Case Study & Interview

Question 1

What is a Case Study?

Answer 1

Is a type of research strategy based on one or few cases studying real-life approaches
· many variables but few units
· gathering and analysing rather than accumulating knowledge

Question 2

Research Aims of Case Study (EDDDE)

Answer 2

Explanatory, Descriptive, Diagnosis, Design & Evaluative

Question 3

What is a Commissioned Research? (Case Study)

Answer 3

The type of research in which the case study is already defined.

Question 4

What is an Applied Research? (Case Study)

Answer 4

The type of research in which the researcher aims to solve a societal issue by looking at practical solutions.

Question 5

Types of Qualitative Data in Case Studies (3)

Answer 5

1. Ethnographic Data: studying humans. Long and detailed texts based on the observations.
2. Grounded Theory: focus on theoretical generalisations to build or test theories.
3. Participatory Action Research: the situation is studied for it to be improved.

Question 6

When to do a Case Study? (5)

Answer 6

1. When wanting to improve/solve situations
2. When there are gaps in knowledge
3. Paradoxes
4. Anomalies studying extreme cases
5. As part of mixed method

Question 7

Case Selection
Homogeneous & Heterogeneous cases

Answer 7

Homogeneous: similar outcomes because there is a single case
*risk distinction between the case itself and the unit of study

Heterogeneous: different outcomes based on the effect of the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

Question 8

Case Study Protocols

Answer 8

Organise the research based on
1. Procedure
2. Method
3. Analysis

Question 9

Case Study Validity & Reliability (issues 2)

Answer 9

1. Small number of units endangers v & r.
2. Subjectivity & Bias with case selection.

Question 10

Case Study Vality & Reliability (solutions 4)

Answer 10

1. Use triangulation
2. Case Study Protocol
3. Standardise CS
4. Ask other researchers

Question 11

What is an interview?

Answer 11

A type of research method based on conversations to collect data.

Question 12

The interview in DR & IR

Answer 12

DR: questions are based on the theoretical framework
IR: based on the research problem

Question 13

Types of Interviews (2)

Answer 13

Open: the only structure is the introduction.
· questions are done as the conversation goes by

Structured: predetermined questions

Question 14

Sampling in the interview, Types (6)

Answer 14

1. Elite Interview: researcher looks for respondents with a high level of knowledge on the topic.
2. Using informants: respondents are knowledgeable about the topic but aren’t part of it anymore (exemployee)
3. Independent Experts: study independently the topic, knowledgeable
4. Key Person: helps the researcher to select respondents (knows all people)
5. Focus Group: the researcher interviews a group, and becomes the mediator. Responses are influenced by the group’s dynamics
6. Delphi Study: asking experts/researchers about a topic and agree on the outcome of it

Question 15

Validity & Reliability of the Interview (2)

Answer 15

1. Replicability: The more structured, the more v & r the interview will be
2. The more units the more reinforcement on v & r