Case Study Method

A case study is an in-depth examination of entities (individuals or organizations), processes, or activities that seeks further theoretical understanding and practical knowledge of some phenomenon. This qualitative research tool relies on a variety of techniques to achieve context-rich, detailed information about a single group or issue. Historically, case studies reflect the postmodern view of research, which emphasizes inductive and subjective methods rather than deductive and objective approaches to assessing behavior within context. Case studies have been used extensively in the political science, sociology, and education literature.

Because of the inherent flexibility of this method of study, case studies can be used to move beyond the extant empirical or theoretical literature to investigate creative and innovative solutions to organizationally relevant problems. There are many types of case studies, each reflecting a different method of addressing the research question under investigation. Delbert Miller and Neil Salkind identified four general types of cases:

• 1.
  Intrinsic case: The case (individuals or organizations) itself is of interest. An examination of best practices for Web-based training within a single technologically advanced organization is an example of an intrinsic case study.
• 2.
  Instrumental/illustrative case: The research question involves the examination and description of a specific issue in the context of a single unit of study; the case is used as a means to explore this question. For example, the abuse of skill-based pay plans could be researched in an organization that recently implemented this pay system to illustrate how important guidelines are to appropriate expenditures.
• 3.
  Collective case: Multiple cases (either individuals or organizations) are used to explore an issue. One application of this method could be an examination of selection practices for assembly line workers in four different automotive organizations.
• 4.
  Collective instrumental case: Multiple cases provide evidence in support of a point. For example, organizations that recently implemented a 360-degree feedback system could be selected to support the argument that these systems are most appropriate for developmental purposes.