Encyclopedia of Case Study Research

Case study research has a long history within the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, dating back to the early 1920's. At first it was a useful way for researchers to make valid inferences from events outside the laboratory in ways consistent with the rigorous practices of investigation inside the lab. Over time, case study approaches garnered interest in multiple disciplines as scholars studied phenomena in context. Despite widespread use, case study research has received little attention among the literature on research strategies.The Encyclopedia of Case Study Research provides a compendium on the important methodological issues in conducting case study research and explores both the strengths and weaknesses of different paradigmatic approaches. These two volumes focus on the distinctive characteristics of case study research and its place within and alongside other research methodologies.Key FeaturesPresents a definition of case study research that can be used in different fields of studyDescribes case study as a research strategy rather than as a single tool for decision making and inquiryGuides rather than dictates, readers' understanding and applications of case study researchIncludes a critical summary in each entry, which raises additional matters for reflectionMakes case study relevant to researchers at various stages of their careers, across philosophic divides, and throughout diverse disciplinesKey ThemesAcademic DisciplinesCase Study Research DesignConceptual IssuesData AnalysisData CollectionMethodological ApproachesTheoretical TraditionsTheory Development and ContributionsFrom Case Study ResearchTypes of Case Study Research

Case study research has a long history within the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, dating back to the early 1920's. At first it was a useful way for researchers to make valid inferences from events outside the laboratory in ways consistent with the rigorous practices of investigation inside the lab. Over time, case study approaches garnered interest in multiple disciplines as scholars studied phenomena in context. Despite widespread use, case study research has received little attention among the literature on research strategies.The Encyclopedia of Case Study Research provides a compendium on the important methodological issues in conducting case study research and explores both the strengths and weaknesses of different paradigmatic approaches. These two volumes focus on the distinctive characteristics of case study research and its place within and alongside other research methodologies.Key FeaturesPresents a definition of case study research that can be used in different fields of studyDescribes case study as a research strategy rather than as a single tool for decision making and inquiryGuides rather than dictates, readers' understanding and applications of case study researchIncludes a critical summary in each entry, which raises additional matters for reflectionMakes case study relevant to researchers at various stages of their careers, across philosophic divides, and throughout diverse disciplinesKey ThemesAcademic DisciplinesCase Study Research DesignConceptual IssuesData AnalysisData CollectionMethodological ApproachesTheoretical TraditionsTheory Development and ContributionsFrom Case Study ResearchTypes of Case Study Research