Microethnographic Case Studies: One Phenomenon in Context Scrutinized from Multiple Perspectives

In this chapter, I discuss microethnographic case studies and present an example of research in which this method was used to examine how aspects of the social and political contexts may affect individual perspectives and actions. In ethnographic case study methodology, the context in which the phenomenon of study takes place is emphasized. While ethnographic case study methods are used to examine broader social groups and communities, microethnographic case studies are focused on smaller units of study such as a few individuals within an institutional context. The use of this method is exemplified through discussion of one research study in which the use of microethnographic case study methodology enabled observation of individual behaviors in the process of discharge and the generation of data to examine how context-specific practices, valued approaches, and prevailing discourses shaped the processes and outcomes of discharge planning with older adults.