[NOTE: The following information on case studies is paraphrased from Greenwood and Fillmer (1999)]

What is a Case Study?

The use of case studies has gained popularity in educational psychology because their use often provides for the use of real situations and data and allows students to be placed in decision making roles without having to be working as an educational psychologist. A basic skill underlying good instruction and good teaching is that research, theories, models, principles, and techniques derived from educational psychology are applied to decisions that must be made daily when designing instruction and, very likely, almost every minute when teaching a lesson. Cases are generally thought of as segments or samples of students' and teachers' experiences in the teaching and learning process and other professional events. Cases may focus on entire classes or individual students and be presented in a variety of formats.

How Do I Analyze a Case?

While there are a variety of methods proposed for analyzing case studies, the one we will use in this course focuses on four steps: (1) clearly defining the nature of the problem; (2) generating several alternative solutions to the problem; (3) evaluating the positives and negatives of each possible solution; and (4) providing an implementation plan for the solution that is chosen. Each of these steps is described further below and are what you should follow when completing this motivational case study.

Clearly defining the nature of the problem involves looking at the situation from the point of view of different individuals in the case, such as the teacher, student, or parent. It also includes looking at the problem from the perspective of different theories, models or principles. In our motivation case study, you will approach the case from the perspective of different motivational theories we have discussed in our text that seem appropriate given the situation and the individuals involved. Your analysis here should also examine the facts and data included in the case to support the different perspectives taken.

Generating possible solutions to the problem involves analysis as well as creativity. Some cases may not provide any possible solutions while other cases might provide a description of the solution the teacher or learner used in the case as well as the outcome. Generating solutions requires projecting what courses of action the teacher might implement to deal with the situation. Such solutions should be generated based on the nature of the problem defined in step 1 and on the likelihood that such a solution is practical and theoretically based.

Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each solution is the next step. If a case provides a solution then you will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of what was already implemented as well as provide alternative solutions in step 2 and evaluate these in step 3. Evaluation of possible or alternate solutions includes analysis of the possible consequences of each course of action as well as whether it is practical.

Finally, step 4 entials providing an implementation plan for the course of action (solution) chosen from those generated in step 2. Here the success of this step is related to the concreteness and specificity of the plan. Vague suggestions or a "laundry" list of things to try are not appropriate. Specific strategies in concrete and specific terms is what is needed if one is to actually benefit from another's analysis of a case.

As you approach your case study, begin by examinging the case in terms of your personal belief system and use your own terminology to define the problem. Then, analyze the case in terms of appropriate course content in the form of whatever motivational theories, models, or principles best explain the problem. Defend your analysis by citing evidence from the case to back your position. The type of evidence you cite would be dictated by the theory used. Generate courses of action that are likely to solve the problems identified. The courses of action should meet the tests of consistency, operationality, and feasibility. Consistency means that actions should be consistent with theories used to explain the problem. Operationality means the course of action hould be spelled out concretely and specifically. Feasibility means that each course of action should be pratical in terms of the context of the case.

How are Case Studies Evaluated?

Evaluating students efforts at analyzing and resolving cases includes assessment of the following areas:

• accurately and fully applying a theory in analyzing a case
• supporting the analysis objectively and fully with appropriate evidence cited from the case
• choosing courses of action that are consistent with the theory used in analysis
• stating the courses of action in an operational form so that specific procedures are spelled out
• stating courses of action that are practical, reasonable, and workable
• organizing the paper in a logical and grammatically correct whole

For your motivation case study complete the following tasks:

• Choose one of the following 2 case studies to analyze. Each case study can be downloaded below.
  • Case Study One in Word or RTF format
  • Case Study Two in Word or RTF format
• Complete the four steps described above for analyzing the case you choose. Additional guiding questions are provided with each case study but do not simply provide answers to these questions for your analysis - use them as guides in completing the four steps of analyzing the case study
• Write up your complete analysis (4-6 pages in length), apply APA (title page and use of headings, etc.), and turn it in via email