Demystifying Case Study Research in Agricultural Extension Education

Abstract

Case study research has been influential in academia and widely used in numerous disciplines. Although the study presents useful problem-solving and critical thinking skills, there still exist several methodological flaws that demonstrate the question of integrity, transferability, reliability, and generalizability. It has been evidenced that case study research occupies a robust lens in pedagogy; however, techniques remain controversial, and it has not obtained a straight definition for scholars in the field. The poor, erratic, and misleading methods have presented numerous doubts about their application. This paper, therefore, aims at demystifying case study research, types of case study research, and determinants of the use of case study research in agricultural extension education. The study employed a narrative literature review in three databases: Google, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar, in which 21 out of 46 articles were reviewed to answer the three research questions. The study reveals seven types of case study research that could be applied in agricultural extension education. The researcher’s practical experience, closeness to the site, and critical understanding of the phenomenon are highly imperative in case study research. A detailed description of the situation, its implication, good knowledge about the people affected, and the time allotted for the inquiry are keys to case study research. Among other recommendations, scholars in agricultural extension education should understand the determinants of the use of case study research for appropriate application to ensure quality theses, dissertations, and research papers.