Case Studies
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Transcript Case Studies
Social Research
Methods
Case Studies
1
What is a Case Study?
“A strategy for doing research which involves an empirical
investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon within
its real life context using multiple sources of evidence”
(Robson, 1993, p. 146)
A Case Study may be…
Descriptive
Exploratory
Explanatory
Focussed on
Process - how was it done?
Outcome - does it work?
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Types of Case Study
Individual Case Study
Set of individual case studies
Outsiders - Becker on Marijuana smokers and musicians
Studies of organizations and institutions
Family and Kinship in East London, The Azande in the
Sudan
Social Group Studies
Three general practice surgeries compared
Community Studies
Stanley, the ‘jack-roller’ - Shaw.
Working for Ford - Benyon; National Front - Fielding
Studies of events, roles and relationships
Housewife - Oakley; Cuban Missile Crisis
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How to plan a case study
Think about…
Conceptual Framework
Research Questions
Research Design
Sampling/replication strategy
Methods and Instruments
Analysis of Data
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Conceptual Framework
Displays the important features of a case study
Shows relationships between features
Makes assumptions explicit
Selective
Iterative
Based on theory
Takes account of previous research
Includes personal orientation
Includes overlaps and inconsistencies
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Research Questions
Consistent with conceptual framework
Covers conceptual framework thoroughly
Structured and focussed
Answerable
Forms basis for data collection
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Basic Types of Case Study
Design
Cases
One
Several
Many
Spatial Variation
Temporal Variation
No
Yes
None
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2 Single case study –
diachronic
Within case
3 Single case study –
synchronic
4 Single case study –
synchronic & diachronic
Cross-case & withincase
5 Comparative
Method
6 Comparative Historical
Cross-case
7 Cross sectional
8 Time-series crosssectional
Cross-case & withincase
9 Hierarchical
10 Hierarchical time-series
Shaded cells are case study research designs
From Gerring, John (2007) Case Study Research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 28.
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Replication Strategy
(sometimes called sampling strategy)
Literal vs. theoretical replications
Literal = more of the same
Theoretical = different, identified according to a
theoretical standpoint.
Must be linked to research questions
Determines the extent to which generalisation is possible
(N.B. Theoretical not statistical generalisation.)
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Theoretical Replication
Choose:
Actors
Settings
E.g. different companies, different branches of political party,
range of local authorities.
Events
E.g. Men and women, MEPs from different countries, members
of different pressure groups
E.g. Elections, selection meetings, budget group meetings,
demonstrations.
Processes
E.g. Negotiating new laws, developing media strategies.
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Why select a single case?
Critical case (test case)
Extreme or unique case
Theory well developed. Case will confirm or refute
theory. E.g. Festinger et al. When Prophesy Fails
Common in clinical cases. E.g. Fielding - National
Front
Representative or typical case
Capture the circumstances of the everyday. E.g. Lynd
& Lynd - Middletown study.
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Methods and Instruments
Observation
Interview
Participant observation
Ethnography
Systematic observation
Open-ended
Focussed/semi-structured
Structured
Documents/Records
E.g. minutes of meetings, patient records, diaries…
Etc.
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Analysis of Data
Prepare (lots of data)
May start during data collection
How will the data be organised?
What analysis strategy will you use?
Follow theoretical propositions
Develop descriptive framework
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Problems for Validity
Unreliable self-report data
Unsubstantiated observations
Post-hoc, unsystematic summaries
Speculation and overgeneralization
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Common pitfalls
Token literature review
Premature theorizing
Phase slippage
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