One rationale for these designs is to identify an extreme or unique case. Clearly a proponent for case study research, yin openly addresses its enduring criticisms as a methodology and urges the researcher to carefully consider whether a case study is the most appropriate method for their inquiry project. View all designing and conducting case study research in nursing. However, a case may also be used for theory testing, either if the case is.
Revelatory case a case that was previously inaccessible. The case method supports both theory building yin, 2009 and theory testing eisenhardt, 1989. I selected the ib area because this was the focus of my dissertation vissak, 2003 and most of my published articles have been written in this field. Whilst ecksteins was an early contribution to refining the case study approach, yins 2009.
Clearly, according to conventional understanding of theory testing, a single case can only falsify a theory. The case study can make use of both a quantitative and the qualitative method. Early on, we need to find out how the case gets things done. A second step calls for deciding whether your case study will consist of a single or multiple caseswhat then might be labeled as a singleor a multiplecase study. The analystsobjective should be to pose competing explanations for the same set of events and to indicate how. Case study methodology has long been a contested terrain in social sciences research which is characterized by varying, sometimes opposing, approaches espoused by many research methodologists. Yin 2014 also proposes that a case study can include single or multiple cases, can be limited to quantitative evidence and should address the traditional concerns about case studies. Policies in two or more organizations with two or more units of analysis, embedded multiple case study. The supposed difficulty in generalizing from a singlecase study or from a small set of case studies has long been considered a major shortcoming of case study research. Potential advantages of a single case study are seen in the detailed description and analysis to gain a better understanding of how and why things happen. Design holistic versus embedded a crucial distinction must be made between holistic and embedded case studies yin, 1994, p. Single cases are advantageous for four main reasons.
The analystsobjective should be to pose competing explanations for the same set of events and to indicate how such expianations may apply to other situations. Also a relatively undeveloped component in case studies statistical tests not possible when only single data points are captured as is the case with single case studies currently there is no precise way of setting the criteria for interpreting these types of findings. Case studies are empirical investigations, in that they are based. A second step calls for deciding whether your case study will consist of a single or multiple caseswhat then might be labeled as a single or a multiple case study. Single case study an overview sciencedirect topics. For the purposes of the study, this research uses embeddedsingle case design yin, 1994. A case study is a common framework for conducting qualitative research stake, 2000. Case study research volume 5, 159 pages show all authors. In single case study research, the opportunity to open a black box arises by looking at deeper causes of the phenomenon fiss 2009. For the purposes of the study, this research uses embedded single case design yin, 1994.
Using interpretive qualitative case studies for exploratory. The exploratory case study is an appropriate design when a researcher wants to understand how and why one or more outcomes evolve over. Another explanation of this unclear status is that the case study is often defined as the study of one single case, rather than as a way of doing research verschuren, 2003. An explanatory case study even a single case study can often be used to pursue an explanatory, and notmereiy exploratory or descriptive, purpose.
Thus, even a single case could be considered acceptable. The case study survives in a curious methodological limbo p. As a prelude, this initial work helps prepare a framework of the study. Developing a qualitative single case study in the strategic. Yin, merriam, and stake abstract case study methodology has long been a contested terrain in social sciences research which is characterized by varying, sometimes opposing, approaches espoused by many research methodologists. This study is based on qualitative material and therefore secondary. Positivist, single case study research in information. The casestudy approach is typically used for idiographic research, which means it focuses on atypical circumstances and distinctive outcomes as a subjective phenomenon.
Positivist, single case study research in information systems. Case study is one of the most frequently used qualitative research methodologies. Pattern matching for case study analysis, one of the most desirable techniques is to use a patternmatching logic. The what, why and how pinar ozcan warwick business school university of warwick suho han. Types of case studies explanatory case studies can also serve to test causeandeffect relationships. This contrasts to multiple comparative case studies. The positivist approach to case study research in information systems a case study is an empirical enquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its reallife context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident and it relies on multiple sources of evidence yin, 1994, p. This study mainly focuses on ib and case study research literature, but some ideas from management, logistics, and marketing are also included. According to yin 1994, as in all research, consideration must be given to construct validity, internal validity, external.
Researchers without proper training or familiarity in single case research may see this. The advantages and limitations of single case study analysis. The purpose of this qualitative, singlecase study was to examine the implementation of coteaching as an alternative student teaching method across seven elementary and early childhood classrooms to determine how it was implemented and, if differences in implementation were found, to develop substantive theories as to why. The theory contribution of case study research designs. The book offers a clear definition of the case study method as well as discussion of design and analysis techniques. Providing a complete portal to the world of case study research, the fourth edition of robert k. Three approaches to case study methods in education. The case study approach is typically used for idiographic research, which means it focuses on atypical circumstances and distinctive outcomes as a subjective phenomenon. Zucker introduction there are multiple definitions and understandings of the case study. The single case may focus onemploy a single unit of analysis or multiple units of analysis. Clearly a proponent for case study research, yin openly addresses its enduring criticisms as a methodology and urges the researcher to carefully consider whether a case study is the most appropriate method for. Policies in two or more organizations with one unit of analysis, holistic multiple case study.
