Practice developments and innovations: A case for case study

Practice developments and innovations derive from an interplay between theory, research, and clinician experiences during day-to-day practice with people and families in real-life settings. Operationalising and progressing such developments can, however, be challenging, with a need to take account of a range of practice complexities, including interacting factors in varied physical, social, cultural and socio-political contexts. Case study research conducted amongst those at the heart of practice, provides a rigorous and valuable means of teasing out such complexities. Case studies can lend insights into what works, and important factors to consider prior to rolling out and evaluating interventions on a wider scale. Illustrated with examples from practice settings, this talk will provide an overview of case study research, showcasing its flexibility, its ability to embrace responsive and varied data collection methods, and its ability to generate knowledge that is embedded in, and that can inform, practice.