Method Statement: Case Study
A case study is unique in that it can be thought of both as a method, and as a research design, depending on the school of thought to which one subscribes. Though it is named here as the former, the following explanation is constructed such that it is treated, essentially, as the latter. The author understands that a case study consists of multiple methods, but that those methods vary depending on the particular case. As such, each case study must be carefully designed with several considerations in mind. Before discussing those considerations, it is helpful to examine the definition of “case study.”
Case Study: A Working Definition
To begin with, case study methodology is inherently constructivist. In a constructivist approach to any phenomenon, reality is seen as being socially constructed, and relative to an individual’s lived social experience (Baxter and Jack, 2008). Because a case study “investigates a contemporary phenomenon (the ‘case’) in depth and within its real-world context,” the background and experiences of the case’s key players are an integral part of the case (Yin, 2014, pp. 16-17; Gillham, 2000). In other words, it is impossible to separate an individual from his or her socially constructed reality.
Second, a case study takes as its subject a small entity which is thought to be representative of a larger group of entities. The entity can be studied at a certain point in time, or longitudinally over a specified amount of time, but always in that entity’s natural setting (Gerring, 2004; Eisenhardt, 1989; Lee, 1989).
Third, a case study uses several sources and methods to obtain data about the phenomenon under review (Yin, 2014). In fact, the researcher may not be fully aware of what defines the particular case under study until all sources and methods have been thoroughly examined, and the data triangulated (Ragin and Becker, 1992). As Masoner (1988) points out, “the uniqueness of a case study lies not so much in the methods employed (although these are important) as in the questions asked and their relationship to the end product” (p. 15).
Finally, a case study is flexible. A case study can (1) be adapted to multiple disciplinary and philosophical perspectives; (2) be used to test or build theory; (3) include either qualitative or quantitative data, or both; and (4) accommodate more than one sampling method (Masoner, 1988). Further, a case study can be used to examine current, observable phenomena or to reconstruct a particular historical case (George and Bennett, 2005).
It is clear from the above, that the case study is a complex research method. However, Feagin, Orum, and Sjoberg (1991) provide a good working definition of the case study that demonstrates this complexity while still being succinct: “A case study is here defined as an in-depth, multifaceted investigation, using qualitative research methods, of a single social phenomenon. The study is conducted in great detail and often relies on the use of several data sources” (p. 2).
Planning and Designing a Case Study
Now that a working definition has been established, considerations for planning and designing a case study should be explored. It is important to know when to use a case study, as opposed to another type of method or design. To this end, Yin (2014) provides some specific guidelines for when a case study might be the optimal design: a case study is advantageous when “a ‘how’ or ‘why’ question is being asked about a contemporary set of events, over which a researcher has little or no control” (p. 14). Yin recommends conducting a thorough literature review on the proposed research topic in order to determine what is not yet known about the topic, and to formulate a research question. Once the question has been formalized, the guidelines above can be used in order to determine whether or not a case study is feasible.
Assuming that a case study is determined to be optimal, the researcher must then carefully design his or her study. This involves careful consideration of five key components: “(1) a case study’s questions; (2) its propositions, if any; (3) its unit(s) of analysis; (4) the logic linking the data to the propositions; and (5) the criteria for interpreting the findings” (Yin, 2014, p. 29). With these components in place, the ideal type and category of case study for the proposed research should begin to emerge.
Types and Categories of Case Studies
There are two main types of case studies: single-case and multiple-case. Each of these can then also be either holistic or embedded. A single-case holistic study would look at a single case and a single unit of analysis. A single-case embedded study would examine a single case, but have multiple units of analysis. Similarly, a multiple-case holistic study would look at multiple cases, but only a single unit of analysis for each case. A multiple-case embedded study would examine multiple cases and multiple units of analysis. In multiple-case studies, the units of analysis would be the same across sites, or cases. Single-case studies are appropriate when the case is either “critical, unusual, common, revelatory, or longitudinal” (Yin, 2014, p. 51). Multiple-case designs are appropriate when the researcher wants to show replication, or make a more compelling case in addressing the research questions (Yin, 2014).
Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: Study design and implementation for novice researchers. The qualitative report, 13(4), 544-559.
This article presents an easy to follow summary of qualitative case study methodology. The authors break it down into components similar to Yin’s classic book on the subject. This is a condensed version and general overview.
Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. The Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532–550. doi:10.2307/258557
Eisenhardt’s paper focuses on the process of inducting theory from a case study and follows the process from research question to closure. The article covers problem definition, construct validation, within-case analysis, and replication logic. The process is described as iterative, and a process for evaluating such research is set forth.
Feagin, J. R., Orum, A. M., & Sjoberg, G. (1991). A Case for the case study. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
This book is a collection of essays about case study. It focuses on the nature of the case study, the approach, methodological issues, and the application of case study research in social research.
George, A. L., & Bennett, A. (2005). Case studies and theory development in the social sciences. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
This book discusses case studies and their relationship to theory development. However, it also covers how to design and carry out a case study, as well as several methods of interpreting results.
Gerring, J. (2004). What is a case study and what is it good for? The American Political Science Review, 98(2), 341–354.
Here, Gerring presents a review of what a case study is and what it is not. He discusses the method’s strengths and weaknesses, and compares single- and cross-unit research designs.
Gillham, B. (2000). Case study research methods. London ; New York: Continuum.
This is another general book on case study methods and research. It gives a basic overview of case studies and the methods involved therein.
Masoner, M. (1988). An audit of the case study method. New York: Praeger.
Masoner’s book is essentially a critique of case study methodology which includes historical perspectives and anecdotal evidence to support its use.
Ragin, C. C., & Becker, H. S. (Eds.). (1992). What is a case?: exploring the foundations of social inquiry. Cambridge university press.
In this book, the authors seek to make a case for what actually is/should be considered a case. They discuss what cases are and do, and they analyze research experiences in search of a good definition of “case.”
Yin, R. K. (2014). Case study research : design and methods (Fifth edition.). Los Angeles: SAGE.
This is Yin’s classic book on case study research. Case study methodology is dissected and explained in detail.