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Abstract
A case history is a sociological method analogous to medical case histories, tracing the careerof a phenomenon through one example or many, which enables comparative and longitudinal analysis. The extended history of a selected case may be one of a number in case study research project, providing an enormously detailed and substantiated account, with reference to Some specific characteristicsor experience. The most Common type is the life- history of an individual which is necessarily selective, giving a post hoc account of the antecedents, causes, consequences, contextual factor,perceptions and attitudes associated with some key features of the person or their experience - such as the fact of their being an immigrant, criminal, or charismaticleader. By their naturesuch case histories give greater emphasis to personal characteristics than to structural factors, and to specific processes rather than generalpatterns. Case histories sometimes take as their unit of study a group , organization , or community and are thus closely allied to the case-study. A single case - history is often used to generate hypothesis for further study. Case- histories are also used extensively in psychiatry and Social work, and in criminology and clinical psychology employing the skills and methods of the respective disciplines.