Conclusions: Principles for Doing Case Study Research

Abstract

Synopsis

Chapter 18 closes the book with twelve principles relevant for doing case study research. The chapter includes brief discussions of specific must-read literature for each principle. The discussion also emphasizes that accuracy (validity) comes first, not generality. The chapter emphasizes that the dominant logic in seeking generality by using surveys whereby informants write-out answers, tick boxes, and never have the opportunity to answer questions that they themselves frame fails to deliver accuracy except possibly when informants are describing evaluating their own recent experiences (see Chapter 2 for further details). The following key thoughts signify the twelve principles:

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  Configural not net effects

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  Unconscious not conscious thinking

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  Dynamic not cross sectional designs

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  Multiple routes not one model only

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  Predictive validity not only a best fitting model

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  Context not context free

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  Conjunctive-disjunctive not compensatory decision-making

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  Systems thinking not independent versus dependent conditions

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  Multi-person not one-person

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  Satisfy not optimize decisions

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  Unobtrusive evidence not just obtrusive interviews or observations

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  Visual not just verbal data collection and interpretation.

If we are concerned about the imprecision of case studies as research data, we can console ourselves by noting that a man named Darwin was able to write about a study of the Galapagos Islands and a few other cases. To the best of my recollection, there are not statistics in Darwin's book (Simon, 1991, p. 128).

Citation

Woodside, A.G. (2016), "Conclusions: Principles for Doing Case Study Research", Case Study Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 489-500. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78560-461-420152031