Week 5 Flashcards
what is a case?
UNIT UNDER STUDY-specific instance of some more general phenomenon ex. iranian revolution is a case of a political revolution
what is a case study?
IN-DEPTH STUDY of a particular EVENT, place, etc. to develop a BETTER UNDERSTANDING of a larger ‘population’ of cases
what are the 3 types of case studies and their goals?
DESCRIPTIVE: goal is DESCRIPTION (provide the most ACCURATE account of WHAT HAPPENED within a certain case without generalizing) ex. study cuban revolution to study it, not to look at all revolutions
THEORY-BUILDING: goal is EXPLANATION (DEVELOP a THEORY that EXPLAINS a particular outcome by looking in-depth at a case where the OUTCOME HAPPENED) ex. if looking at why genocide occurs, look at a specific genocide
THEORY-TESTING (deductive): goal is EXPLANATION (PRESENT EVIDENCE for or against an EXISTING THEORY by looking in-depth at a case where the theory SHOULD APPLY) ex. you have a theory why countries democratize, so you look at a democratized country and see if your theory is the reason why
when are case studies useful?
studying LARGE-SCALE phenomenon, EARLY stages of DEVELOPING theories, when asking why a PARTICULAR POLICY was ADOPTED, etc.
what are scope conditions?
the SUBSET of CASES to which a THEORY APPLIES ex. you have a theory about democratization-can’t apply to countries with democracies (because democracies can’t democratize)
what is case selection?
the PROCESS of IDENTIFYING the BEST POSSIBLE CASES (usually relies on theory)
what are the 4 types of single cases?
TYPICAL cases, CRUCIAL cases, DEVIANT cases, and EXTREME cases
what are typical cases?
what you would EXPECT to happen happens, shows a CONNECTION between an INDEPENDENT and DEPENDENT VARIABLE that is COMMON with the universe of POSSIBLE CASES, used for THEORY-TESTING, weak evidence=not often used
what are crucial cases?
case CRUCIAL to UNDERSTANDING CONCEPT/THEORY ex. french revolution when studing revolutions
either MOST-LIKELY (case where a THEORY SHOULD APPLY) or LEAST-LIKELY (case where a THEORY SHOULDN’T APPLY). if the theory does what we expect (applies or doesn’t) we don’t get much new info, but if it holds where it shouldn’t, then it is likely it will apply in other cases.
what is a deviant case?
cases that DON’T fit the PREDICTIONS of PREVIOUS THEORIES developed from other cases. usually RARE examples and useful for THEORY BUILDING (to refine a theory) ex. sucessful female crack dealer?
what are extreme cases?
UNUSUALLY HIGH/ LOW VALUE on one of the MAIN VARIABLES of interest:
Extreme on Y=dependent variable is at one of its extremes ex. always vs never votes
Extreme on X=independent variable is at one of its extremes ex. holds far left (marxist)/ right (fascist) views
what are the 3 qualitative materials of case study research?
DOCUMENTS (primary or secondary ex. gov. documents or the news), ETHNOGRAPHY or OBSERVATION (observe/ participate in politics and take notes), and INTERVIEWS (ask what and why particular events happened)
