CASE STUDY COVER SHEET for Sheffield Hallam Learning Resources and Activities case study
At Masters level students from varied backgrounds and disciplines often struggled with the
epistemological basis of qualitative research and with concerns about the reality of conducting research.
Several video case studies have been made available to these students and used in teaching as a
resource to illustrate and highlight the problems faced in: developing case study approaches, conducting
interviews, using video for ethnographic research and ensuring greater validity and ethical consideration
during fieldwork. The resource is flexible and can be utilised for a variety of teaching and learning
contexts. This integrated approach to teaching and research has tangible benefits for both students and
lecturers who gain confidence and increase their active research profile as a result. Furthermore this is
potentially an approach which can take up ethical issues of social justice and broaden the university's
reach to a range of local and international communities
This case study illustrates:
x Effect on learning (eg context, style, insight and reflective practice)
 Effect on exam results
x Effect on student personal development (eg skills, employability, confidence)
x Student satisfaction with e-learning (eg effect on motivation, attendance and enjoyment, as shown in
national survey, institutional survey, module evaluation, focus groups, or other)
x Innovation in teaching, learning and assessment (eg stimulus to creative approaches)
x Influence on educational research
x Staff satisfaction with e-learning
x Effect on staff personal development (eg skills, employability, confidence)
x Influence on recruitment (students or staff; eg through greater accessibility; opening up new markets)
x Influence on retention (eg students or staff)
 Influence on policy (eg institutional, faculty/school, departmental, or other extra-institutional body)
 Effect on resources (eg effect on cost of delivery, time, applying full economic costing to teaching &
learning)
 Modifications to learning spaces (eg libraries, wireless networks, informal learning spaces)
 Effect on management of learning assets (eg institutional IP, repositories)
x Effect on a social justice agenda (eg widening participation, provision of space for consideration of
differing or challenging perspectives)
+ 2 ‘soundbites’ from the case study,

"I found the use of visual material within the class very useful as it frames the research well and gives context which
can only allow for a greater understanding and a step, for the researcher, towards that in which it seeks to
understand/explore and gain insight into. For pupils wishing to gain an understanding of qualitative research this is an
excellent way to teach, the research becomes real and as a student with qualitative research interests visuals like
those used by yourself, only gain your attention, and most definitely, your excitement."

"Sometimes I find it easier to retain information on a topic if I have a visual memory of it . Also, I believe the visual
representation of a topic can provoke an emotional response within an individual which in turn helps them connect
with the subject and stimulate interest. I am very much in favour of video/ visual methods within teaching, and I think
it should be used more frequently."