1. Case Studies from Stake (2000) and Yin (1994)
These are OBJECT or METHOD issues
Object: Has to do with what you want to study not an approach to how to study it
Method: Can be quantitative or qualitative method (analytically, vs. holistically)
Questions are aimed at “How” or “Why”(rarely “What”)
Single or multiple cases-usually1or 2

2. Case Studies-Advanced (Stake, 2000)
Intrinsic Study
Single case with in depth and complete understanding
Instrumental Study
Single case, but exploring various factors of this case to relate them to theory or to a question-more a breadth issue
Collective Study (Complex)
Examining several studies as either comparison or progressive support for theory or a premise

3. Case Studies-Examples (Stake, 2000)
Intrinsic Study
The Education of Henry Adams: An Autobiography
The Swedish School System
Instrumental Study
Campus Response to a Student Gunman”
A Nonreader Becomes a Reader: A Case Study of Literacy
Collective Study (Complex)
Teachers’ Work
The Dark Side of Organizations: Mistake, Misconduct and Disaster

4. Purpose of Case Studies
Seeks the unique features (particular) while also describing the common by describing:
The nature of the case
The case’s history and background
The physical setting
Other contexts (economics, political, legal, aesthetic issues)
Other cases through which this case is recognized
Through the informants by which the case is known
Examine changes across time (multiple case)
Same group of different group

5. Case Study Rigor
Yin (1994) treats this as a positivistic activity, therefore:
Construct, Internal, and external validity
Reliability
This is not just a pilot study for quasi- or full experimental designs. It is different.
Stake (2000) treats it more naturalistic
Thick description is key
Auditability (can it be followed by the reader)

6. Case Study-Example
Handouts