Definitions and Concepts
What is the main focus of a case study?
A detailed exploration of an individual, group, or phenomenon in its real-life context.
Name one advantage of case study research.
Produces rich, detailed, contextualized data.
Name one common criticism of case studies.
Subjectivity or lack of generalizability.
What is a retrospective case study?
Looks back on past events.
Are case studies considered a method or a research type?
A type of qualitative research.
Why are case studies useful for theory development?
They reveal new hypotheses and causal links.
What is “selection bias” in case study research?
Researcher’s bias in choosing a case that supports their view.
What is a snapshot case study?
Examines a case at one specific moment in time.
What is the difference between a case (subject) and a research field (object)?
The case is the specific example studied; the research field is the broader context or framework.
How are the subjects and their environment related?
Why do some researchers think case studies can’t be generalized?
Because they involve one or few cases, not representative samples.
What is a diachronic case study?
Examines smaller units within a larger case.
What makes these case studies more qualitative than quantitative?
They focus on meanings and verbal data more than quantitative data such as surveys and interviews.
How do case studies help explore causal mechanisms?
They trace detailed cause-and-effect relationships.
What limitation of case studies involves the environment?
Limited Control
What is a nested case study?
Examines smaller units within a larger case.