1. Case Study Research A Qualitative Approach to Inquiry
Prepared and Presented by:
Maureen Berman
Vikki LoRusso
Wayne Loper

2. Case Study Research Definition Case Study Research
involves the study of an issue explored through one or more cases within a bounded system (i.e., a setting, a context.)
a methodology, a type of design in qualitative research, or an object of study, as well as a product of the inquiry.
(Creswell, 2007, p. 73)

3. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Case Study Research includes
In-depth Study of a Single Case or Collective Case
Bounded System – the ‘case’ selected for study has boundaries often bounded by time and place
Multiple Sources of Information – the use of many different sources of information to prove ‘depth’ to the case
Case Description – stating the “facts about the case as recorded by the investigator. This is the first step of analysis of data in a qualitative case study.
Case Based Themes - the researcher analyzes the data for specific theme’s, aggregating information into large clusters of ideas and providing details that support the themes.
(Creswell, 2007, p. 73)

4. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Bounded System
Time—6 months of data collection
Place—situated on a single campus
Single Case—campus community
The reactions of the groups on campus
Multiple Sources of Information
Initial Interviews
Campus administrators, students, newspaper reporters
Expanded Interviews
Campus informants and gathered observational data,
documents and audio visual materials
Case Description
Narrative structure to describe details including edited
quotes from the informants and stating the interviewers
interpretations of the events
Considerable time describing the setting for the case
Case Based Themes
Denial
Fear
Safety
Retriggering
Campus planning (Preparedness)
(Creswell, 2007, pp )

5. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Types of Case Studies (Creswell, 2007, p. 74)
Distinguished by the size of the bounded case
Does the case involve:
An individual
Several individuals
A group
An entire program
An activity
Distinguished by the intent of the case analysis
Single Instrumental Case Study –the focus is on the specific issue and a bounded case is selected to illustrate the issue. (i.e., the gunman case study) (Stake, 1995, as cited in Creswell, 2007, p. 74)
Collective Case Study –the focus is on an issue but multiple case studies are examined to illustrate the issue
Intrinsic Case Study –the focus is on the case because it presents an unusual or unique situation (Stake, 1995, as cited in Creswell, 2007, p. 74)

6. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Procedures for Conducting a Case Study (Stake, 1995, Creswell, 2007, pp )
Determine appropriateness
clearly definable boundaries that seeks to provide an in depth understanding of the case(s)
Identify the case or cases
single or collective, multi-sited or with-in site,
Data collection
very extensive, drawing on multiple sources of information (observations, interviews, documents, audiovisual materials)
Type of data analysis
Holistic Analysis – examine the entire case and present the description, themes, and interpretations related to the whole case (Yin, 2003, as cited in Creswell, 2007, p. 75)
Embedded Analysis – select one analytic aspect of the case for presentation (i. e., The gunman case study involved tracing the campus response to a gunman for two weeks immediately following the near tragedy on campus.) (Stake, 1995, as cited in Creswell, 2007, p. 75)
Detailed Description – stating the facts as recorded by the investigator (Stake, 1995, as cited in Creswell, 2007, p. 75)
Analysis of Themes - analyzes the data for specific themes aggregating information into large clusters of ideas and providing details that support the themes not to generalize about the case but to better understand the complexity of the case (Yin, 2003, as cited in Creswell, 2007, p. 75)

7. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Procedures for Conducting a Case Study (Cont’d)
Interpretive phase: Identifying the meaning of the case
Direct Interpretation - look at a single instance and draw meaning from it without looking for multiple instances of it: pulling the data apart (analysis) and putting it back together (synthesis) in a meaningful way
Establish Patterns – establish patterns and looks for a correspondence between two or more categories which can be displayed in a table format to establish a small number of categories
Develop Naturalistic Generalizations – from analyzing the data, generalizations that people can learn from the case either for themselves or to apply to a population of cases an investigator undertakes a case study to make the case understandable
(Stake, 1995, as stated in Creswell, 2007, p. 163)

8. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Challenges in Developing a Case Study
Identifying the Case or Issue
Is the Issue Worth Studying?
Has the Issue any Value?
What Type of Case Study Will You Conduct?
Single or Multiple Cases?
What Is the Most Useful and Promising?
Data Collection
Establish a Rationale
Is Enough Information Available?
Boundaries
How Will You Bound Your Case Study?
(Creswell, 2007, pp )

9. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Challenges in Developing a Case Study
What Is the Intent of Your Study?
Will it Generate Theory?
Will it Be Analytic in Nature?
Will it Display Cross Case Comparisons?
Will it Display Within Case Comparisons?
(Creswell, 2007, pp )

10. Case Study Research (Cont’d)
Case Study Structure
Overall Rhetorical Structure
Short Descriptive Opening Statement
Identify the Issue, Purpose and Method
Extensive Body of Uncontested Data
Presentation of Key Ideas
Investigation of the Issues
Assertions
Closing Statement
Embedded Rhetorical Structure
What Specific Structures Does the
Researcher Use to Present the Study?
Approach
Proper Balance
(Stake, 1995, as cited in Creswell, 2007, pp )

