Case study research involves an in-depth examination of a bounded system or multiple systems over time through detailed data collection from multiple sources. It provides an in-depth understanding of a case or comparison of several cases. Case studies can be single instrumental studies exploring a single issue, collective studies exploring an issue through multiple cases, or intrinsic studies analyzing a unique case itself. Data collection involves multiple sources like observations, interviews, documents and artifacts. Data is analyzed through holistic, embedded, thematic, cross-case or within-case analysis to interpret the meaning of the case(s).

1. Qualitative Approaches to Inquiry

2. Types of Qualitative Research
Methods
1. Narrative Research
2. Phenomenological Research
3. Ethnographic Research
4. Grounded Theory Research
5. Case Study Research

3. Definition
Case Study Research involves the study of an
issue explored through one or more cases
within a bounded system.
It is a qualitative approach in which a
bounded system or multiple bounded systems
are explored over time, through detailed in-
depth data collection, involving multiple
sources of information, and reports a case
description and case based themes.

4. Definition
In the social and life sciences, a case study is
a research method involving an up-close, in-
depth, and detailed examination of a
particular case as well as its related contextual
conditions.

5. Background
Invented in legal education by Christopher
Columbus Langdell, dean of Harvard Law School
from 1870 to 1895, it was conceived as a way to
systematize and simplify legal education by focusing
on previous case law that furthered principles or
doctrines.
His first casebook was a collection of settled cases
that showed the current state of contract law.
Students read the cases and analyzed them during
Socratic question-and-answer sessions in class.

6. Types of Case Studies
1. Single instrumental case study
2. Collective or multiple case study
3. Intrinsic case study

7. Single Instrumental Case Study
Selects a single issue or concern, then selects
one bounded case to illustrate the issue

8. Collective/Multiple Case Study
One issue or concern is selected, but the
inquirer selects multiple case studies to
illustrate the issue.
Several programs from several research sites
or multiple programs within a single site may
be selected. Often, multiple cases are selected
on purpose to show different perspectives on
the issue

9. Intrinsic Case Study
Focus is on the case itself, such as in
evaluating a program, because the case
presents an unusual or unique situation.
Unlike other case study types, the intrinsic
case study analyzes the case itself.

10. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
1. Appropriateness
2. Identify case or cases
3. Data collection
4. Data analysis
5. Data interpretation

11. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
Appropriateness:
The researcher first determines if a case study
approach, as opposed to other modes of inquiry, is
the proper instrument to use.
A case study is appropriate if the inquirer has clearly
identifiable cases with boundaries, and seeks to
provide an in-depth understanding of the cases or a
comparison of several cases.

12. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
Identification of case(s):
The next step is to identify the case or cases for
study. These may involve an individual, several
individuals, a program, an event, or an activity.
It is at this point that the type of case study is chosen
that is most promising and useful, whether single or
collective case study, multi-sited or within-site case
study, or intrinsic or instrumental case study.

13. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
Data collection:
Multiple sources of information are usually used to
gather data for a case study. These can be taken from
observations, interviews, documents, and audio-
visual materials.

14. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
Data collection:
Types of information to be collected:
1. Documents
2. Archival Records
3. Interviews
4. Direct Observations
5. Participant Observations
6. Physical Artifacts

15. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
Data analysis:
The analysis of the data gathered can be:
1. Holistic Analysis or the analysis of the entirety
of the case
2. Embedded Analysis or the analysis of a specific
aspect of the case
3. Analysis of Themes or a focus on a few key
issues of the case to understand its complexity

16. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
Data analysis:
4. Context of the Case or the identification of
issues within each case and looking for common
themes that transcend these cases
5. Within-Case Analysis or the analysis of
multiple cases to provide a detailed description
of each case and the themes within the case
6. Cross-Case Analysis or the thematic analysis
across cases

17. Procedures (Stake, 1995)
Interpretation of data:
The final stage of the Case Study, the researcher
reports the meaning of the case, whether that
meaning comes from learning about the issue of the
case (instrumental case) or learning about an
unusual situation (intrinsic case).

18. Challenges
 Identification of case or cases
 Number of cases (single or multiple)
 Data boundaries

19. Challenges
 Identification of case or cases – the choice of which
bounded system to study belongs to the individual
researcher, bearing in mind that there may be others
that are also worthy of study

20. Challenges
 Singular or Multiple cases – an in-depth analysis is
possible with a single case, because the study of more
than one dilutes the overall analysis; the more cases,
the less depth in any single case.
However, studying more than a single case creates
generalizability, the characteristic of applying the
analysis to other cases. Usually, no more than 4 or 5
cases are studied for applicability.

21. Challenges
 Boundaries of data – there is no depth to the amount
of data that may be collected in a case. However, this
will prove counter productive to the study.
Constraining a study in terms of time, events, and
processes may be necessary to limit the amount of data
that will be collected.

22. Distinguished from others
Similarities:
1. Research process
2. Data collection processes

23. Distinguished from others
Differences:
1. Types of data collected
2. Focus or Primary Objectives
3. Backgrounds
4. Emphasis of data collected
5. Extent of data collected
6. Data Analysis
7. Research Report

24. Distinguished from others
Type Focus
Narrative Research Exploring the life of an individual
Phenomenology Understanding the essence of the
experience
Grounded Theory Developing a theory grounded in
data from the field
Ethnography Describing and interpreting a
culture-sharing group
Case Study Developing an in-depth description
and analysis of a case or cases

25. Distinguished from others
Type Type of Problem
Narrative Research Stories of individual experiences
Phenomenology Description of the essence of a lived
phenomenon
Grounded Theory Grounding a theory in the views of
participants
Ethnography Describing and interpreting shared
patterns of culture of a group
Case Study In-depth understanding of a case or
cases

26. Distinguished from others
Type Discipline Background
Narrative Research Anthropology, Literature, History,
Psychology, and Education
Phenomenology Philosophy, Psychology, and
Education
Grounded Theory Sociology
Ethnography Anthropology and Sociology
Case Study Psychology, Law, Political Science,
Medicine

27. Distinguished from others
Type Unit of Analysis
Narrative Research 1 or more individuals
Phenomenology Several individuals with shared
experience
Grounded Theory Process, action, or interaction
involving many individuals
Ethnography Group that shares same culture
Case Study Event, program, activity of more than
one individual