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The document discusses the complexities and methodologies of case study research, emphasizing the importance of systematic procedures in conducting such studies. It outlines different types of case studies, selection biases, and the significance of theoretical predictions in analyzing cases. The document also highlights the process tracing method, which focuses on detailed causal processes within specific historical cases.

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eunice
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3 views

Pointer Slides [CS]

The document discusses the complexities and methodologies of case study research, emphasizing the importance of systematic procedures in conducting such studies. It outlines different types of case studies, selection biases, and the significance of theoretical predictions in analyzing cases. The document also highlights the process tracing method, which focuses on detailed causal processes within specific historical cases.

Uploaded by

eunice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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"Case study research is remarkably

hard, even though case studies have


traditionally been considered to be
"soft" research, possibly because
investigators have not followed
systematic procedures."

(Yin 2009: 21)


Case Study Method
› Defining the Case Study Method

› Selecting Cases

› Doing Case Studies


Case Study
“an empirical inquiry that investigates a
contemporary phenomenon in depth and
within its real-life context” (Yin 2009: 18, revised)
“theory-inferring” cases
“theory-testing” cases
State your theoretical predictions
(based on your theory) explicitly before
you analyze case

“If my theory is correct, I should see


[observable predictions] in Case 1, … …”
Selection Biases
(1) Bias caused by the researcher
“Cherry-picking” your cases
Selection Biases
(1) Bias caused by the researcher
Selecting on the dependent variable
- OK for theory-inferring case studies
- Most people think it’s not OK for theory-testing
Q: “What causes economic growth?”

- Suppose you select “rich countries”


as cases.
- You found X present in all cases.
- You conclude that X causes growth.

What is wrong?
Selection Biases
(1) Bias caused by the researcher
Dependent variable should vary fully
(across full range of possible variation)
Selection Biases
(2) Bias caused by the subject
Self-selection bias
Selecting Cases
for a Purpose
Different Types of Case Studies
1) Critical case
“A single case, meeting all of the conditions for
testing the theory, can confirm, challenge, or
extend the theory.”
2) Extreme case
Very high/low values (/big changes in value)
in your hypothesized independent variable
• Do your expectations about DV hold?
3) Representative case
Find the Average Joe(s)
• E.g. Does more funding improve school performance?
• Top school
• Worst school
• Average school
4) Unique case
Phenomenon is very rare
Documenting a case is very valuable
Use case-study method (Brady 2010)
to check the conclusion
Break down the “process”
into its precise components
Questions

› What is the number of voters who had yet to vote


when the media called the election for Gore?

› Of these, how many heard the call?

› Of these, how many were deterred from voting?

› Of those deterred, how many were Bush voters?


Characteristics of the Brady case study:

• Multiple sources of information,

• Multiple ways of approaching the problem

• “Crosschecking information at every turn”

Traces “causal processes in close detail”


Process tracing
process-tracing “focuses on sequential processes within a
particular historical case, not on correlations of data
across cases” (George & Bennett 2005: 13)

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