11. A Case Study Versus a Narrative Study (Creswell, 2007, pp. 225-226)
Research Approach Comparison
A Case Study Versus a Narrative Study (Creswell, 2007, pp )
Case Study
Narrative Study
Research Approach
Clearly Identifiable Case is Examined often Illustrating the Complexity of an Issue
The Life of a Single Individual
Purpose Statement
Bounded, Single or Collective Case, Event, Process, Program, Individual
Stories, Epiphanies, Lived Experiences, Chronology
Questions
What Happened? Differing Approaches, Intents and Structures
What Stories Can be Told and What Theories Relate to this Individual’s Life
Data Collection
Documents, Records, Interviews, Observation
and Artifacts
Documents, Interviews,
Observations and Archived Materials
Data Analysis and Representation
Describe the Case and Context, Establish Themes and Patterns, Develop Naturalistic Generalizations
Describe Experiences, Identify Stories, and Interpret the Larger Meaning
Written Report
Present In-Depth Picture Using Narrative, Tables, and Figures
Present Narration Focusing on Process, Theories, and Features of the Life

12. Research Approach Comparison
A Case Study Versus a Phenomenological Study (Creswell, 2007, pp )
Case Study
Phenomenological Study
Research Approach
Clearly Identifiable Case is Examined often Illustrating the Complexity of an Issue
Examine a psychological concept, a phenomenon.
Purpose Statement
Bounded, Single or Collective Case, Event, Process, Program, Individual
Describe; Experiences; Meaning; Essence
Questions
What Happened? Differing Approaches, Intents and Structures
What was experienced? How did they experience it? What meaning did they ascribe to it?
Data Collection
Documents, Records, Interviews, Observation
and Artifacts
Extensive interviews with five to twenty-five people. Often, multiple interviews with the same individuals.
Data Analysis and Representation
Describe the Case and Context, Establish Themes and Patterns, Develop Naturalistic Generalizations
Analyze for significant meanings and statements. Look for significant statements or quotes about their meanings.
Written Report
Present In-Depth Picture Using Narrative, Tables, and Figures
Cluster into broader theme. Describe what (textual) they experienced; how (structural) they experienced. Combine the two to describe the essence of their experience.

13. Research Approach Comparison
A Case Study Versus a Grounded Theory Study (Creswell, 2007, pp. 225-, )
Case Study
Grounded Theory Study
Research Problem
Clearly Identifiable Case is Examined often Illustrating the Complexity of an Issue
Moves beyond a description of a phenomenon, develops a theory of practice
Purpose Statement
Bounded, Single or Collective Case, Event, Process, Program, Individual
Generate; Develop; Propositions; Process; Substantive theory
Questions
What Happened? Differing Approaches, Intents and Structures
What theory explains the phenomenon? What were those experiences? What caused them? What strategies did they use to cope with them? What were the consequences of their strategies? What specific interaction issues and larger conditions influenced their strategies?
Data Collection
Documents, Records, Interviews, Observation
and Artifacts
Conduct interviews with between people.
Data Analysis and Representation
Describe the Case and Context, Establish Themes and Patterns, Develop Naturalistic Generalizations
Procedure for developing categories of info (open coding); interconnecting the categories (axial coding); building a story that connects the categories (selective coding); ends with a discursive set of theoretical propositions.
(Strauss & Corbin, 1990, as cited in Creswell, p. 228)
Written Report
Present In-Depth Picture Using Narrative, Tables, and Figures
Discusses the relationship of the theory to other existing knowledge and implications of the theory for future research and practice.
(May, 1986, as cited in Creswell, p. 190)

14. Research Approach Comparison
A Case Study Versus an Ethnographical Study (Creswell, 2007, pp. 225, )
Case Study
Ethnographical Study
Research Problem
Clearly Identifiable Case is Examined often Illustrating the Complexity of an Issue
Generating a theory grounded in the data.
Purpose Statement
Bounded, Single or Collective Case, Event, Process, Program, Individual
Culture-sharing group; Culture behavior and language; Culture portrait; Cultural themes
Questions
What Happened? Differing Approaches, Intents and Structures
How did this incident produce predictable role performance within affected groups?
Data Collection
Documents, Records, Interviews, Observation
and Artifacts
Extended time interviews and observations. 1) Build rapport with community participation; 2) Observe over time predictable activities, behavior of roles 3) rely on interview, observations, newspaper accounts.
Data Analysis and Representation
Describe the Case and Context, Establish Themes and Patterns, Develop Naturalistic Generalizations
Interpret and make sense of the findings to see how the culture works. Then present narrative presentation enhanced with tables, figures and sketches.
Written Report
Present In-Depth Picture Using Narrative, Tables, and Figures
The report is a summary of the analysis and interpretation.

15. References
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education (6th ed.). New York: Routledge. Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.