CAEP Conference, Spring 2014 
                                                                     Case Study 
                   
                  Definitions and Examples of Different Types of Case Studies 
                  Case Study Type               Definition                                  Published Study Example 
                  Explanatory                   This type of case study would be used       Joia (2002). Analysing a web-based 
                                                if you were seeking to answer a             e-commerce learning community: A 
                                                question that sought to explain the         case study in Brazil. Internet 
                                                presumed causal links in real-life          Research, 12, 305-317. 
                                                interventions that are too complex for 
                                                the survey or experimental strategies. 
                                                In evaluation language, the 
                                                explanations would link program 
                                                implementation with program effects 
                                                (Yin, 2003). 
                  Exploratory                   This type of case study is used to          Lotzkar & Bottorff (2001). An 
                                                explore those situations in which the       observational study of the 
                                                intervention being evaluated has no         development of a nurse-patient 
                                                clear, single set of outcomes (Yin,         relationship. Clinical Nursing 
                                                2003).                                      Research, 10, 275-294. 
                  Multiple-case studies         A multiple case study enables the           Campbell & Ahrens (1998). 
                                                researcher to explore differences           Innovative community services for 
                                                within and between cases. The goal is       rape victims: An application of 
                                                to replicate findings across cases.         multiple case study methodology. 
                                                Because comparisons will be drawn,          American Journal of Community 
                                                it is imperative that the cases are         Psychology, 26, 537-571. 
                                                chosen carefully so that the researcher 
                                                can predict similar results across 
                                                cases, or predict contrasting results 
                                                based on a theory (Yin, 2003). 
                  Intrinsic                     Stake (1995) uses the term intrinsic        Hellström, Nolan, & Lundh 
                                                and suggests that researchers who           (2005). “We do things 
                                                have a genuine interest in the case         together” A case study of 
                                                should use this approach when the           “couplehood” in dementia. 
                                                intent is to better understand the case.    Dementia, 4(1), 7-22. 
                                                It is not undertaken primarily because 
                                                the case represents other cases or 
                                                because it illustrates a particular trait 
                                                or problem, but because in all 
                                                its particularity and ordinariness, the 
                                                case itself is of interest. The purpose 
                                                is NOT to come to understand some 
                                                abstract construct or generic 
                                                phenomenon. The purpose is NOT to 
                                                build theory (although that is an 
                                                option; Stake, 1995). 
                                                      
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                  Case Study Type               Definition                                  Published Study Example 
                  Instrumental                  Is used to accomplish something other  Luck, Jackson, & Usher (2007). 
                                                than understanding a particular             STAMP: Components of observable 
                                                situation. It provides insight into an      behaviour that indicate potential for 
                                                issue or helps to refine a theory. The      patient violence in emergency 
                                                case is of secondary interest; it plays a  departments. Journal of Advanced 
                                                supportive role, facilitating our           Nursing, 59, 11-19. 
                                                understanding of something else. The 
                                                case is often looked at in depth, its 
                                                contexts scrutinized, its ordinary 
                                                activities detailed, and because it 
                                                helps the researcher pursue the 
                                                external interest. The case may or 
                                                may not be seen as 
                                                typical 
                  Collective                    Collective case studies are similar in      Scheib (2003). Role stress in the 
                                                nature and description to multiple          professional life of the school music 
                                                case studies (Yin, 2003)                    teacher: A collective case study. 
                                                                                            Journal of Research in Music 
                                                                                            Education, 51,124-136. 
                  Source:  Baxter & Jack, 2008, p. 547-549. 
                   
                  References 
                  Baxter, P., Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for 
                           Novice Researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13(4), 544-559. 
                  Stake, R. E. (1995). The art of case study research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 
                  Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 
                   
                  Additional Resources 
                  Gerring, J. (2005) Case Study Research. New York: Cambridge University Press.  
                  Scholz, R.W. & Tietje, O. (2002). Embedded Case Study Methods: Integrating Quantitative and 
                           Qualitative Knowledge. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage 
                   
                  The Case Study as a Research Method. (1997). Retrieved from 
                                                                                       www.ischool.utexas.edu/~ssoy/ 
                           usesusers/l391d1b.htm  
                  Thomas, G. (2011). A typology for the case study in social science following a review of definition, 
                           discourse and structure. Qualitative Inquiry, 17(6), 511-521. 
                  Thomas, G. (2011) How to do your Case Study: A Guide for Students and Researchers. Thousand Oaks, 
                           CA: Sage. 
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