Case Study:
* Definition: A case study is an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, event, or phenomenon. It aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the subject by examining various aspects and exploring their interrelationships.
* Characteristics:
* Focus on a specific instance: It doesn't aim for generalizability in the same way as a large-scale quantitative study.
* Rich data: Uses multiple data sources, such as interviews, observations, documents, and archival materials.
* Narrative approach: Often presented as a story, weaving together different pieces of information to create a holistic picture.
* Exploration, not necessarily testing: Can be exploratory, aiming to generate hypotheses or develop new theories, rather than strictly testing existing ones.
* Examples: A case study of a company's successful marketing campaign; a case study of a patient's recovery from a specific illness; a case study of a historical event.
Extended Study:
* Definition: This is a much broader term, referring to any research project that involves a longer period of investigation or a more extensive scope than a typical study. It lacks a precise definition, as the "extension" can refer to duration, scope, or both.
* Characteristics:
* Lengthy timeframe: Could involve years of data collection and analysis.
* Multiple methods: May incorporate various research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches.
* Broader scope: Could encompass multiple case studies, geographic locations, or time periods.
* Complex phenomena: Often tackles complex issues requiring in-depth and longitudinal analysis.
* Examples: A longitudinal study tracking the development of children over 20 years; a multi-site study comparing health outcomes across different regions; a historical study spanning several centuries.
The Relationship:
An extended study could *include* multiple case studies. For instance, a study investigating the effectiveness of a new teaching method might involve several case studies of individual classrooms using the method. In this instance, the case studies contribute to the overall findings of the larger, extended study. However, an extended study could also be a large-scale quantitative study, a meta-analysis, or another type of research entirely, without including case studies at all.
In short: A case study is a *type* of research design, while an extended study is a *description* of the research's scope and duration. One can be a part of the other, but they are not inherently linked.