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Case Study Methodology and Homelessness Research

This paper describes the potential suitability of case study methodology for inquiry with the homeless population. It references a research study that uses case study research method to build theory. This study's topic is the lived experience of destitute individuals who reside in homeless shelters, and explores the homeless shelter built environment's potential influence on resident satisfaction and recovery. Case study methodology may be appropriate because it explores real-life contextual issues that characterize homelessness and can also accommodate the wide range of homeless person demographics that make this group difficult to study in a generalized fashion. Further, case study method accommodates the need within research in this area to understand individualized treatments as a potential solution for homelessness. This paper discusses a positive application of case study research methodology and advocates for its use with a specific population—the homeless. While not as ubiquitous as experimental or quasi-experimental approaches to discovery, advocates of case study method suggest there are benefits to this method that typically explores small sample size populations in a deep fashion. This paper will discuss some of these benefits and use an existing case study research project as an exemplar. There are many different goals of research studies. Some seek to test hypotheses that have been previously developed. Another worthy goal of research, particularly in areas that have not been studied thoroughly, is to develop preliminary theories of how a process or situation might be working so that these ideas might be later tested for their validity. This paper discusses a study that has such a goal of generating theory. Such studies are often called " plausability probes " [1, p. 350] and can use qualitative or quantative techniques of information gathering, or a mixture of both of these tactics. Specifically, this study addressed the applied translation and testing of environmental psychological theory to tangible built space that people inhabit—in this case, homeless shelters. The study explored the potential for supportive architecture to counter adverse effects associated with the sense of helplessness that often accompanies homeless persons. This feeling of helplessness can hinder their ability to find permanent employment and a stable place to live. The study also springs from existing homeless shelter conditions that are often crowded, lack privacy and may suppress the natural sense of personal control that can aggravate pre-existing feelings of hopelessness. See Figure 1. The idea of personal control from the psychology field …