There is a growing consensus among social scientists that research pro grams advance more effectively through the iterative or collaborative use of different research methods than through the use of any one method alone. Research question must be aligneddefine the caseunit of analysis. A brief description a case study is an indepth examination, often undertaken over time, of a single case such as a policy, programme, intervention site, implementation process or participant. The aim of this working paper is to introduce qca as a method to study policy processes. Case studies are commonly used in social, educational, clinical, and business research. A comparative case study approach in order to facilitate the extraction of data that would most satisfactorily addresses my research question, i chose to use a comparative case study approach. Verifying a signature architecture a comparative case study.
According to pickvance 2005, comparative analysis is conducted mainly to explain and gain a better understanding of the causal processes involved in the creation of an event, feature or relationship usually by bringing together variations in the explanatory variable or variables. Figure 2 provides an overview of these innovations. Although the data requirements of the comparative method may be much greater than for case studies, lijphart argues that they arc less demanding than for experimental or statistical research. Qualitative case study methodology provides tools for researchers to study complex phenomena within their contexts. Research methodology applied to a comparative case study celcis. A comparative case study is a research approach to formulate or assess generalizations that extend across multiple cases. Qca is designed for the comparison of a small to intermediate number of cases.
The result has been an intellectual crossfertilization of great benefit to the comparative method. Whether its results can be generalised in other contexts remains an open question. If implementation differs, the reasons and results can be recorded. A case study is a story about something unique, special, or interestingstories can be about individuals, organizations, processes, programs, neighborhoods, institutions, and even events. In most cases, a case study method selects a small geographical area or a very limited number of individuals as the subjects of study. Comparative case studies involve the analysis and synthesis of the similarities, differences and patterns across two or more cases that share a common focus or goal in a way that produces knowledge that is easier to generalize about causal questions how and why particular programmes or policies work or fail to work. This research study is descriptive and analytical in nature. A comparative study johanna gustafsson academy of business, engineering and science halmstad university halmstad, sweden keywords. Despite being one of the most frequently used qualitative research methodologies in educational research, the methodologists do not have a full consensus on the design and. Research methodology applied to a comparative case study. The opposite is also true, similar patterns across sites can increase the confidence in results. Introduction to comparative health systems kevin chan, md, mph, frcpc, faap assistant professor, faculty of medicine, and fellow, munk centre for international studies, university of toronto prepared as part of an education project of the global health education consortium and collaborating partners. Comparative case studies lesley bartlett and fran vavrus case study methodology is widely used across multiple disciplines and fields.
The case was certified by the court as a class action. Evidence and inference in the comparative case study. Comparative case study 371 numerous writings on the case study and comparative case study methods. Clearly a proponent for case study research, yin openly addresses its enduring criticisms as a methodology and urges the researcher to carefully consider whether a case study is. Next, we propose a new approach the comparative case study approach that.
Apr 20, 2011 many comparative methodology texts present at least a brief discussion of this issue e. We are not intending to provide an array of novel reasons to use the case study method. Yin 2004 has described case study methodology as a distinctive means of empirical enquiry particularly suitable for exploring the how and why of contemporary phenomena within a reallife context. The comparative effectiveness approach to matching methodology discussed here offers an easy way to implement best practices, enabling applied researchers to choose matching solutions that improve inferences in their data rather than having to decide on a theoretical basis which matching methods may or may not work best in general. Three approaches to case study methods in education. The case had been filed within the several years prior to our study. A comparative case study is a research approach to formulate or assess. When the approach is applied correctly, it becomes a valuable method for health science research to develop theory, evaluate programs, and develop interventions. The data use for this study is entirely secondary in nature. The comparative case study can help the evaluator check whether the program theory holds for each different context and environment. Five qualitative approaches to inquiry i n this chapter, we begin our detailed exploration of narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case studies. Comparative case studies often incorporate both qualitative and quantitative data. The researcher gathered data through observations and interviews. Design, use, and comparative advantages andrew bennett there is a growing consensus among social scientists that research programs advance more effectively through the iterative or collaborative use of different research methods than through the use of.
Development of financial derivatives market in india a case. The comparative case approach uses an iterative analysis of each case with. A case study is a detailed study of a specific subject, such as a person, group, place, event, organization, or phenomenon. Case study methodology has long been a contested terrain in social sciences research which is characterized by varying, sometimes opposing, approaches espoused by many research methodologists. The comparative case study examines in rich detail the context and features of two or more instances of specific phenomena. Comparativeresearch methods 5 case selection and research designs forallfiveresearchgoals,theselectionofwhichcasesareincludedinthecomparison iscrucial. Verifying a signature architecture a comparative case study david basin 1, hironobu kuruma 2, kunihiko miyazaki2, kazuo takaragi, burkhart wol. This tool is intended to 1 assist the researcher carry out the case study.
