ResearchMethods/ResearchDesign/CaseStudy

Some research questions are best answered by using a case study research design. This Let's see what this research design involves, and how it can be used in political research.

Key points summary: reasons for selecting a case study approach
A researcher would use a case study approach if:

(a) the focus of the study is to answer “how” and “why” questions; (b) the researcher cannot manipulate the behaviour of those involved in the study; (c) the researcher wants to cover contextual conditions, because the researcher believes that they are relevant to the phenomenon under study; or (d) the boundaries are not clear between the phenomenon and context.

Unit of analysis
The "case" studied in the research is the unit of analysis. It is the "object" which the study examines and analyses. For example, it can be either of the following:
 * individuals
 * programs or processes
 * different organisations
 * cultural groups
 * nations

Types of case study

 * Explanatory - explain the presumed causal links in real-life interventions that are too complex for the survey or experimental strategies
 * Exploratory - explore results when there is no clear, single set of outcomes
 * Descriptive - used to describe an intervention or phenomenon and the real-life context in which it occurred
 * Multiple (comparative) - A multiple case study enables the researcher to explore differences within and between cases. The goal is to replicate findings across cases.

Reasons for using a single case
A single holistic case study is appropriate when the context is unique or extreme.

Reasons for using multiple cases
Multiple case studies are needed to understand similarities and differences between cases. Multiple case studies are used to:
 * Predicts similar results in similar situations (literal replication)
 * Predicts contrasting results based on predictable reasons (theoretical replication)