CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CASE STUDY AND POSSIBILITIES OF APPLICATION IN MARGINAL GROUP RESEARCH

Text topic: METHODOLOGY OF MODERN SOCIAL RESEARCH – PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

Text author: Јасмина Петровић и Нина Павловић

Although often used to investigate a variety of scientific issues,case study as a research strategy still provokes open debate about it sepistemological reach and method of application. Through analysis of basic features of case study, as well as the complex research tasks it can solve, and through reference to course of implementation of such a research, the scope and limitations of its application in researching problems and topics pertaining to marginalized individuals and groups are outlined. Familiarity of researchers with the complexity of one of the most demanding research approaches in social science methodology,such as design of the case study, is a key condition for its successful application. It is therefore an intention of the authors of this paper to assist researchers, especially those without experience. We consider it necessary to distinguish its meaningful use from attempts at research that often defy its true meaning, reducing it solely to illustrative examples of life trajectories of individuals and groups from the borders of a particular community, without clearly explaining the underlying methodological procedures.