Quoters must include the following details for each case study submission. Pdf a practical guide to the comparative case study method in. Comparative effectiveness of matching methods for causal. Ontological, epistemological and methodological assumptions. Example evaluators used a comparative case study option. Our discussion of theory and method in comparative research dif. Case study method enables a researcher to closely examine the data within a specific context.
Grounded theory merged qualitative field study methods from the chicago school of sociology with quantitative methods of data analysis johansson, 2003, p. It aims to describe, evaluate and justify the use of particular methods. Methodology in comparative studies peter johan lor. Case study is a research methodology, typically seen in social and life sciences. Definition of the case study the most defining characteristics of case study is delimiting the object of the study. The case studies shall demonstrate an agile methodology and adherence to practices found within the us digital service playbook.
Besides discussing case study design, data collection, and analysis, the refresher addresses several key features of case study research. Each case study submission is limited to 3 pages in pdf format. A comparative case study of factors distinguishing between. Comparative case studies kerala state section i the study and its context the six districts, kasargod, malappuram, vynad, thiruvananthapuram, idukki and palakkad were chosen as the dpep districts in kerala on the criterion that the total literacy campaign had been successful and it generated an enhanced demand for elementary education. Data are inconsistent or absent in many domains that research in other fields e.
Design, use, and comparative advantages andrew bennett there is a growing consensus among social scientists that research programs advance more effectively through the iterative or collaborative use of different research methods than through the use of any one method alone. The utility and limitations of single group studies to resolve clinical questions that are inherently comparative in nature should be described clearly. A case study is defined by adelman, et al 1980 as the study of an instance in action. Case study methodology has developed in the direction of eclecticism and pragmatism.
Case study methodology 529 we established four prerequisites for inclusion as a case study. Case is often used in an obfuscating sense and may be defined as place, as institution, as study participants, as unit of analysis, as concept, or even as variable. In this article, we argue for a new approachthe comparative case study approachthat. Until now, this has been hampered by widespread misunderstanding of the relation ship between statistical and qualitativehistorical methods of comparison and their respective theoretical bases. A practical guide to the comparative case study method. The purpose of this paper is to guide the novice researcher in identifying the key elements for designing and. In an influential article on comparative politics, lijphart 1971.
Comparative case study an overview sciencedirect topics. The comparative case study examines in rich detail the context and. Examining the organizational use of social networking sites. Case study, single case study, multiple case studies paper type. Research methodology applied to a comparative case study of. Necessary condition logics, research design, and theory. Yin 1994 offers a very straightforward protocol approach for case study emphasizing field procedures, case study questions, and a guide for the final write up. Function points are a weighted total of inputs, outputs, inquiries, logical files and. It enables systematic crosscase comparison without neglecting case complexity, allowing modest, mediumrange generalization and theorizing. Qualitative comparative analysis4 documents the configuration of conditions. The case study, as a method of inquiry, is particularly suited to the field of political psychology. The expected decline in availability of fossil fuels over the next several decades, either because of resource.
Yin 2004 has described case study methodology as a distinctive means of empirical enquiry particularly. For each approach, i pose a definition, briefly trace its history, explore types of studies, introduce procedures involved in conducting a study, and indicate poten. This development has been advocated by, among others, michael quinn patton 1990. Rather, we are attempting to integrate observations regarding this method into a coherent program for its use in a research effort, with particular attention. Case studies in a case study the researcher explores a single entity or phenomenon the case bounded by time and activity e. Innovations in the comparative method innovations in the comparative method can be discussed in terms of the issues introduced above, encom. This methodology, notes yin 2004, is particularly relevant when the researcher. Many comparative methodology texts present at least a brief discussion of this issue e. In turn, it outlines outlines an approach for the analysis of qualitative data through multilevel analysis. The primary research question for the study, what factors differ in rural appalachian elementary schools that are high and lowachieving in reading. Feb 23, 2015 case study methodology has long been a contested terrain in social sciences research which is characterized by varying, sometimes opposing, approaches espoused by many research methodologists. The field of political psychology has become increasingly populated with individuals capable of. Case study as a research methodology semantic scholar. A practical guide to the comparative case study method in.
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