Which research method focuses on a single issue and collects information from a real-life case over time?

The case study method is particularly effective for exploring complex issues in depth because it involves an in-depth investigation of a real-life situation or phenomenon over time. This approach allows researchers to gather detailed qualitative data from a variety of sources, including interviews, observations, and documents, providing a comprehensive understanding of a single issue.

By focusing on a specific case, researchers can capture the nuances and intricacies of individuals' experiences or events, making it easier to identify patterns and derive insights. This method is valuable in fields like community and family studies, where understanding context and human behavior is essential.

Other research methods, such as the experimental method, generally focus on manipulating variables under controlled conditions to establish cause-and-effect relationships, rather than collecting longitudinal data from a single case. Quantitative methods rely heavily on numerical data and statistical analysis and often involve larger sample sizes to generalize findings. Conversely, qualitative methods collect descriptive data but may not focus on a single case over time in the structured way that case studies do. Thus, the case study method stands out for its dedicated approach to analyzing a single issue in detail.