1. The write-up of an interpretive case study
Line Dubé, Ph.D.
École des sciences de la gestion
Université du Québec à Montréal

2. Similarities between a positivist case study and an interpretive one
Both are interested in gaining insights to the “how” and “why” of a phenomenon
Both are conducted in natural settings
Both use many data collection techniques
No control or manipulation of variables are attempted

3. The premises of the interpretive perspective:
The world is subjectively and socially constructed
The researcher cannot be a neutral by-stander, but is part of the research, influences and is influenced by the actors

4. The intent of the interpretive perspective:
To understand the deeper structure of a phenomenon (Orlikowski & Baroudi, 1991)
will look at the “human side” or “social aspects” of information systems
will try to capture how participants interpret their world

5. The research objectives of the interpretive perspective:
Understanding is ultimately useful
Social phenomena have a contextual and emergent nature
generalization is not sought; usually only one site (no logic of replications)
“thick” descriptions of one site (Geertz, 1973) instead of trying to identify generalizations across sites

6. The design of an interpretive case study
no imposition of externally defined categories on a phenomenon; constructs are derived from an in-depth examination of and exposure to the phenomenon (Orlikowski & Baroudi, 1991)
will generally not make use of questionnaire, frequencies and nonparametric statistics to support conclusions

7. Three groups
are involved...
Researcher
Reader
Participant(s)

8. « Contribution to knowledge »
The Objective:
QUALITY???
« Contribution to knowledge »
(Straub, Ang, Evaristo, 1994)

9. ADOPT A PHILOSOPHICAL STANCE AND SELECT THE RIGHT RESEARCH METHOD

10. Conducting an interpretive case study does mean:
Adopt the philosophical stance you’re comfortable as a researcher and that is appropriate to your object of research
State clearly your philosophical stance
Establish first-hand your perspectives, beliefs, and biases
Be consistent
does not mean:
that you have to chose your philosophical stance based on what side of the Atlantic ocean you are (as discussed by Galliers, 1991)
ethic calls for ethnographers to substantiate their interpretations and findings with a reflexive account of themselves and the processes of their research

11. BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR CONCEPTUAL GUIDANCE

12. Doing an interpretive case study does mean:
that you have clearly stated your research question even if it is rather large
that you have a sensible theoretical basis even if you “preserve a high degree of openness to the field data and a willingness to modify initial assumptions and theories” (Walsham, 1995)

13. Doing an interpretive case study does mean:
that you have covered the relevant literature
that you have defined the boundaries of your study (even if you have no framework, no variables, no hypotheses)

14. GIVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEXT OF DATA COLLECTION AND THE TECHNIQUES USED

15. Doing an interpretive case study does mean:
that the details of your relationship with the site must be explicit (participant observer, action researcher, etc.)
that the details of how the data was collected (field interviews and other data) must be explicit
that the data collection details must be included (reasons for site choice, number of people interviewed, professional positions, time frame, etc.) (Walsham, 1995)
Explicit awareness

16. GIVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ANALYSIS PROCESS

17. The data analysis process is a highly iterative process
...
DATA ANALYSIS
makes interpretations
looks for data to confirm or
disconfirm interpretations
The data analysis process is a highly iterative process

18. Doing an interpretive case study does mean:
Use well recognized methods such as Glaser & Strauss (1967) or Spradley (1980)
Interpretations derive from data from multiple sources add rigor, breath and depth to the investigation
Report what the researcher sees and experiences directly
The article must convince the reader that the conclusions come from the data and are logical

19. WRITE A VIVID STORY

20. Doing an interpretive case study does mean:
understanding context is important for intelligibility and comprehension
extract for the reader the most interesting and meaningful data
select quotes or events that support the points you are trying to make and your conclusions
report the multiplicity of meanings and perspectives

21. LINK CONCLUSIONS TO ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE TO SHOW CONTRIBUTION

22. Doing an interpretive case study does mean:
Thoughtful reflection will lead to rich insights and the development of concepts, generation of theory and drawing of specific implications (Walsham, 1995)
Conclusions must show how they enrich the state-of-the-art in a particular area
Rich descriptions must show how they pave the way to further research

23. When writing an interpretive case study:
ADOPT A PHILOSOPHICAL STANCE AND SELECT THE RIGHT RESEARCH METHOD
GIVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEXT
OF DATA COLLECTION
BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR CONCEPTUAL
GUIDANCE

24. When writing an interpretive case study:
GIVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ANALYSIS PROCESS
LINK CONCLUSIONS
TO ACTUAL
KNOWLEDGE TO SHOW CONTRIBUTION
WRITE A VIVID STORY

25. Examples of good interpretive studies in IS
Lee, A.S. (1994). Electronic Mail as a Medium for Rich Communication: An Empirical Investigation Using Hermeneutic Interpretation. MIS Quarterly, 18(2),
Orlikowski, W. J. (1993). CASE Tools as Organizational Change: Investigating Incremental and Radical Changes in Systems Development. Management Information Systems Quarterly, 17(3),

26. ISWorld Qualitative Research web site

27. Five Difficult Questions Jennifer Mason, Qualitative Researching, Sage 1996.
1. What is the nature of the social reality I wish to investigate? (ontology)
2. What counts as evidence? (epistemology)
3. What topic is the research concerned with?
4. What are my research questions?
5. What is the purpose of my research?

28. Drastically Different Methods
Positivist seeks objective indicators to produce an accurate, rich account of reality
triangulation among multiple sources of data
fact-finding interviews
Interpretivist seeks subjective experience to produce a convincing account of multiple realities
low profile: “fly on the wall”
open ended interviews
self-evaluation

29. Prospects for Integrating Positivism and Interpretivism:
Positivist can stimulate interpretive
Gaps in knowledge left by positivist studies
Representation of multiple voices
Interpretive can serve positivist
Exploratory “front end”
Rich, detailed accounts of constructs

30. Pointers in Qualitative Case Research: Rhetorical Strategy
Identify relevant gaps in knowledge.
Identify interesting “intellectual puzzles.”
Identify significant practical issues.
Do not “bash” the opposing epistemological camp.
Do not assert the superiority of your assumptions.

31. Pointers in Qualitative Case Research: Answering Difficult Questions
1. State your research questions.
2. State and justify your ontological and epistemological assumptions.
3. Present your method as a coherent strategy for answering your research questions.
4. Produce the “chain of evidence.”
5. Show how your findings fulfill the purpose of your research.

32. Pointers in Doing Case Research Ramiro Montealegre University of Colorado, Boulder