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

•Unit of Analysis

•Case selected because they are:

•highly effective; not effective; representative; of special interest

Choosing Your Case Study

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!)

Analyzing the Evidence• Before writing up your case study, you need to

analyze the data -- keep focused on your research question

• Pattern matching: a set of results is predicted, then compared to actual results

• Explanation building: a particular explanation (e.g. theory) use to analyze the data

• Time-series analysis: looks at trends over time, matching with possible explanations

• Logic models: a complex chain of events and looks at relationship between independent variables (causes) and dependent variables (events)

• Cross-case synthesis: findings are analyzed across cases and generalizations made

Analyzing the Evidence cont.• Key tips:

1.Cover all relevant evidence; account for alternative hypotheses and explanations

2.Focus on most significant aspects of the case

3.Analysis should cover general points from this particular case, and the implications for practice (What are your specific recommendations?)

Writing Up a Case Study• Remember your audience

• Use short-story writing technique (each element moves the narrative forward)

• Openings: grab the reader’s attention

• Scenes should follow a logical order and illustrate a point, concept or issue related to the problem(s) you are attempting to address

• Carry the narrative forward (should not be simply a recitation of events)

• Relate directly to the problems/issues you are exploring (e.g. tie in to research question)

• Provide relevant details

Resources for Case Study Research• 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.

Conducting In-Depth Interviews

Lecture adapted from Prof. Shishir Mathur

Purpose of Interviews•Generate ideas

•Develop hypothesis

•Gain insight into complex issues

•Seek expert opinion

•Get people’s opinion; learn how they look at the world

•Collect information

Pre-Interview•Prepare, prepare, prepare! Know your objectives

and information needed.

•Select interviewees -- rationale

•Prepare questions

•Clearly worded; neutral; value of open-ended questions; possible probes/follow-up questions

•But, be flexible -- take advantage of opportunities

•Initial contact

Interview Process•Face-to-face; phone

•Non-distracting setting (for face-to-face)

•Introduction/review purpose/informed consent

•Redundant note taking

•Carefully constructed question order (more later)

•Be flexible (skip questions, ask probes)

•Closing question

Post-Interview•Reserve time to re-write/organize notes

•Time-consuming, but an essential piece

•Follow-up with interviewee

Types of Interviews• Informal, conversational: no predetermined

questions asked (based on rough topic list you want to cover); adaptable to interviewee’s nature & priorities; “go with the flow” BUT difficult to do effectively, tough to analyze/compare with others, can get off-topic quickly, can be time-consuming

•Standardized, open-ended interview: same open-ended questions asked to all; faster interviews; easier to analyze, less flexibility/opportunity to explore new avenues (can build in prompts to allow this)

•Closed, fixed-response interview: same questions and same set of pre-determined responses (like a survey)

Sequence of Questions•Get respondents involved in interview as soon

as possible (limited time, ask only “important” questions)

•Start off with “easy” questions (e.g. facts rather than controversial issues)

• Intersperse fact-based questions throughout

•Make sure your “key” questions aren’t at very end (in case you run out of time)

•Transition between major topics

• Importance of closing question

Review (Interview) Research Stages• Thematizing: why and what of the research

• Designing: plan the study (including interview guide)

• Interviewing: conduct based on a guide (best format for 298 research)

• Transcribing: prepare material for analysis, time-consuming

• Analyzing: looks for themes, key points related to research questions, compare/contrast across interviews

• Verifying: assess validity of findings (multiple sources of information)

• Reporting: write up report using information/analysis from interviews

Sources of Error/Bias• Interviewee/Respondent

Induced Bias

• Memory, exaggeration, hidden agenda, misunderstand, lack of expertise, incomplete answer, courtesy

• Interview Induced Bias

• React to response, voice inflections, desire to help, biased questions, question order, appearance