An Overview of Case Study Research Methods

An Overview of Case Study Research Methods

What is a case study? Why conduct a case study? • In-depth analysis of topic using multiple sources of evidence

• Richly descriptive, grounded in deep and varied sources of information

• Good for showing how something happens/works in a real life situation / Understanding a complex issue

• Explore; Describe; Explain

Choosing Your Case Study • Unit of Analysis

• Case selected because they are: • highly effective; not effective; representative; of special interest

Methods of Analysis (Types of Evidence) • Documentation • Interviews • Direct Observation • Participant Observation • ...and Others (Survey, Artifacts, etc.) • Why multiple? ...Triangulation

How to Conduct Case Studies • •

Determine / define research question good for “how” & “why” questions / limited number of events and their interrelationships Select cases & determine data gathering / analysis techniques not a “sampling technique” -- select to maximize what can be learned with multiple cases, each is a single case with conclusions contributing to the whole study Prepare to collect data systematic organization is key! Collect / evaluate data Prepare the report (and graduate!)

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Resources • • • • •

Applications of case study research, by Robert K.Yin, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2003. Case study research: design and methods, by Robert K.Yin, 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2003. Case study research: principles and practices, by John Gerring. NY: Cambridge Univ. Pr., 2007. Program evaluation: methods and case studies, by Emil J. Posavac, Raymond G. Carey, 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003. Qualitative research methods for the social sciences, by Bruce L. Berg, 6th ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2007. See Chapter 10: Case Studies.