Chapter 5 case study

SQQS5034Qualitative Data Analysis

Mohd. Noor Abdul Hamid

Case Study Approach to Data AnalysisChapter 5

Case Study: Definitions An empirical inquiry that: - investigate a contemporary phenomenon in depth and within its real-life context, especially when - the boundaries between phenomena and context are not clearly evident (Yin 2009).

A study that looks into depth at one or a small number of organizations, events, or individuals generally over time (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe et al. 2008).

A research strategy which focuses on understanding the dynamics present within a single settings (Eisenhardt 1989).

2Mohd Noor Abdul Hamid, Universiti Utara Malaysia

Case Study: Definitions

“The basic idea is that one case (or perhaps a small number of cases) will be studied in detail, using whatever methods seem appropriate. While there maybe a variety of specific purposes and research questions, the general objective is to develop as full understanding of that case as possible”

(Punch, 1998:50)


Case Study: Key features Each has boundary which must be identified at an early stage of the

research. Each case will be a case of something in which the researcher is

interested. So the unit of analysis must be defined at the outset in order to clarify the research strategy.

Case study seek to preserve the wholeness and integrity of the case. However, in order to achieve some focus, a limited research problem must be established that is geared to specific features of the case.

Copes with the technically distinctive situation in which there will be many more variables of interests 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 developmental of theoretical propositions to guide data collection and analysis theory can either be grand theory (i.e. explanatory), descriptive theory or sometimes just statement or purpose about the study (i.e. exploratory – no theory)


Case Study: When to adopt?

‘how’ and ‘why’ questions are being posed

investigator has little control over events

the focus is on a contemporary phenomenon within a real life context.


Types of Case Study Intrinsic case study:

‘this case is of interest… in all its particularity and ordinariness’. No attempt is made to generalize beyond a single case or even to build theory.

Instrumental case study:a case is examined mainly to provide insight into an issue or to revise a generalization. Although the case selected is studied in depth, the main focus is on something else.

Collective case study:a number of cases studied in order to investigate some general phenomenon.


Case Study: Variation

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Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building Theories from Case Study Research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532-550

Mohd Noor Abdul Hamid, Universiti Utara Malaysia

Case Study: Variation

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Realist(Robert Yin)

Relativist(Kathy

Eisenhardt)

Constuctionist(Robert Stake)

Design Prior Flexible EmergentSample Up to 30 4-10 1 or more

Analysis Across Both Within CaseTheory Testing Generation Action

Source: Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., & Jackson, P. R. (2008). Management Research (3 ed.). London: Sage Publications Ltd., p.99.

Key features of case study method informed by different ontologies


Designing a Case Study Research5 important components of a research design (Yin, 2009): The research questions: Case study is most likely appropriate

for ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions Its propositions (if any): Reflecting an important theoretical

issue and begin to tell you where to look for relevant evidence. Exploratory study might not have any propositions, but should still have some purpose.

Its unit(s) of analysis: Individual, event or entity. Appropriate unit of analysis will start to occur when you accurately specify your primary research question. If not, your RQ might be too vague or too numerous.Your choice of the unit of analysis can be revisited as a result of discoveries during your data collection. Other important clarification in the unit of analysis are: i) the context of the case study, ii)specific time boundaries help to determine the scope & relevant data


Designing a Case Study Research5 important component of a research design (Yin, 2009): The logic linking the data to the proposition (data analysis)

eg: pattern matching, explanation building, time series analysis, logic models, cross-case syntesis.

The criteria for interpreting the findings Identify and address rival explanation for your findings.


4 types of case study design

11Source: (Yin, 2009, p.46)


Building Theories from Case Study Research – Kathleen M. Eisenhardt

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Getting Started

Selecting Cases

Crafting Instruments & Protocol

Entering the field

Analyzing data

Shaping Hypotheses

Enfolding Literature

Reaching ClosureMohd Noor Abdul Hamid, Universiti Utara Malaysia

Getting Started

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• Defining research question(RQ) – to set a focus for the studyWithout a research focus it is easy to become overwhelmed by the volume of data.

• A priori specification of constructs (SOC) can also help to shape the initial design of theory building research (although this is not common).

• It is important however to recognize that both (RQ & SOC) are tentative for this type of research.

• Ideally begun as close as possible with no theory under consideration and no hypotheses to test – although this is admittedly impossible to achieve, researcher should at least attempt it to retain theoretical flexibility.

• Thus investigator should formulate a research problem & possibly specify some potentially important variables with some reference to extant literature.

• However they should avoid thinking about specific relationship between variables and theories as much as possible at the outset of the process.


Selecting Cases

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• Specified population - defines the set of entities from which the research sample is to be drawn & controls extraneous variation & help to define the limits for generalizing the findings.

