Exploratory Case Study

Conceptual Overview and Discussion

Since exploratory case studies are by definition often applied in a research context that is not clearly specified and still requires data for the formulation of valid hypotheses, their broad concept provides the researcher with a high degree of flexibility and independence with regard to the research design as well as the data collection, as long as these fulfill the required scientific criteria of validity and reliability. An exploratory case study is therefore not limited in terms of its qualitative or quantitative specificity. However, it is this ostensible high degree of potential options that causes the critics of such studies to question their relevance in terms of research that goes beyond the elementary formulation of hypotheses leading toward continuative research, instead of considering this a valuable methodological approach in itself. It is here where the parallels between exploratory case study research and grounded theory become obvious.

Since the primary aim of exploratory case study is the exploration of the hitherto unknown—in terms of the scientific status quo—it benefits most from cases that make the characteristic investigation field issues easily apparent. An approximate transfer from extreme observations, including single case studies, to the general is common practice. This is especially relevant when the researcher is faced with certain limitations in terms of data access and/or a restrictive research environment in terms of the analyzed phenomenon; that is, where the preliminary collecting of data for eventual generalization is a precondition to develop successive causal studies.

Robert Yin, probably the most prominent and seminal author with regard to case study research in general, defines exploratory case studies as a means to define the necessary questions and hypotheses for developing consecutive studies. He therefore highlights case study research's supportive role in developing continuative social research in general. This includes single and multiple case studies, which can also test proposed research approaches and open possibilities for a variety of subsequent research designs. Yin furthermore emphasizes the controversial status of this particular type of case study research within the scientific community compared to, for example, descriptive or explanatory case studies. The main reason for the controversy caused by exploratory case study is its intuitive approach, which is also its biggest advantage when phenomena are studied that are as yet unrecognized.

Although this definition is in accordance with the position stated in the previous sections, it ignores the usefulness of exploratory case study research in the study of social phenomena in their original context, especially when doing so by other means is difficult or impossible. This might be relevant for other kinds of case study research as well, but it is a predominant characteristic of the intuitive and flexible exploratory case study.

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