In scholarly circles, case studies are frequently discussed within the context of qualitative research and naturalistic inquiry. In addition, unlike more specifically directed experiments, case studies require a problem that seeks a holistic understanding of the event or situation in question using inductive logic-reasoning from specific to more general terms. Likewise, they are the preferred method when the researcher has little control over the events, and when there is a contemporary focus within a real life context. Unlike quantitative methods of research, like the survey, which focus on the questions of who, what, where, how much, and how many, and archival analysis, which often situates the participant in some form of historical context, case studies are the preferred strategy when how or why questions are asked. Thick description also involves interpreting the meaning of demographic and descriptive data such as cultural norms and mores, community values, ingrained attitudes, and motives. This type of comprehensive understanding is arrived at through a process known as thick description, which involves an in-depth description of the entity being evaluated, the circumstances under which it is used, the characteristics of the people involved in it, and the nature of the community in which it is located. OverviewĬase studies typically examine the interplay of all variables in order to provide as complete an understanding of an event or situation as possible. Researchers do not focus on the discovery of a universal, generalizable truth, nor do they typically look for cause-effect relationships instead, emphasis is placed on exploration and description. A form of qualitative descriptive research, the case study looks intensely at an individual or small participant pool, drawing conclusions only about that participant or group and only in that specific context. Definition and OverviewĬase study refers to the collection and presentation of detailed information about a particular participant or small group, frequently including the accounts of subjects themselves. Finally, this guide examines the strengths and weaknesses of case studies.

A discussion of ways to handle validity, reliability, and generalizability follows, with special attention to case studies as they are applied to composition studies. Using several well documented case studies, the guide then looks at applications and methods including data collection and analysis. Starting with a definition of the case study, the guide moves to a brief history of this research method. Researchers collect data about participants using participant and direct observations, interviews, protocols, tests, examinations of records, and collections of writing samples. Of the three average writers, one of them seemed to indicate that she had been composing under the Knowledge-Telling Model, a model of composing that is regarded as immature relative to the other model.This guide examines case studies, a form of qualitative descriptive research that is used to look at individuals, a small group of participants, or a group as a whole. They seemed to be more sensitive to the rhetorical situation of the writing as compared to their more average counterparts. The proficient writers displayed the most evidence of having composed under this model. The study found that the composing processes of the individual gifted students studied resemble the Knowledge- Transforming Model of composing to varying degrees. As such, it is expected to be found in the sample of gifted students in this study.

It is also found in talented young writers. The latter model is a more mature way of thinking through the composing process and offers an opportunity of enhancing the metacogntion of the writer in the process of composing.

According to Bereiter and Scardamalia (1987), there are two models of composing - the Knowledge-Telling Model and the Knowledge-Transforming Model. Writing has been seen by researchers in the field to be a problem-solving activity which can enhance the metacognition of an individual. It serves as an exploratory case study to investigate an area where very little research has been carried out previously. This study aims to investigate the composing process of Secondary Three students in the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) in Singapore. A CASE STUDY OF THE COMPOSING PROCESS OF SECONDARY THREE STUDENTS IN THE GIFTED EDUCATION PROGRAMME. A CASE STUDY OF THE COMPOSING PROCESS OF SECONDARY THREE STUDENTS IN THE GIFTED EDUCATION PROGRAMMEĭOMINIC NICHOLAS ANG SWEE KENG (1994).

Sample case study gifted student