Page 168 - DSOC404_METHODOLOGY_OF_SOCIAL_RESEARCH_ENGLISH

Methodology of Social Research

notes 2. Defective records: in study of this method, more emphasis is laid on previous records but
usually it is doubtful that the previous records are actual and correct.
3. Unscientific and Unorganized Method: in this method, in selection of units and compilation
of information, there is no control and neither support is taken of any scientific or organised
technique. In this view, it is an unscientific and unorganised method.
4. possibility of bias: one limitation of this method is also that because of the study of those
events only, that they come in his life, there is always a possibility of bias.
5. Not Based on Sampling Method: in this method only selected units are studied but selection
of these units is not based on sampling method. in such situation, study of representative
units is not done.
6. Unverified Facts: in this method, whatever information and material, investigator compiles
related to the life of a person, verification of it is not possible because,in the life of the other
person whom he would be studying, same events or situations are not happening. in this
way, unverified inferences are received.
7. More time and Money: in this method much time is taken to study few individual cases or
persons. Not only is this, along with time, expenditure is also much. Due to it, this method
is quiet expensive and time taking.
8. limited study: Despite using more time and money, through this method, only qualitative
study of units is done. from this point of view, this method is a limited study method.
9. Defective life history: in this method, life history is an important source of information
compilation but sometimes life-history is also defective and unscientific. Being written by the
people themselves, events may be written in an exaggerated manner and normally person
writes down the events of his choice. In such a situation incorporation of unscientificness in
generalization and inference is natural.
10. Read Bain has Told the Following Demerits of Case Study Method:
a. it does not give such information about the event which is impersonal, acceptable to
all, full of ethical base, impractical, frequent.
b. related person, instead of giving the correct information gives such information which,
as per his understanding, investigator wants.
c. respondent instead of telling the facts gets specially inclined towards self consent.
d. Literal feelings of the people motivate them to exaggerate and leave the actual facts
and include imaginative facts.
e. its data are usually not comparative.

Task What are the limitations of case study method? Explain extensively.

21.9 evaluation

from this investigation, it is clear that in social research, case study method has an important place but
along with this important place, this method has certain limitations and demerits also. Limitations and
demerits may be removed to some extent by an experience researcher. Knowledgeable persons like

162 loVely professional uniVersity