Qualitative Case Study Research

Qualitative Case Study Research

Chapter 3

Sharan B. Merriam

Chapter 3

Sharan B. Merriam

Case Study DefinedCase Study Defined

“Case study is an in-depth description and analysis of a bound system”

Yin says “A case study is an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context.”

“Case study is an in-depth description and analysis of a bound system”

Yin says “A case study is an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context.”

Bounded systemBounded system Merriam -” Single most defining

characteristic of case study research lies in delimiting the object of the study, the case.”

The case could be a single person, a program, a group, a community, etc.

Bound system is “fencing in” what is studied.

Merriam -” Single most defining characteristic of case study research lies in delimiting the object of the study, the case.”

The case could be a single person, a program, a group, a community, etc.

Bound system is “fencing in” what is studied.

Bounded SystemBounded System

“The unit of analysis, not the topic of investigation, characterizes a case study.”

“If the phenomenon you are interested in studying is not intrinsically bound, it is not a case.”

“The unit of analysis, not the topic of investigation, characterizes a case study.”

“If the phenomenon you are interested in studying is not intrinsically bound, it is not a case.”

Combining other types of studies

Combining other types of studies

Ethnographic case studies, i.e. study the culture of a particular social group.

Grounded theory within a case study.

Use critical theory perspective to analyze the data.

Ethnographic case studies, i.e. study the culture of a particular social group.

Grounded theory within a case study.

Use critical theory perspective to analyze the data.

Case studyCase study

“No particular method for data collection or data analysis.”

Use qualitative research. “Design is chosen precisely

because researchers are interested in insight, discovery……rather that hypothesis testing.”

“No particular method for data collection or data analysis.”

Use qualitative research. “Design is chosen precisely

because researchers are interested in insight, discovery……rather that hypothesis testing.”

Case Study DefinedCase Study Defined

Merriam “An in-depth description and analysis of a bounded system.”

Merriam “An in-depth description and analysis of a bounded system.”

Special FeaturesSpecial Features

Particularistic-focuses on a particular situation, program or phenomenon.

Descriptive-rich,thick description of phenomenon under study.

Heuristic-illuminate the readers’ understanding of the phenomenon.

Particularistic-focuses on a particular situation, program or phenomenon.

Descriptive-rich,thick description of phenomenon under study.

Heuristic-illuminate the readers’ understanding of the phenomenon.

Knowledge LearnedKnowledge Learned

Stake - claims that knowledge learned from case study is different from other research knowledge.

More concrete - vivid experience. More contextual - rooted in context. Readers’ interpretation - bring in

own experience.

Stake - claims that knowledge learned from case study is different from other research knowledge.

More concrete - vivid experience. More contextual - rooted in context. Readers’ interpretation - bring in

own experience.

Case Study Research IS NOTCase Study Research IS NOT

Case work - social services Case method- using case studies

for illustration. Case Studies - for teaching

purposes. Case history - tracking the past.

Case work - social services Case method- using case studies

for illustration. Case Studies - for teaching

purposes. Case history - tracking the past.

When to use a case studyWhen to use a case study

Depends on what the researcher wants to learn.

Bromley - “get close to the subject of interest.”

Merraim - “spread the net for evidence widely” experiments and surveys have a narrow focus.

Depends on what the researcher wants to learn.

Bromley - “get close to the subject of interest.”

Merraim - “spread the net for evidence widely” experiments and surveys have a narrow focus.

Qualitative Case StudyQualitative Case Study

“Process or actually carrying out the investigation, the unit of analysis and the end product.”

Intensive Holistic description Analysis of a single entity,

phenomenon or social unit.

“Process or actually carrying out the investigation, the unit of analysis and the end product.”

Intensive Holistic description Analysis of a single entity,

phenomenon or social unit.

Types of Case StudiesTypes of Case Studies Historical Organizational Case Study -

“study of the development of a particular organization over time.”

Yin - No one alive so researcher must rely on primary or secondary documents and cultural or physical artifacts.

Bogdan and Biklen - life history - extensive interviews with one person - first person narrative.

Historical Organizational Case Study - “study of the development of a particular organization over time.”

Yin - No one alive so researcher must rely on primary or secondary documents and cultural or physical artifacts.

Bogdan and Biklen - life history - extensive interviews with one person - first person narrative.

Intrinsic and InstrumentalIntrinsic and Instrumental

Stake - case studies differentiated by the researcher’s interest.

Intrinsic - researcher interested Instrumental - “provide insight into

an issue or to redraw a generalization.”

Stake - case studies differentiated by the researcher’s interest.

Intrinsic - researcher interested Instrumental - “provide insight into

an issue or to redraw a generalization.”

Multiple Case StudiesMultiple Case Studies

Used to study a phenomenon, a population or a general condition.

Collective or multi-site “Individual cases share a common

characteristic or condition.” More cases = more compelling the

interpretation.

Used to study a phenomenon, a population or a general condition.

Collective or multi-site “Individual cases share a common

characteristic or condition.” More cases = more compelling the

interpretation.

Strengths of using Case Studies

Strengths of using Case Studies

Real-life situations Complex social units with multiple

variables. Expand the readers’ experiences Good for applied fields of study. Focus on a single unit, single

instance

Real-life situations Complex social units with multiple

variables. Expand the readers’ experiences Good for applied fields of study. Focus on a single unit, single

instance

Limitations of Case StudiesLimitations of Case Studies

May want rich description but lack resources.

May have too much information. Limited experience of the researcher Could cherry pick data to achieve a

desired outcome - News Lack of accurate representation.

May want rich description but lack resources.

May have too much information. Limited experience of the researcher Could cherry pick data to achieve a

desired outcome - News Lack of accurate representation.

MisunderstandingsMisunderstandings

Flyvbejerg Table 3.1

Determining the value of case studies.

No researcher is going to make a recommendation based on the findings of a single case.

Flyvbejerg Table 3.1

Determining the value of case studies.

No researcher is going to make a recommendation based on the findings of a single case.

SummarySummary Encounter case studies with

professional work. The term “Case Study” is sometimes

used as a catch-all phrase. “The process of conducting the inquiry,

the bounded system or unit of analysis selected for study, or the product, the end report of a case investigation.” (Merriam, p. 54)

Encounter case studies with professional work.

The term “Case Study” is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase.

“The process of conducting the inquiry, the bounded system or unit of analysis selected for study, or the product, the end report of a case investigation.” (Merriam, p. 54)