interest. Reports typically emphasize thick description, a clear chain of evidence, and, where appropriate, member checking to validate findings. In practice, gevalstudies are widely used in the social sciences, business, education, health care, and public policy to study programs, organizations, or events in real contexts.