• Theoretical sampling:• Cases are chosen for theoretical, and not statistical reasons.• Selection & number of cases to be included in multiple case study

design should be based on (Yin, 2009, p.58):a) literal replication – cases is added to achieve a greater certainty (of certain outcomes)b) theoretical replication - cases is added if it is related to your sense of the importance of rival explanation (i.e. to fill theoretical categories and provide examples of polar types)



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• Case study research often combine multiple data collection methods (triangulation) to provides stronger substantiation of constructs and hypotheses.

• Both qualitative and quantitative evidences are useful:

• Researcher need to determine which data (or combination of data) works best to answer their research question.For each types of evidence, the instruments & protocol must be carefully design (e.g. questionnaire, interview and observation protocol etc.)

Quantitative data Qualitative data

• Indicate relationships which may not be salient to the researcher.

• Keep researchers from being carried away by vivid false, impressions in qualitative data.

• Bolster findings when it corroborates those findings from qualitative data

• Useful for understanding the rationale or theory underlying the relationships revealed in the quantitative data.

• May suggest directly theory which can then be strengthened by quantitative support.



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• Case study research also often use multiple investigators:- enhance the creative potential of the study- each member provide complementary insights – add to the richnesss of the data & increase likelihood of capitalizing novel insight.- convergence of observations – enhances confident in the findings.

• Some useful strategies when working in team:- make the visits to case study in teams- give each individual in the team a unique roles- create multiple research team, with teams being assigned to cover some case sites but not others.- keep some members of the research team out of the field altogether by exclusively assigning them to the role of resident devil’s advocate.


Entering the field In case study, data collection often overlap with data

analysis. Field notes (or research journal or memos) are important

means of achieving this overlap –on going stream of consciousness commentary about what is happening in the research including cross case observation, hunches, anecdotes and informal observations.

It is important to reflect on your field notes push thinking by asking relevant question about what is written.

Researcher need to be flexible in collecting their data and make appropriate adjustment throughout the research process. Examples: addition of new cases (or participants), new data (new protocol or questions) etc.

However this flexibility is not a license to be unsystematic – rather a controlled opportunism.


Analyzing Within-Case Data Typically involves detailed case study write ups for each

site (or case) – often simply pure description. The objective is become intimately with each case as a

stand alone entity. However there is no standard format for such analysis. Some

suggestions/examples:- narrative description of each case,- tabular display & graphs of information about each case, &- sequence analysis to organize longitudinal data, etc.

This process allows the unique patterns (theme) to emerge before the investigator push to generalize patterns across cases.

It also gives investigators a rich familiarity with each case, which in turn accelerates cross case comparisons.


Searching for Cross-case Patterns The key to good cross case comparison is counteracting the

tendencies to reach premature or false conclusion by looking at the data in many divergent ways.

STRATEGIES:1. Select categories or dimensions, and look for within-group

similarities coupled with intergroup differences. Dimensions can be suggested by the research problem or by existing literature or the researcher can simply choose some dimensions.

2. Select pairs of cases and then to list the similarities and differences between pairs. The result of these forced comparisons can be new categories and concepts which investigators did not anticipated.

3. Divide the data by data source. Example interview data vs observational data vs documentary evidences. This strategy exploits the unique insights possible from different types of data collection. The corroboration of evidences will strengthened the findings.A variation of this tactics is to split the data into groups of cases and focus on one group at one time.


Shaping hypotheses Systematically compare the emergent frame with the

evidence from each case in order to assess how well or poorly it fits with case data – constantly compare theory and data.

One step in shaping hypotheses is the sharpening of constructs which involves:- refining the definition of the construct- building evidence which measures the construct in each case

A second step is verifying that emergent relationships between constructs fit with the evidence in each case. This verification process is based on the replication logic – cases which confirm emergent relationships enhance confidence in the validity of the relationships. Cases which disconfirm the relationship provide opportunity to refine and extend theory.At this point, the qualitative data are particularly useful for understanding why or why not emergent relationships hold.


Enfolding literature Comparing the emergent concepts, theory or

hypotheses with the extant literature. Ask:

- what is this similar to?- what does it contradict?- why?

Examining conflicting literature is important for two reasons:- to enhance confidence in the research findings- forces researcher to be more creative – in giving deeper insight on the emergent theory and the conflicting literature, and sharpening the limit to generalizability of the research.

Examining literature with similar findings is important to ties together underlying similarities in phenomena normally not associated to each other – resulted in theory with stronger internal validity, wider generalizability, and higher conceptual level.


Reaching closure

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Two main issues: When to stop adding cases?

• Answer: when theoretical saturation has been reached• Theoretical saturation – additional data does not give

incremental improvement in quality is minimal• Theoretical saturation also involves pragmatic

considerations e.g. time and money. When to stop iterating between data and theory?

• Answer: when saturation is achieved – the iteration does not provide incremental improvement to theory (or minimal improvement)

The final product of theory building case study includes; concepts, conceptual framework, proposition or mid-range theory.


Chapter 5 case study

Education

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