When to Use a case Study

DESIGNING AND CONDUCTING CASE STUDIES FOR DEVELOPMENT EVALUATIONS

• A Preconference Workshop for the IDEAS Global Assembly in Johannesburg
• March 17, 2009
• Linda Morra Imas
• [e-mail] [e-mail]

• © IPDET 2009

Workshop Objectives

• Understand defining features of case studies
• Know when to use case studies and when each type of case study is appropriate
• Contrast case study methods
• Know how to increase case study reliability and validity, and determine sample size
• Apply some case study methods
• © IPDET 2009

BOOKS TO READ

• 1.Robert E. Stake (1995). The Art of Case Study Research, SAGE Pub., Thousand Oaks: CA.
• 2. Robert K. Yin (2005). Case Study Research: Design & Methods, Third Ed. Applied Social Research Methods Series, Volume 5. SAGE Pub., Thousand Oaks: CA.
• 3. Robert E. Stake (2006). Multiple Case Study Analysis, Guilford Press, New York: New York.
• www.amazon.com
• © IPDET 2009

Experience with Case Studies

• Who has conducted case studies?
• How did you know it was a case study?

• © IPDET 2009

Definition

• A case study is a method of learning about a complex instance, based on a comprehensive understanding of that instance obtained through extensive description and analysis of that instance taken as a whole and in its context.

• © IPDET 2009

Discussion

• A case study is a method of learning about a complex instance…..
• Simple instance vs. complex instance
• Based on a comprehensive understanding
• Fly through qualify?
• Obtained through extensive description and and analysis
• Qualitative, not quantitative?
• Taken as a whole and in its context
• ???????
• © IPDET 2009