Case study research: The contextual approach to understanding contemporary radiography practice

Objectives

The aim of this article is to describe case study research (CSR) and illustrate its potential as a useful research approach in radiographic research and clinical practice.

Key findings

While this methodology has long been established in educational research, in areas such as learning environments and teaching practice, it is increasingly being adopted in applied healthcare research. However, it does not appear to be a common approach in radiography research. The application of CSR is explored through an illustrative example and a situated perspective, highlighting the insights of a radiographer sonographer, drawn from their own experience of conducting a primary research study.

Conclusion

CSR provides a structured and systematic framework especially useful to understand multifaceted problems within clinical practice that cross the boundaries of the interprofessional healthcare systems in which radiographers characteristically collaborate. It can provide a flexible framework to explore complex problems and interrogate a case (phenomenon) in-depth, within its contemporary real-life context.

Implications for practice

With its emphasis on applied contexts and the integration of reflective practice, theory, and observation, CSR is particularly well-suited to addressing research questions emerging from complex radiography environments. This approach not only enhances contemporary clinical insights but may also provide a scaffold for guiding practice-informed ongoing research and continuous service improvement.