Case Based Reasoning

Case study method is an important research method in which the researcher conducts an in-depth analysis of a particular case which can be any person, event or situation and meticulously records the conclusion with logical support. This research approach is a qualitative research approach in which the emphasis is on understanding how and why a phenomenon is occurring. The findings of a particular case can be applied to other similar cases or a broader population to draw new conclusions, this approach is known as case based approach and it relies more on deductive and inductive reasoning rather than on empirical data. Digital case data bases are extremely manageable and can be maneuvered with ease and in fact the digital age has made this research approach highly feasible and reliable even in the absence of empirical data.

The case based research cycle has four main components which are retrieve, reuse, revise and retain, information retained can again be retrieved. The methods used by case based reasoning models can accordingly be categorized into retrieval method, reuse method, revision method and retainer method. The dynamic memory model and The category and Exemplar model are two examples of case based models.

In essence case based research comprises of:

• Comprehension of the given case or situation
  
• Understanding the present problems and solutions required
  
• Searching for related cases in data base
  
• Making a selected list of such cases
  
• Taking into consideration the differences and similarities
  
• Abstracting the required information
  
• Applying adjusters to the abstracted information
  
• Applying the abstracted information to given situation or case
  
• Drawing out preliminary conclusions or hypothesis
  
• Testing the preliminary conclusions or hypothesis
  
• Modifying the preliminary conclusion or hypothesis as indicated by test results
  
• Drawing out the final conclusion
  
• Preserving the final conclusion.