Gall, Gall, Borg (2008) Case Study Research. In: Educational Research: An Introduction.

C.14 - Case Study Research

Importance of Case Study in Qualitative Research

Characteristics of Case Studies

Study of Particular Instances

Phenomenon

Case

Unit of analysis

Focus

In-Depth Study of the Case

Study of a Phenomenon in Its Real-Life Context

Representation of Emic and Etic Perspectives

Purposes of Case Studies

Description

Thick description

Construct

Themes

Explanation

Patterns

Relational patterns

Causal patterns

Evaluation

Designing a Case Study

Figure 14.1 - Contextual Factors Influencing a Research Design

Formulation a Research Problem

Table 14.1 - Goals That Qualitative Research Can Help Researchers Achieve

Selecting a Case

Designing the Role of the Case Study Researcher

Gaining Entry

Addressing Ethical Issues

Utilitarian ethics

Deontological ethics

Relational ethics

Ecological ethics

Collecting Case Study Data

Personal Involvement in the Data-Collection Process

Subjectivity audit

Analyzing Data during Data Collection

Making records of field contacts

Contact summary sheet

Document summary form

Thinking "finish-to-start"

Figure 14.2 - Contact Summary Form

Ending Data Collection

Exhaustion of sources

Saturation of categories

Emergence of regularities

Overextension

Analyzing Case Study Data

Interpretational Analysis

Segmenting the Database

Developing Categories

Coding Segments

Grouping Category Segments

Constant Comparison

Theoretical Saturation

Drawing Conclusions

Structural Analysis

Text retrievers

Textbase managers

Reflecting Analysis

Interpretive zone

Ensuring the Quality and Rigor of Qualitative Research

Strategies to Meet Users' Needs

Strategies to Ensure Thorough Data Collection

Strategies Reflecting Sound Research Designs

Positivist Conceptions of the Validity and Reliability of Case Study Research

Construct validity

Internal validity

External validity

Reliabiity

Determining the Applicability of Case Study Findings

Reporting a Case Study

Finalizing Definition of the Case

Reflective Reporting

Table 14.2 - Organization of a Published Case Study Involving Reflective Reporting

Analytic Reporting

Table 14.3 - Matrix Display of Teacher's Experience in Using a New Educational Practice

Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Study Research