Case‐based Research in Community and Social Psychology: Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

Cases are highly prevalent in teaching and practice in psychology. Case‐based research is crucial for engaged and relevant community and applied social psychologies, but is often subject to critique. This editorial responds to such critiques, clarifies various misconceptions regarding this research strategy, and argues for the utility of case‐based research. We explore the theoretical basis and implications of case‐based research for community action and participative interventions. This special issue offers a collection of articles that showcase the use of a range of methods in case‐based research. Contributions include: (i) a conceptual argument regarding the logic of case studies; (ii) a single‐person case study; (iii) a group‐level case study; (iv) a multi‐site case study, (v) a reflection on challenges of participative research, using the action‐researcher as the case. These contributions demonstrate how the use of exemplars is crucial for community and applied social psychologists developing knowledge about social issues in complex and diverse societies, with a view to improving the human condition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dual-heritage households: Food, culture, and re-membering in Hamilton, New Zealand

“…We drew from an ethnographically-orientated approach that foregrounds the utility of case-based research (Hodgetts & Stolte, 2012) and emphasises the importance of doing research within the context of participants' everyday lifeworlds (Small, 2009). The case-comparative method proved ideal for considering the food-related practices of three households, or cases, within the city of Hamilton, New Zealand, and the broader landscapes within which these practices were located.…”

“…This provided a representation of physical locations, creating an opportunity for participants to express their perceptions of place. Combined, these interview-based techniques enabled the exploration of the often taken-for-granted food-related rhythms of everyday life, adding depth to the construction of each case (Hodgetts & Stolte, 2012).…”

Trace.space: a psychogeographical community project with members of an arts and health organisation

“…We drew on subject knowledge in the respective disciplines of architecture, critical and community psychology and psychogeography (an approach which favours playfulness in space). We also drew inspiration from other community and participatory case based qualitative psychological research by Hodgetts and Stolte (2012). Such work provides a useful template from which to formulate a psychogeographical approach which could contribute to qualitative psychology.…”

“…Critical community psychology (Kagan et al 2011) directly uses values of social justice, stewardship and community in practice and research. Meanwhile, Hodgetts and Stolte (2012) argued for case-based research to consider the relations between researchers and participants, based on nurturing and fostering relationships rather than arguably disengaged, objectivist practices from the positivist quantitative psychological paradigm. Collaboration allows us to use our academic positions to create solidarity with others outside of academia, so that we 'use our own academic position to transform the cultural practices that we participate in' (Parker 2015;7) in order to begin to forge new connections of our work with political practice.…”

“…One of the most immediate challenges in doing such work is to address our roles as academics in relation to other roles that we may draw affiliation with. We do want to draw affiliation with qualitative participatory collaborative research and community arts work (Hodgetts et al 2010;Hodgetts and Stolte, 2012) as well as with community and critical psychology researchers and practitioners (Kagan, Burton, Duckett, Lawthom & Siddiquee, 2011). However, we also want to draw affinity with arguments provided by the Situationist International and their practice of psychogeography.…”