Case (Cerghit, 1997) is:
- a support of inductive knowledge allowing the transition from the particular
(case, situation) to the general (conclusions that can be extended to an entire
category of similar cases or situations); - a basis of deductive knowledge (ideas taken from the development of the case
will later be applied to daily life).
In counselling, cases are centred on an individual, a group, a family in critical moments
of their lives. The entirety of social, cultural, economic, historical details outline the
problem-situation the key character(s) is (are) confronted with. A case is similar to a short
narration, rich in details, of a “fragment of life” (significant incidents at home or at
school, extreme situations, crossroads in choosing or changing jobs, etc.).
But not any situation can be considered a ‘case’, only those meeting the following
conditions (Mucchielli, apud Zlate, 1982):
- it is authentic, taken from real life. Abstract situations unrelated to individual
or group needs do not lead to authentic analyses and solutions, and do not
produce the learning effect; - there is an urgency of intervention due to tension or drama. Common,
everyday situations, with no tension, do not rouse an intervention and
analysis plan; - it is significant in relation to the problems or expectations of the participants;
- it contains details and information related to the context and factors
triggering the problem. Be it full or partial, details allow for analyses,
discussions and debates, as well as outlining of alternative solution
alternatives.
In career counselling, the method of case study requires its use as a work instrument to
solve a critical situation (described in the case). Through interaction, the group members
come to define the problem, identify alternative solutions to solve it, choose the final
solution, and propose an implementation plan. Case study advances a simulation of
solving a critical situation taken from real life.
A good case needn’t have just one solution (that is an exercise solved according to an
algorithm), but allow various approaches or procedures leading to solution alternatives.
Application variants
According to the domain it is used in, the method bears different variants or application
stages. Neacşu and Cerghit (2001) consider important the following (general) steps to
take in processing a case: