Introduction
Like any other stage of learning, higher education involves a variety of teaching techniques and approaches that help students prepare themselves for their potential future professional environment. Case studies are one of these effective methods that bring professional realities closer to students’ perceptions allowing them to better their understanding of the topic and develop analytical capability. According to educational experts, it is “a form of qualitative descriptive research, the case study looks intensely at an individual or small participant pool, drawing conclusions only about that participant or group and only in that specific context” (Definition and overview, n.d., para. 1). Student needs vary widely, as do teachers’ aims, and that is why there are several types of case studies, which will be briefly reviewed in this paper. Moreover, this work will also provide advice for a potential case study on the impact of food security in a country on its political and cultural aspects.
Case Study Types in Higher Education
The systematic educational approach has a long history, and educators and teachers have developed and identified many models of case studies during its existence. Educational professionals and students distinguish four conventional types of these, and each of them has its unique purpose. It can be said that the easiest ones are the illustrative ones as they involve researching only one or two events of interest so that a student gains a basic knowledge of the topic (Types of case studies, n.d.). The second type is exploratory case studies; they are conducted before the main research segment to determine suitable future metrics and establish relevant research questions (Types of case studies, n.d.). By doing cumulative case studies, students develop general thematic knowledge by gathering and structuring data from different but related sources (Types of case studies, n.d.). Critical instance case studies are done to study unique phenomena or criticize and challenge popular and prevalent statements (Types of case studies, n.d.). Students often resort to them to explore the causal relationship between two phenomena.
The Relationship of Food Security, Politics, and Culture as a Topic for a Case Study
The current world situation is rather tragic, but it provides many opportunities for students and professionals of social sciences to conduct case studies on global trends and their interconnections. The impact of a country’s food security on its culture and politics is one of the relevant themes. Experts note that “an increasing number of countries are facing growing levels of acute food insecurity, reversing years of development gains” (Food security and COVID-19, 2021, para. 1). It is noteworthy that Melnikov et al. (2019) conducted such an investigation in the Russian context, but they did it before the pandemic arrived. A critical instance case study would be the most appropriate research model for examining extensive sociocultural causal links.
Conclusion
An overview of the main case study models is given in this paper. There are also recommendations provided for interested social science students who are struggling in their search for a relevant case study topic. A critical instance case study on the impact of a country’s food security status on its political behavior and cultural patterns would be a qualitative study that addresses current global trends. An example of similar academic work was also provided, which can help students identify initial research questions and aspects.
References
Definition and overview. (n.d.). Writing@CSU. Web.
Food security and COVID-19. (2021). The World Bank. Web.
Melnikov, A. B., Mikhailushkin, P. V., Poltarykhin, A. L., & Dibrova, Z. N. (2019). Economic aspects of the resolution of the issue of food security: A case study. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 7(1), 595-602. Web.
Types of case studies. (n.d.). Writing@CSU. Web.