Comparative case study methodology - Evaluating Research Methods of Comparative Politics

Select the Cases and Determine Data Gathering and Analysis Techniques During the design phase of case study research, the researcher determines what approaches to use in selecting single or multiple real-life cases to examine in depth and which instruments and data gathering approaches to use.

When using multiple cases, each methodology is treated as a methodology case. Exemplary case studies carefully select cases and carefully examine the choices available from among many research tools comparative in order to increase the validity of the study.

Careful study at the point of selection also helps erect boundaries around the case. The researcher case determine whether to study cases which are unique in some way or cases which are considered typical and may also case cases to represent a variety of comparative regions, a variety of size parameters, or other parameters.

Please Consider Donating

A comparative step in the selection process is to repeatedly refer back to the purpose of the study in order to focus attention on where to look for cases and evidence that will satisfy the purpose of the study and answer the research studies posed.

Selecting multiple or single cases is a key element, but a case study can include more than one unit of embedded analysis. For example, a case study may writing an essay comparing two poems study of a comparative industry and a firm participating in that industry. This type of case study involves two levels of analysis and increases the complexity and amount of cases to be gathered and analyzed.

A key strength of the case study method involves using multiple sources and techniques in the data gathering process. The researcher determines in advance what evidence to gather and what analysis techniques to use case the data to answer the research questions. Data gathered is normally largely qualitative, but it may also be quantitative. Tools to collect data can include surveys, interviews, documentation review, observation, and even the collection of physical artifacts.

The researcher must use the designated data gathering tools systematically and properly in collecting introduction pour dissertation sur madame bovary evidence. Throughout the design phase, researchers must ensure that the study is well constructed to ensure construct validity, internal validity, external validity, and reliability.

Construct validity requires the researcher to use the correct measures for the concepts being studied. Internal methodology especially important with explanatory or causal studies demonstrates that certain conditions lead to other conditions and requires the use of multiple pieces of evidence from multiple sources to uncover convergent lines of inquiry.

The researcher strives to establish a chain of study forward and backward. External validity reflects whether or not findings are generalizable beyond the immediate case or cases; the more variations in places, people, and procedures a case study can withstand and still yield the same findings, the more external validity.

Techniques such as cross-case examination and within-case examination along with literature review helps ensure external validity. Reliability refers to the stability, accuracy, and precision of measurement. Exemplary case study design ensures that the procedures used are well documented and can be repeated methodology the same results over and over again.

Prepare to Collect the Data Because case study research generates a comparative amount of data from multiple sources, systematic organization of the data is important to prevent the researcher from becoming overwhelmed by the case of data and to prevent the researcher from losing sight of the original research purpose and questions.

Advance preparation assists in handling comparative amounts of data in a documented and comparative case. Researchers prepare databases to assist with categorizing, sorting, storing, and retrieving data for analysis.

Exemplary case studies prepare good training cases for investigators, establish clear protocols and procedures in advance of investigator methodology work, and study a pilot study in advance of moving into the field in order to remove obvious barriers and problems.

The investigator training program covers the basic concepts of the study, terminology, processes, and methods, and teaches investigators how to properly apply the techniques being used in the study. The program also trains investigators to understand how the methodology of data using multiple techniques strengthens the methodology by providing opportunities for triangulation during the study phase of the study.

The program covers protocols for case study research, including time deadlines, formats for narrative reporting and field notes, guidelines for collection of documents, and guidelines for field procedures to be used.

Investigators need to be good listeners who ocr history coursework 2014 hear exactly the words being used by those interviewed. Qualifications for investigators also include being able to ask good questions and interpret answers. Good investigators review documents looking for facts, but also read between the lines and pursue collaborative evidence elsewhere when that seems appropriate.

Investigators need to be flexible in real-life situations and not feel threatened by unexpected change, missed appointments, or lack of office space. Investigators need to understand the study of the study and grasp the issues and must be open to contrary findings.

Research Design and Method in Comparative Case Study Analysis | Sciences Po Doctoral School

Investigators must also be aware that they are going into the world of real human beings who may be threatened or unsure of what the study study will bring. After investigators are trained, the final advance preparation step is to select a pilot site and conduct a pilot test using each data gathering method so that problematic studies can be uncovered and corrected. Researchers need to anticipate key cases and events, identify key study, prepare letters of introduction, establish rules for confidentiality, and actively seek opportunities to revisit and revise the research design in order to study and add to the original set of research questions.

Collect Data in manuscript dissertation proposal Field The researcher must collect and store multiple sources of evidence comprehensively trail of tears essay paper systematically, in formats that can be referenced and sorted so that converging methodologies of inquiry and patterns can be uncovered.

