Understanding the Case Study Method in Research
Explore the intricacies of the case study method in research, including definitions, what it is not, scales of analysis, types of case-study research, and considerations of validity and reliability.
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 12: Case study method
CONTENTS Definitions Validity and reliability Merits Design Analysis Case studies in practice
Definitions John Gerring: a case is: 'a spatially delimited phenomenon (a unit) observed at a single point in time or over some period of time' a case study is: 'the intensive study of a single case with two or more cases: the study becomes cross-case the more cases the less intensity per case from single case study to large cross-case study forms a continuum A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
What the case study method is not It is not only qualitative within a case-study any research methods may be used It is not only exploratory It is not only small-scale A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
Scale(Fig. 12.1) PEOPLE/PLACES EVENTS National/international sport/political event Nation Community/ sub-group Sport/cultural event Organisation Centenary/ product launch Birthday party/ wedding Family/friends Individual Birthday/marriage A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
Case-study research: theory and practice (Fig. 12.2) Descriptive research: Identify characteristics of a phenomenon Explanatory research: Testing single existing theory Testing alternative/competing theories Develop theory where none exists Evaluative research: Testing effectiveness of a single policy Testing alternative/competing policies Establish need for policy A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
Validity and reliability Internal validity: use of multiple methods can achieve high level of validity External validity: strictly speaking, general- isation is a problem but: John Gerring: To conduct a case study implies that one has also conducted cross-case analysis, or at least thought about the broader set of cases. Otherwise, it is impossible for an author to answer the defining question of all case study research: what is this a case of ? A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
Merits Places subjects in social/historical context. Treats subject as a whole. Multiple methods triangulation A manageable data collection task when resources are limited. Flexibility in data collection strategy. No necessity to generalise to a defined wider population. A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
Design Define unit of analysis: what is the case ? Selecting cases: Purposive Illustrative Typical/atypical Pragmatic/opportunistic Data gathering All data sources/data gathering methods may be used Consistency in unit of analysis/definition of case Temporal consistency A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
Analysis Analysis procedures as in Part III apply Burns (1994) and Yin (2009) also refer to: pattern matching relating case features to existing theory explanation building often an iterative process time series analysis explanations based on observing change over time. George & Bennett (2005): Logic models 1. initial conditions, 2. needs, 3. problems, 4. resources, 5. action, 6. outcomes, 7. impacts. Cross-case synthesis Congruence method equivalent to correlation Process tracing explanation building A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
Case studies in practice 12.1: Activity profile: swimming secondary data 12.2: Nike, advertising and women one company 12.4: Leisure, Lifestyle and the New Middle Class one suburb and a sports club 12.4: The Beckham brand one sport celebrity 12.5: Sport sponsorship one company s strategy A. J. Veal and S. Darcy (2014) Research Methods for Sport Studies and Sport Management: A practical guide. London: Routledge
