This document discusses case study research design and methodology. It defines a case study as an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon in its real-life context. Case studies rely on multiple sources of evidence that must converge to draw conclusions. The key components of case study research design are determining the study's questions, propositions, units of analysis, and linking data to propositions. Data collection involves gathering evidence through documentation, interviews, observations, and artifacts, requiring skills like effective questioning and listening without bias. Data is then organized and reported, with options including linear, comparative, chronological, or unstructured structures.

1. Case Studies

2. Research Design: cyclical Writing the Case Selecting a project Making a record Asking questions Collecting data Analysing the data

3. Case study: Definitions From Robert Yin (1994) Case Study Research London Sage p 13 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 are not clearly evident The case study inquiry Copes with the technically distinct situation in which there will be many more variables of interest than data points, and as one result Relies on multiple sources of evidence, with data needing to converge in a triangulating fashion, and as another result Benefits from the prior development of theoretical propositions to guided data collection and analysis

4. Design Yin outlines 5 components of a research design A study’s questions (How?/Why?) Its propositions/purposes Its unit(s) of analysis The logical linking the data to the propositions The criteria for interpreting the findings Data Analysis

5. Data Collection Skills The ability to ask good questions – and to interpret the answers The ability to listen effectively – not to be trapped by personal preconceptions The ability to be adaptive and flexible A firm grasp of the issues being studied Be unbiased by preconceived notions

6. Data Collection Gathering material: Six sources of evidence Documentation Archival records Interviews Direct observations Participant observations Physical artefacts

7. Writing Up the case Organise – sections, topics, sub-topics – this will constitute the report’s structure Review Van Maanen concept of ‘tales’ for reporting fieldwork results Six example structures: Linear-analytic Comparative Chronological Theory-building ‘ suspense’ structures Unsequenced structures

8. Research Design: cyclical Writing the Case Selecting a project Making a record Asking questions Collecting data Analysing the data