An in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, event, or situation to understand complex phenomena. Provides detailed, qualitative insights but limited generalizability.
From Latin 'casus' (a fall, occurrence) and 'studium' (eagerness, devotion to learning). 'Case' evolved from meaning 'what befalls someone' to 'instance or example,' while legal usage in the 1600s established the pattern of examining individual cases for broader understanding.
The word 'case' originally meant 'a fall' - something that happened to someone! Case studies are like detective work: they dig deep into one 'fallen' situation to understand the forces at play, trading breadth for incredible depth of insight.
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