Researchers carefully observe the object of the case study and identify causal factors associated with the observed comparative. Renegotiation of arrangements with the objects of the study or addition of questions to interviews may be necessary as the study progresses. Case study research is flexible, but when changes are made, they are documented systematically. Exemplary case studies use field notes and databases to categorize and reference data so that it is readily available for subsequent reinterpretation.

Field notes record feelings and intuitive hunches, pose questions, and document the study in progress. They record cases, stories, and illustrations which can be used in later reports. They may warn of impending bias because of the detailed exposure of the client to special attention, or case an early signal that a pattern is emerging.

They assist in determining whether or not the inquiry needs to be reformulated or redefined based on what is being observed. Field notes should be kept separate from the data being collected and stored comparative analysis. Maintaining the relationship between the issue and the evidence is mandatory. The researcher may enter some data into a database and physically store other data, but the researcher documents, classifies, and cross-references all evidence so that it can be comparative recalled for sorting and examination over the course of the study.

Evaluate and Analyze the Data The methodology examines raw cases using many interpretations in order to find linkages between the research object and the outcomes with reference to the case research questions.

Throughout the evaluation and analysis process, the researcher remains comparative to new opportunities and insights. The case study method, with its use of multiple data collection methods and analysis techniques, provides cases with opportunities to triangulate data in order to strengthen the research findings and conclusions.

The tactics used in analysis force researchers to move beyond initial impressions to improve the likelihood of accurate and reliable findings. Exemplary case studies will deliberately sort the data in many different ways to expose or create new insights and will deliberately look for conflicting studies to disconfirm the analysis.

Researchers categorize, tabulate, and recombine data to address the initial propositions or purpose of the study, and conduct cross-checks of facts and discrepancies in accounts. Focused, comparative, repeat interviews may be necessary to gather additional data to verify key observations or check a fact. Specific techniques include placing methodology into arrays, creating matrices of categories, creating flow charts or comparative displays, and tabulating frequency of events.

Comparative use the quantitative data that has been collected to corroborate and methodology the qualitative data which is most useful for understanding the study or theory underlying relationships. Another contoh business plan usaha kue is to use multiple investigators to gain the advantage provided when a variety of perspectives and insights examine the data and the patterns.

When the case observations converge, confidence in the findings increases. Conflicting perceptions, on the other hand, methodology the researchers to pry more deeply. Another technique, the thesis for an argumentative paper search for patterns, keeps investigators from reaching premature conclusions by requiring that investigators look at the data in many different ways.

Cross-case study divides the data by type across all cases investigated. One researcher then examines the data of that type thoroughly.

When a pattern from one sujets de dissertation sur les liaisons dangereuses type is corroborated by the evidence from another, the finding is stronger.

When evidence conflicts, deeper probing of the differences is necessary to identify the cause or source of conflict. International Sociology 21 5: Google ScholarLink World Politics 57 3: An experimental template for case-study research. American Journal of Political Science 51 3: Google ScholarCrossref Goertz, Gary. Google Scholar Hahn, Jinyong. On the role university of tampa essay topic the propensity score in comparative semiparametric estimation of average treatment effects.

Strategies for studying behavior change. Efficient estimation of average treatment effects using the estimated propensity score. Matching as nonparametric preprocessing for reducing model dependence in parametric causal inference. Political Analysis 15 3: Google ScholarCrossref Imai, Kosuke. Do get-out-the-vote calls reduce turnout? The importance of statistical methods for field experiments.

American Political Science Review Google ScholarCrossref Kazancigil, Ali. The case case in comparative analysis. Concepts, strategies, substance, ed. Mattei Dogan and Ali Kazancigil Google Scholar Kendall, Patricia L. The methodology of deviant cases in communications research.

In The language of social researched. Lazarsfeld and Morris Rosenberg, First published by Harper and Brothers. Keohane, and Sidney Verba.

Scientific inference in qualitative research. Google Scholar Lakatos, Imre. The methodology of scientific research programmes. Google ScholarCrossref Lijphart, Arend. Comparative politics and the comparative methodology. American Political Science Review 65 3: The comparable comparative strategy in comparative research.

Comparative Political Studies 8: Some social requisites of democracy: Economic development jordan pino thesis political development. American Political Science Review 53 March: Choosing case cases in comparative research. American Political Science Review 98 4: Political study characteristics and transitions, Center for International Development and Conflict Management.

Google Scholar Meckstroth, Theodore.

Case Study

A study in the logic of comparative inquiry. Comparative Political Studies 8 2: Introduction Introduce the situation Describe the problem — why the study was undertaken.

Case Study Research: Foundations and Methodological Orientations | Harrison | Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research

Background reading Describe previous research Give examples Evaluate previous research. Methodology Report what methods you used Explain why you used each methodology. Results Report what you found from each method. Summary Summarise all cases Compare and contrast the comparative studies. Evaluation Evaluate findings in light of background reading.