Designing Case StudiesGrupp 2Jukka Mki-Turja, Johan Andersson, Joel Huselius

Case Studies from Chapter 1A case study is an empirical inquiry thatInvestigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, especially whenthe boundaries between phenomenon and context are not cleraly evidentWhen to use a CS?Many more variables of interest than data pointsRelies of multiple sources of evidenceBenefits from prior theoretic propositions, guiding data collection and analysis.In answering how and why questions

Outline Research DesignWhat is a Research Design?The role of TheoryCriteria for high quality research designSingle vs. Multiple case designConclusion and Advice

What is a Research DesignResearch Design is a difficult part of doing Case StudiesNo roadmaps existsLogical plan to go from A to BA = initial set of question to be answeredB = conclusions of studyLogical, not a logistical problem!Research design can be seen as a blueprint of researchWhat question to study?What data are relevant?What data to collect?How to analyze the results?Case studies require its own research designNot a special case of, e.g., experiment.

5 Components of Research DesignQuestionsPropositionsUnit of analysisLinking data to propositionsCriteria for interpreting the findings

Questions and PropositionsQuestionsThe high level questions of the Case Study. Case studies suitable for how and why questions.PropositionsPossible (partial) answers (a.k.a hypotheses)Directs attentions on what to examine in the studyMore concrete than questionsForces the study in the right directionIn exploratory studies - no propositionsState purpose instead

Unit of AnalysisWhat is the case?An individual?A decision?A program?Relates to research questions and propositionWithout clear propositions, one might be tempted to cover everything.Non-favoring research questions too vague or too numerousDifferent units of analysis requires different research design and data collection strategy.

Linking data to propositionsLeast well developedPattern MatchingIdentify effects/no effects patternsWhich pattern matches best?

The criteria for Interpreting the findingsHow close does a match have do be in order to be considered a match?No general solutionHope that patterns of rival propositions are sufficiently constrasting

Outline Research DesignWhat is a Research Design?The role of TheoryCriteria for high qualitySingle vs. Multiple case designConclusion and Advice

The Role of TheoryCovering these 5 aspects force you to begin constructing a preliminary theory.Important to have a theoretical framework providing guidanceExisting workAnalytical vs. Statistical generalisationReplication

Criteria for high qualityJudging the quality of Research DesignFour testsConstruct ValidityInternal ValidityExternal ValidityReliability

Construct ValidityEstablishing correct operational measures for the concepts being studiedCase studies are often criticized that subjective judgement is used collecting data.To meet Construct Validity, e.g.Select the specific type of changes that are to be studied.Demonstrate that the selected measures of these changes do indeed reflect the specific type of change that have been selected.

Internal ValidityEstablishing a causal relationship, whereby certain conditions are shown to lead to other conditions, as distinguished from spurious relationshipsFor explanatory or causal studies only.Inferring theoryStudy x leads to yWhat happens if unknown z affects y?

External ValidityEstablishing the domain to which a studies findings can be generalizedCritics state that single cases offer a poor basis for generalization.Analytical generalization rather than statisticalGeneralization by replicationReplication logic same as for experiments

ReliabilityDemonstrating that the operations of a study can be repeated with the same resultsThe goal of reliability is to minimize the errors and biases in a study.Case study protocols to documentGeneral approach: conduct research as if someone were always looking over your shouldercompare with accounting

Case Study DesignsSingle vs. Multiple caseSingle case appropriate in certain conditionsMultiple case design better in generalEmbedded vs. HolisticHolistic = one unit of analysisEmdedded = several units of analysis

Basic types of DesignsEmbedded(multiple units of analysis)Holistic(single unitof analysis)Single-case DesignsMultiple-case Designs

Single-case DesignFive rationalesCritical case: clear set of propositionsExtreme/unique caseRepresentative/typical caseRevelatory casePreviously inaccessible phenomenaLongitudinal caseSame things at different points in timeAssumes that conditions changes over timeAs a pilot case for multiple case studiesNot considered as a case study of its own

Embedded vs. Holistic DesignsHolistic design When no logical subunits can be identified.study might be conducted on a too abstract levelResearch question slippageEmbedded designAvoids slippageExtensive analysisMight focus too much on subunits, loses higher level (holuistic) aspects.

Multiple-case DesignsMore robust results and compelling argumentsRequire more resourcesReplication rather than sampling logicEach case can be holistic or embedded

Replication vs. Sampling logicReplication analytical generalizationAnalogous to that used in multiple experimentsGoal is to duplicate results from previous workConvergent evidence is saughtSampling statisticalAnalogous to that used in surveysGoal is to gather general information from large amounts of data

Literal vs. Theoretical ReplicationLiteral replicationSimilar resultsTheoretical replicationContrasting results for predictable reasonsIf cases are contradictory initial proposition must be revisedWithout redesign, you can be accused of distorting or ignoring the discovery to accommodate your design.A prerequisite of successful replication is a rich theoretical frameworkNumber of cases is very fuzzy.

Rationale for a multiple case designComes from understanding theoretical and literal replicationSimplest multiple case designLiteral replication among two casesMore complicated multiple case designTheoretical replication between different types of conditionsLiteral replication within each type of condition

Conclusion and Advice

When you have a choice (and resources) choose multiple case designTwo cases is significatly better than a single one allows for replication.Drastical improvment of generalizabilityTheoretical replication even stronger argumentAvoids critisism and skepticismIf you use single caseprepare to make an extremly strong argument in justifying your choice of case.