Thinking in cases: Interdisciplinary use of the case study method

Date:

24/01/2017

Organised by:

University of Essex

Presenter:

Dr Mike Forrester, Dr Matt Ffytche, Dr Reitske Meganck and Dr Jochem Willemsen

Level:

Intermediate (some prior knowledge)

Contact:

proficio@essex.ac.uk

Map:

View in Google Maps  (CO4 3SQ)

Venue:

University of Essex,
Wivenhoe Park,
Colchester,
Essex

Description:

John Forrester proposed a new reasoning style for the sciences: thinking in cases. As science proceeds by making particular observations, he argues, when and why are we allowed to derive absolute knowledge from these observations? If our intellectual capacity would allow it, we would always think in terms of particulars instead of generalities. Interest in N = 1 research long present in the humanities is increasing in the social sciences, and psychoanalysis, and a variety of data analytical approaches are being applied to single cases. In this short course, experienced clinician/researchers will teach you a number of contemporary approaches to psychoanalytic research on single cases.

Working with data from a single subject entails specific challenges, both at the level of methodology and ethics. We will address the issues of collecting, processing and analysing such data. Furthermore, we will go into the complex issue of generalizing on the basis of cases, and we will engage with the concepts of analytical generalisation and statistical generalisation. In the periphery of these discussions, the question about the scientific status of psychoanalysis (somewhere between the natural and the human sciences) will always be present.

This course is aimed primarily at any research student who doesn’t collect data in ways that aim to represent a broader population, but who selects data for their richness of information. A case study could be a patient, a group, an organisation, a book or movie, a literary product, an event in history, the researcher him- or herself, etc.

Cost:

Essex PGR students, alumni, Staff, Essex partner PGR students and Eastern ARC PGR students, NHS staff - £75.00

Other academia and not-for-profit organisations - £100.00

Commercial - £150.00

Website and registration:

Region:

South East

Keywords:

Research Management and Impact, Advanced Research Training and Knowledge

Related publications and presentations:

Research Management and Impact

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