Read the book first and after doing that this summary. Validity, reliability and triangulation in case study. Comparing a single case study with an experiment, yin maintains that single case studies are relevant for critical cases in order test theory, or to analyze cases that may be extreme, typical, revelatory or longitudinal. In this case study also, prior fieldwork and smallscale data collection may be conducted before the research questions and hypotheses are proposed. Case study research american international university. More specifically, the aim of this article was to justify a qualitative single case study in the strategic management realm as the most appropriate research design. The case study methods support for theory building is particularly useful in areas where existing theoretical and conceptual frameworks are inadequate chetty, 1996. The methods are not mutually exclusive yin 2009 pp. Yin 2009 however, stresses that case studies have both advantages and disadvantages as.
Among the variations in case studies, a case study can include single or multiple cases, can be limited to quantitative evidence, and can be a useful method in. When a single case study is used, the researcher can question old theoretical relationships and explore new ones because of that a more careful study is made. According to bromley 1990, it is a systematic inquiry into an event or a set of related events which aims to describe and explain the phenomenon of interest p. Yin 1994 describes single and multiple case designs.
Methodcase study vs grounded theory stanford university. Pdf on mar 1, 2016, trista hollweck and others published robert k. Pdf case study research design and methods second edition. Qualitative case study research, as described by stake 1995, draws together naturalistic, holistic, ethno. Recommendations for using the case study method in. The primary objective of this qualitative single case study is to investigate how tangible resources create sources of sustainable competitive advantage for the study firm. When a single case study is used, the researcher can question old theoretical relationships and. Yins 2014 rationales for conducting single case research, these are similar to.
Esteemed quantitative researchers may even agree with this. Definitions of qualitative case study research case study research is an investigation and analysis of a single or collective case, intended to capture the complexity of the object of study stake, 1995. Whilst ecksteins was an early contribution to refining the case study approach, yin s 2009. Some answers, administrative science quarterly, vol. Analyzing case study evidence sage publications inc. Validity, reliability and triangulation in case study method. The fifth edition has been updated with nine new case. Specifically the case study method of qualitative research would be used for this study. Despite being one of the most frequently used qualitative research methodologies in educational research, the methodologists do not have a full consensus on the design and. One of them has been the lead author of an article. This thoroughly revised text now covers more than 50 case studies approximately 25% new, gives fresh attention to quantitative analyses, discusses. Thereto this chapter will deal with the definition of what a case study is and when and how it should be applied. Yins bestselling text case study research offers comprehensive coverage of the design and use of the case study method as a valid research tool. Targeting case study reports case study reports as part oflarger, mixed methods studies illustrative structures for case study compositions procedures in doing a case study report what makes an exemplary case study.
A holistic case study is shaped by a thoroughly qualitative approach that relies on narrative, phenomenological descriptions. An explanatory case study of the implementation of co. A case study can be both a single case or multiple cases. Holistic vs embedded case studies yin2009 holistic single.
In time, we may move on to studying its functioning and relating it to other cases. An explanatory case study even a singlecase study can often be used to pursue an explanatory, and notmereiy exploratory or descriptive, purpose. Such a logic trochim, 1989 compares an empirically based pattern with a predicted one or with several alternative predictions. The exploratory case study investigates distinct phenomena characterized by a lack of detailed preliminary research, especially formulated hypotheses that can be tested, andor by a specific research environment that limits the choice of methodology. By defini tion, the prime referent in case study is the case, not the methods by which the case operates yin, 1994. Case study research is concerned with investigating single or multiple units of study, using. Case study research is concerned with investigating single or multiple units of study, using familiar research methods for data collection such as interviews or surveys.
The supposed difficulty in generalizing from a singlecase study or from a small set of case studies has long been considered a. Longitudinal case studied over a certain period of time. Providing a complete portal to the world of case study research, the fifth edition of robert k. Next, we cover topics related to field access, data collection and analysis, and conclude our chapter by discussing ways to present single case findings. Also a relatively undeveloped component in case studies statistical tests not possible when only single data points are captured as is the case with singlecase studies currently there is no precise way of setting the criteria for interpreting these types of findings. Know how and when to arrive at generalized conclusions. Can be single drawing conclusions from one context or multiple drawing generalizable.
The essence of a case study, the central tendency among all types of case study, is that it tries to illuminate a decision or set of decisions. More specifically, the aim of this article was to justify a qualitative single case study in the strategic management realm as. Plan the planning stage focuses on identifying the research questions or other rationale for doing a case study, deciding to use the case study method compared with other methods, and understanding its strengths and. Validity and reliability of research findings has been met through triangulation procedure in the study. In embedded single case designs, there are more than. The case study was therefore worth conducting because the first hand information would be revelatory. Yin, merriam, and stake abstract case study methodology has long been a contested terrain in social sciences research which is characterized by varying, sometimes opposing, approaches espoused by. References author index subjectindex about theauthor 127 127 6 160 162 165 167 173 175 179 185 193 203 207 219 foreword.