For those who are doing a qualitative research, this is a summary and important points from Yin (2009) and South East European Research Centre. I tried to simplified and highlight the crucial points. Good luck!

1. Nur Suhaili Ramli
(nbr500@york.ac.uk)
The York Management School
University of york, uk

2.  Doing a case study research is a linear but iterative
process (Yin, 2009)
 You should explain and show how you are devoting
yourself to following a rigorous methodological path.
 Literature Review
 Research Questions
 Research Objectives
 Understand the strengths and limitations of case study
research.
 Commonly used as a research method, but not limited
to, the social science disciplines.

3. Method Form of your
research
question?
Requires
controls of
behavioural
events?
Focuses on
contemporary
events?
Experiment How, why? Yes Yes
Survey Who, what,
where, how
many, how
much?
No Yes
Archival
analysis
Who, what,
where, how
many, how
much?
No Yes/No
History How, why? No No
Case Study How, why? No Yes
Source: COSMOS Corporation
• So, this slide focuses only Case Study method. If you consider to use the
case study method for your research, look back at your research questions. It
should contain at least a how and why question. See below comparison.

4.  A case study is an empirical inquiry, that;
 Investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real
life context especially when
 The boundaries between phenomenon and context
cannot be drawn clearly or unambiguously.
 It establishes the operational link between one set of
conditions (causes) and their effects. So this is suitable
for causalities research.
 It explains by disclosing the mechanism by which a set
of relation has come to being.

5.  Identify your rationale by choosing a case study
method
 Research Strategy
 (For example, the strategy for your research is through a
Case Study)
 Research Design
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
 Repetition of process
 If you are doing a multiple case study

6.  First, identify the logical sequence that connects the
empirical data to study’s initial research questions and
conclusions. In a big picture, see the relevant logic.
 Then, consider four basic sets of research issues;
 What question to study?
 What data are relevant?
 What data to collect?
 How to analyse the result?
 Finally, think critically how to match empirical
evidence to the research questions asked, for instance;
 What kind of evidence is crucial to address the questions?

7.  A study’s Questions
 Remember, the how and why questions as a strategy!
 The propositions of the study
 Propositions are statements concerned with the logical relationships
among concepts. A proposition explains the logical linkage among
certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts.
Concepts are the basic units of theory development.
 The Unit of Analysis
 It means, what are the major entities that you want to analyse in your
research.
 The Logical Step Linking Data to the Propositions
 In order to reduce big data to general abstract character of theoretical
propositions, you can consider your data by the following;
 Thematic blocks
 Relationships between events or period of time
 Pattern matching between events or period of time
 Criteria for Interpreting the Findings

8.  Case study research can be tricky sometimes especially when people question about the
quality of output. So, in order to encounter that, below are some hints;
 Construct Validity
 Use multiple sources of evidence
 Establish chain of evidence
 Have key informants review draft case study report
 Internal Validity
 Do pattern matching
 Do explanation building
 Address rival explanations
 Use logic models
 External Validity
 Use theory in single-case studies
 Use replication logic in multiple-case studies
 Reliability
 Use case study protocol
 Develop case study database

9.  There are two type of case study research
 Single case study
 A decision prior to data collection
 Identifying, delimiting the case and its context
 Various single case: Critical case, extreme or unique case,
representative or typical case, revelatory case, longitudinal case
 Distinguishing between the phenomenon studied and its context
 Multiple case study
 Evidence from more case studies is more compelling
 Overall study is being more robust
 Multiple case study design by definition does not involve critical,
unusual or revelatory cases.
 Replication logic
 Multiple cases as repeated experiments

10.  After you selected your type of case study, then you
have to identify if it’s holistic or embedded.
 Single Case Study
 Holistic – Studying a case in its totality
 Embedded – Studying unit of processes or projects
within a single case
 Multiple Case Studies
 Holistic – Studying and comparing cases in their totality
 Embedded – Studying various units within identifiable
cases

11.  This is apply only to multiple case study design.
 The case study does not involve generalising from a
sample to population.
 In replication logics, there are two types;
 Literal Replication – Predicting similar
 Theoretical Replication – Contrasting result
 Theoretical Framework as a precondition
 Making the decision about which replication logic to follow
(either Literal or Theoretical)
 Generalizing to the theory
 Theory development and modification

12.  Theory Development
 Selection of Cases and Design of Data Collection
Protocol
 Conduct the Empirical Investigation
 Write Individual Case Reports
 Draw Cross-Case Conclusions
 Bring Cross-Case Conclusions to Bear on the Theory
 Summary Report

13.  There are six sources of evidence that most commonly
used in doing case studies:
1) Documentation
2) Archival Records
3) Interviews
4) Direct Observations
5) Participant Observation
6) Physical Artefacts
 However, you should consider these major sources on
the comparative of strengths and weaknesses.

14.  Single or Multiple Case Study has both advantages and
disadvantages. So, carefully select your case and
decision! It may look simple but it’s not, really.
 Holistic or Embedded always has pros and cons.
Consider how to present your finding interestingly
later.
 Multiple Case Study design to be preferred and
favourable over Single Case Study unless there are
compelling reasons for a single-case study design.

15.  Yin, R. (2009),Case Study Research Design and
Methods Fourth Edition, Applied Social Research
Method Series, Sage Publications, Inc., USA.
 South-East European Research Centre,
http://www.seerc.org/new/