A note on the case study research methodology

A note on the case study research methodology [information from perplexity.ai]

My question 1: "What is the case study research methodology of Robert Yin all about?"

The reply: "Robert K. Yin's case study research methodology centers on the design and utilization of the case study method as a robust research tool, applicable across a variety of academic and applied fields1. His approach is detailed in his book, "Case Study Research: Design and Methods," which offers comprehensive guidance on conducting case studies14.

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•  According to Yin, a case study is an empirical investigation of a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between the phenomenon and its context are not clear2. Case study research is a comprehensive research strategy that addresses "how" or "why" questions about the phenomenon of interest2.

•  Yin suggests using a case study when the research aims to answer "how" and "why" questions, when the researcher has little control over behavioral events, and when the study focuses on a contemporary phenomenon3.

•  Yin emphasizes the importance of a logical research design, which includes the research questions, relevant data, data collection methods, and data analysis3. The design should aim to avoid situations where evidence does not address the research questions3. Yin lists four types of case study research designs: single holistic, single embedded, multiple holistic, and multiple embedded3.

•  Yin emphasizes maximizing four conditions for design quality: construct validity, internal validity, external validity, and reliability2.

•  Yin’s methodology involves using multiple sources of evidence for triangulation and developing theoretical propositions to guide data collection and analysis2. He focuses on maintaining cohesion and consistency among the design components and phases of case study research2.

•  Yin emphasizes the importance of discarding plausible rival explanations for the findings3. He advises researchers to identify these alternative explanations early in the design phase3.

•  Yin's approach demonstrates positivistic leanings, emphasizing objectivity, validity, and generalizability2.

•  Yin advocates for the case study as a legitimate method of research in social sciences, and his text is intended to fill a void by providing guidance on how to start a case study, analyze data, and compose the report2."

My question 2: "Is the case study methodology capable to employ the inductive, the deductive and the abductive approaches?"

The reply: "Yes, case study methodology can employ inductive, deductive, and abductive approaches123.

• : Case studies can be used to develop new theories or refine existing ones by systematically analyzing a series of cases and identifying patterns and relationships that contribute to theory building1. An inductive case-study approach oriented in the interpretivist paradigm can be used, where the outcome is some theory that should not be considered validated but rather it contains concepts and possible relationships which creates new insight2.

• : Although the search results do not explicitly mention the deductive approach, it is implied that case studies can be used for explanatory research when you want to understand why a particular phenomenon occurs1.

• : While not explicitly mentioned in the search results, abductive reasoning, which involves making educated guesses to form hypotheses, can also be applied in case study methodology."

My question 3: "Is the case study methodology suitable to investigate descriptive research, exploratory research and casual research?"

The reply: "Case study methodology is indeed suitable for investigating descriptive research, exploratory research, and causal research, each serving distinct purposes within these frameworks.

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• : Descriptive case studies aim to provide a detailed account of a phenomenon or situation without making causal inferences. They focus on "what" is happening rather than "why" it occurs.

• : This type of case study can help researchers understand the characteristics of a specific instance, such as how a particular educational intervention affects student attitudes towards reading35.

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• : Exploratory case studies are often used when little prior research exists on a topic. They help identify potential variables and formulate research questions for further study.

• : This approach allows researchers to delve into complex issues, revealing insights that might not be evident through quantitative methods alone. For example, an exploratory case study might investigate barriers to student success in a new curriculum implementation26.

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• : While case studies are not typically designed to establish causality definitively, they can provide insights into causal relationships by examining the context and processes surrounding an event or phenomenon.

• : Causal case studies may explore the reasons behind observed outcomes, such as understanding why different classrooms experience varying levels of engagement with the same teaching method37.

In summary, case study methodology is versatile and can effectively address the needs of descriptive, exploratory, and causal research by providing rich qualitative insights into real-world contexts."

My question 4: "Could you provide 2 examples of how the case study research methodology can be employed in the fields of (1) business management, (2) housing studies, and (3) accounting and finance?"

The reply: "Here are examples of how the case study research methodology can be employed in the fields of business management, housing studies, and accounting and finance:

• : Case studies enable the development of existing theory and understanding the course of processes over time or provide explanations for previously unrecognized phenomena1. Their use can lead to the definition of phenomenon features, the relationships between them, and the course of phenomena1.

• : The case method is a learning methodology built on learning by doing and aims to prepare students for strategic decision-making in companies7.

• : Case study research can employ abduction as a methodological approach in management accounting9. The approach informs the design and conduct of the research9.

• : A case study approach can be used to evaluate housing in use, incorporating surveys as the principal research method25. For example, Project Feedback was a case study that evaluated Operation Breakthrough housing in use25.

• : Housing case studies highlight successful approaches and examples of affordably priced housing10. For instance, Pinckney Hill Commons is a case study example of an affordably priced apartment and townhome community10.

• : Case studies can illustrate best practices in housing design, showcasing how development has been optimized to deliver more homes while performing well across housing design standards8.

• : Case studies utilize a wide range of data sources and techniques3.

• : Case studies can be employed in financial qualitative research, offering a comprehensive guide for their usage6. Yin (2003) describes a case study as an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, where the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident and in which multiple sources of evidence are used6.

• : Accounting case studies may require defining terms that are different under IFRS than GAAP to gain a better understanding of what is being analyzed11. Case studies can also compare two companies that have identical transactions throughout the year but whose financial statements are not the same because the managers of the two companies used different accounting methods when recording the data11."

My question 5: "What is the difference between the case study research methodology and case study (secondary data, e.g. from newspapers, magazines and academic articles) in dissertation project practices?"

The reply: "The distinction between case study research methodology and the use of secondary data (such as from newspapers, magazines, and academic articles) in dissertation projects lies primarily in their purpose, data collection methods, and analytical approaches.

• : Case study research methodology is designed to conduct an in-depth examination of a specific phenomenon within its real-life context. It aims to explore complexities and understand the intricacies of a particular case or a small number of cases13.

• : This methodology often involves multiple sources of data collection, including interviews, observations, and primary documents, alongside secondary sources. The emphasis is on gathering rich qualitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the case17.

• : The analysis in case study research is typically rigorous and systematic, allowing for the exploration of relationships and patterns within the data. Researchers may use various techniques, such as coding and triangulation, to derive insights from the collected information37.

• : Secondary data research focuses on analyzing existing data collected by others to answer specific research questions. This approach is often more straightforward and can cover larger datasets than primary research would allow24.

• : In secondary research, data is gathered from pre-existing sources such as academic articles, newspapers, or reports. Researchers do not collect new data but instead analyze what has already been published or documented24.

• : The analysis of secondary data typically involves evaluating the quality and relevance of the existing datasets to address the research questions. Researchers may combine different secondary datasets to explore relationships or trends but are limited by the original context in which the data was collected24.

In summary, while both methodologies can be valuable in dissertation projects, case study research methodology provides a deeper contextual understanding through comprehensive data collection and analysis, whereas secondary data use offers a more straightforward approach by leveraging existing information to answer research questions."

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.