Miguel is doing a research paper on New York City’s Stonewall riots of 1969. He visits the scene of the riots, interviews people who were there, reads the police reports of the event, and watches video footage. What is Miguel conducting?
Data analysis
Overview
Experiment
Case study
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is Case study.
Explanation:
Miguel is conducting a case study because he is doing an in-depth investigation of a single specific event—the Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York City—by collecting a variety of detailed information sources related to that event. A case study is a research method commonly used in social sciences and humanities where a particular subject, event, or situation is studied thoroughly to gain deep insights and understanding.
Here’s why this fits a case study:
- Focus on a Single Event: Miguel’s research centers on one specific event—the Stonewall riots—rather than trying to test a hypothesis or analyze a broad trend. The Stonewall riots are a unique historical occurrence, making them an ideal subject for a case study.
- Multiple Sources of Data: Miguel uses several data collection methods including:
- Visiting the actual site (fieldwork or site observation),
- Interviewing eyewitnesses (qualitative data collection),
- Reading police reports (official documents),
- Watching video footage (archival/visual data).
- Exploratory and Descriptive Nature: Case studies allow researchers to explore complex issues in context, providing rich qualitative data. Miguel is trying to describe and understand the social, political, and cultural impact of the Stonewall riots, not testing a hypothesis or conducting an experiment.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- Data analysis: While Miguel will likely analyze the data he collects, data analysis itself is a step in research, not a type of research method. It refers to the process of examining data, not the overall research design.
- Overview: An overview is a general summary or broad review of a topic. Miguel is conducting a detailed investigation, not just a general overview.
- Experiment: An experiment involves manipulating variables to test a hypothesis under controlled conditions. Miguel is not manipulating variables or conducting controlled trials; he is collecting and studying information about a past event.
Summary:
Miguel’s method of visiting the event location, interviewing participants, reviewing official documents, and watching historical footage to understand the Stonewall riots exemplifies the case study research method—an intensive, detailed examination of a single case or event using multiple sources of data.