2. …“empirical inquiry that investigates a
contemporary phenomenon in depth and
within its real-life context, especially when the
boundaries between phenomenon and context
are not clearly evident” (Yin, 2009, p. 18)
Used to explain phenomenon(a)
“an examination of a specific phenomenon such
as a program, an event, a person, a process, an
institution, or a social group” (Miriam, 1988, p.
9)(Willis, 2007)
Capable of using multiple data sources
3. 1. What your definition of case study?
2. Case study paradigm –
a. Constructionist – interest
4. a. Contribute to a phenomena (individual group,
organizational, social, political, and relational
phenomena
b. Desire to understand complex social phenomena
c. For a holistic study of real-life event (Yin, 2009, p. 4)
5. a. Always use theory for a case study research.
b. Help to solidify your study
c. Help you to understand what is being studied
d. The research can be used to test a theory/rival theory
6. Individual theories – individual development, cognitive
behavior, personality, learning and disability, individual
perception, and interpretational interactions
Group theories – family functioning, informal groups,
work teams, supervisory-employee relations, and
interpersonal networks
Organizational theories – bureaucracies, organizational
structure and functions, excellence in organizational
performance, and interorganizational partnerships
Societal theories – urban development, international
behavior, cultural institutions, technological
development, and marketplace functions
7. a. Exploratory - investigates distinct phenomena characterized
by a lack of detailed preliminary research, especially
formulated hypotheses that can be tested, and/or by a
specific research environment that limits the choice of
methodology.
b. Explanatory – explore, explain causal relationship and
develop theory
c. Descriptive - A descriptive case study is one that is focused
and detailed, in which propositions and questions about a
phenomenon are carefully scrutinized and articulated at the
outset.
d. Intrinsic - An intrinsic case study is the study of a case (e.g.,
person, specific group, occupation, department,
organization) where the case itself is of primary interest in
the exploration.
9. a. Question – “how” and “why”
b. Proposition – rational for your study, reason, direction
of the study
c. Unit of analysis –
i. The focus of the study (a person, a small group,
organization, policy, etc.).
ii. Also state the bounded area (time, place,
geographical area, etc.).
iii.Real-life experience
d. Linking data to proposition
e. Analysis
10. a. Type of research question – “how” and “why” question
b. The researcher have no control over the event -
Bounded in time and space
c. The type of event – focus on contemporary/current
events
d. The data cannot be manipulated
11. 1. Question:
a. Using the topic you previously choose for this class,
please format a case study question?
b.Is this exploratory, explanatory, descriptive,
intrinsic
c. Would this be a multiple case study
12. ◦ Interviews
◦ Archival records
◦ Documents
◦ Direct Observation
◦ Participant observation
◦ Physical artifacts
