PRESENTATION COMPILED BY: RAMESH ADHIKARI CJMC, KATHMANDU, NEPAL Case Study Research ORIGINAL TEXT FROM: ‘INSIDE THE RESEARCHERS’ TOOLBOX’ PROFESSIONAL LECTURE SERIES DR JOSEPHINE MUIR

Definition: Case Study Research “An empirical enquiry that: investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident; and uses multiple sources of evidence” (Yin,1984:23)

Key Features Qualitative research technique Means of investigating complex phenomenon Anchored in real-life situations Intensive and descriptive Contextual analysis

Why so Wishy-Washy? Dubious (uncertain) historical beginnings multiple and conflicting definitions no standard methodological package is it a method, a methodology, a paradigm or an approach? common parlance (jargon)

Study or Case Study? Is your thesis a case study of a particular phenomenon or is it a study of a particular phenomenon? What is the working title of your thesis? In one sentence, what is your thesis about? In one sentence, what are you really interested in finding out about your particular subject? Is it a case study or study???

Study or Case Study? Case StudyStudy It will not mention the specific area, topic or case in the aim of your thesis It will mention the specific area, topic or case in the aim of your thesis. It will not mention the specific area, topic or case in the title of your thesis It will mention the particular phenomena you are studying in the title of your thesis. It will use your discussion and conclusion chapters to generalise the findings of your research to a broader context. It will be limited significantly in its ability to generalise the findings. Title: Communicating campaign messages effectively. Title: A communications audit of the 1998 Australian Federal Election Aim: to analyse effective communication strategies during election campaigns Aim: to analyse how effective politicians were in communicating their messages to voters during the 1998 campaign

Study or Case Study? Case StudyStudy Background: describe campaign communication strategies; review best practice internationally. Background: describe and track key campaign messages used by John Howard and Kim Beazley during the campaign Method: Hypothesis is that commercial strategies used by pollies to communicate; select case study method; select 1998 AFE (may be select another case?) Method: demonstrate HOW key campaign messages were traced – speeches to media to voters. Results: List key campaign messages – their media coverage and the extent to which voters considered these agendas salient. Results: list key campaign messages – their media coverage and the extent to which voters considered these agenda salient Discussion: generalise findings; develop list of effective communication strategies Discussion: lessons learned from the 1998 AFE campaign - what worked and what didn’t?

How to Conduct Case Study Research? 1. Determine and define the research questions 2. Select the cases and determine data gathering and analysis techniques 3. Prepare to collect the data 4. Collect data in the field (look at Merriam for field note tips - Merriam, S. B. “Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education”. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco: Evaluate and analyse the data 6. Prepare the report

What does it look like?

Analysis Goals ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions Triangulation original findings accurate and reliable systematic method for deliberately sorting data cross check and verify data

Analysis Techniques Holistic interpretation or coding Coding = labels to classify, categorize and assign meaning to your data Initial and focused coding Qualitative software or by hand Master coding sheet

Good case studies? “.. case studies should be evaluated in terms of the adequacy of the theoretical inferences that can be generated. The aim is not to infer findings from a sample to a population, but to engender patterns and linkages of theoretical importance.” Source: Bryman (1989:173)

Critical Issues in Case Study Research Reliability Construct validity Internal validity External validity Extent to which findings can be extrapolated and generalized

Westgren’s Burden of Proof? is the technique you have used appropriate to the research question? have you applied the technique properly? does your analysis follow the conventions of the technique in your field, or in other social science fields? have you provided a "chain of evidence" in obtaining and archiving data? is your case study tied to appropriate theory?

Sources of Evidence Stake and Yin indentified the following 6 sources of Evidence in Case Studies: 1. Documents 2. Archival Records 3. Interviews 4. Direct Observation 5. Participant Observation 6. Physical Artifacts

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