Such explanatory case studies can also be supplemented by the other two types: exploratory and descriptive case studies. Regardless of the type of case study, investigators must exercise great care in designing and conducting case studies to overcome the traditional criticism of the method.

Author: Robert K.Yin
Publisher: Sage publications-International Educational and Professional Publisher
Published year: 2003
Published location: United States
Number of pages: 181

Using case study for research purposes remains one of the most challenging of all social science endeavors. The purpose of this book is to help you, an experienced or budding social scientist, deal with the challenges. Your goal is to design good case studies and to collect, present, and analyze data accurately. A further goal is to bring the case study to conclusion by writing a compelling report or book.

As a research strategy, case study is used in many situations to contribute our knowledge of an individual, group, organization, society political system, and related phenomena. Case study has been a common research strategy in psychology, sociology, political science, social work, business and community planning. Case studies are found even in economics, in which the structure of a given industry or the economy of a city or a region may be investigated by using case study method.

In this book, the author introduces to readers in details the following features: defining, categorizing, designing, conducting , analyzing, proving and reporting a case study.

This book covers the distinctive characteristics of case study as a research method. It concentrates heavily on the problem of designing and analyzing case studies. This book also offers guidance on how to start a case study, analyze the data including how to minimize the problems in writing a case study report.