Case Study

Question 1

What is a Case Study? (following Yin 2003)

Answer 1

An empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context

Question 2

Constructs are measured by

Answer 2

variables

Question 3

Relationship between variables are

Answer 3

the hypotheses

Question 4

Boundary =

Answer 4

assumption about values, time and space

Question 5

Case Study Method (Yin 2003) 3 parts

Answer 5

1. Define and Design
2. Prepare, Collect, and Analyze
3. Analyze and Conclude

Question 6

1.Case Study as Research Strategy

Answer 6

– Can be a mix of quantitative and qualitative research

– Case studies need not always include direct, detailed observations as a source of evidence

– Case studies can: explain, describe, illustrate, explore, and evaluate

– Research question:
How? Why?
No control of behavior
Contemporary event

Question 7

Common concerns (Case study)

Answer 7

1. Lack of rigor of case study research
2. Little basis for scientific generalization
3. Takes too long and results in unreadable documents

Question 8

2. Little basis for scientific generalization

Answer 8

– Case studies are generalizable to theoretical propositions and not to populations/universes;
– Case studies do not represent a sample;
– Analytic generalization (expand/generalize theories) versus statistical generalization (enumerate frequencies).

Question 9

1. Designing Case Studies

Answer 9

– Components of research design
• A study’s questions
• Its propositions
• Its unit’s of analysis
• Logic linking data to propositions
• Criteria for interpreting the findings

Question 10

Story Line Steps

Answer 10

1. Communication
2. Designing Case Studies
3. Conducting Case Studies
4. Analyzing Case Study Evidence
5. Reporting Case Studies

Question 11

3. Conducting Case Studies

Answer 11

– Preparing for Data Collection
• Good questions; listening; adaptive; know the issues, unbiased
• Case study protocol: conceptual model; data collection procedure; case study questions; report outline

– Collecting Evidence
• Documentation *
• Archival records *
• Interviews *
• Direct observations
• Participant-Observation
• Physical Artifacts – InternetofThings

Question 12

Case study protocol

Answer 12

If someone did the same study, they will get the same results

Question 13

Interview protocol

During the introduction the following elements were explained:

Answer 13

● Purpose of the interview
● Terms of confidentiality
● Format of the interview
● Duration

Question 14

4. Analyzing Case Study Evidence

Answer 14

– Analytic strategies:
• Relying on theoretical propositions *
• Thinking about rival explanations
• Develop case description

– Analytic techniques:
• Pattern matching
• Explanation building * 
• Time-series analysis 
• Logic models
• Cross-case analysis *

Question 15

5. Reporting Case Studies

Answer 15

– Identify the audience / target

– Anonymous?

– Review procedures

– Compositional structure
• Linear-analytic
• Comparative *
• Chronological
• Theory building *
• “Suspense” 
• Unsequenced