On the Case: Approaches to Language and Literacy Research

by Anne Haas Dyson, Celia Genishi

In this seminal book on the construction of case studies in the field of language and literacy, the authors consider in detail what it means to be "on the case." They evaluate the basic assumptions that ground a qualitative approach to case study methodology, the decisions entailed in designing a case study, and the possibilities and challenges of data collection and analysis. For the novice researcher, this book is an essential manual on how to design and carry out a case study. For the experienced researcher, this book offers fresh insights into the theoretical issues that underpin qualitative case study research.

Features:

Examples from the authors' research with young children and their teachers, demonstrating how any school and any classroom can present a plethora of potential "cases." Attention to the subtleties of procedure that are seldom discussed in research reports, including interactions with children in classrooms and other relational complexities. An annotated list of suggestions for further reading.

Genres: Academic

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2005

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was definitely on the fence with On the Case as it starts off like a good caper movie: "casing out the joint," making a plan and assembling a team (otherwise known as participants and stakeholders. Even as most of the action is based upon a children's picture book, mentioned I each chapter, doesn't defer from a tantalizing throughline: considering one of the top box office movies this week is based on Lego, it goes to show that any source can make a fascinating story. Where I started to lose to plot, so to speak, was somewhere between Mrs. Kay and Ms. Yung's classroom. Each step from the design of a case study to the analysis and generalizations were important, but I felt batted from one experience to the other like a badminton shuttlecock. And them to conclude that each case is going to be unique and irreplicable made me wonder if the time invested would be well spent. Yet I want to believe there are some study habits I could improve upon with this book, I might be tempted to let this textbook rental (perhaps On Ethnography too) be returned when the term is done. Hope the next methodology, On Discourse Analysis in Classrooms, wins me over!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Haas Dyson and Celia Genishi co-write a guide to case study work in qualitative language and literacy studies, utilizing their own research experiences and Peter Sis's book Madlenka too. Each chapter describes a stage of case study research, from start to finish, with sample models at the end of each chapter too. Topics include case study selection and design, data collection and analysis, and generalizability of research findings. While some readers unfamiliar with social science research might still find this book's content too conceptual, most readers should be able to comfortably read and understand everything. For social science researchers interested in a reader-friendly introduction to case study research, this book is an enjoyable read.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent description of case study research with multiple examples. Dyson and Genishi write in the same voice that they advocate for in qualitative research so those who come naturally to this perspective of research will like the book. It doesn't provide specific definitions of terms, but tries to illustrate ideas through examples. Much more reader friendly than Yin's book on case study research, but not as comprehensive.

[Graham Oliver]

Did a good job with integrating their own case studies into the text without being obnoxious about it, something similar texts have difficulties with.

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This is an excellent resource on how to conduct qualitative or ethnographic research.