CONTENTS
Preface viii
1 What is a case study? 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Phenomena and cases 5
1.3 Historical background 10
1.4 Methodological point of departure 12
1.5 Definition 12
1.6 Additional remarks about the definition 14
1.7 An holistic approach? 8
1.8 Conclusions 21
Exercises' 22
Keyterms 23
2 When to conduct a case study? 24
2.1 Introduction : 24
2.2 Research questions 25
2.3 Specific conditions 33
2.4 Further considerations 35:
2.5 Conclusions 41
Exercises 43
Keyterms 44
3 How to select cases? 45
3.1 Introduction 45
3.2 Demarcation of the domain 47
3.3 No selection at all 50
3.4 Random selection 51
3.5 Pragmatic grounds 52
3.6 Substantive criteria 52
3.7 The problem of generalisation 66
3.8 Conclusions 70
Exercises 72
Key terms 72
4 What data to collect? 73
4.1 Introduction 73
4.2 Data and theories .76
4.3 An application of theory 77
4.4 Causality 88
4.5 Conclusions 95
Exercises 96
Key terms 96
5 How to enrich your case study data? 97
5.1 Introduction: degrees of freedom ,; 97
5.2 Increasing the number of measurement points in time , 99
5.3 Introducing sub-units ... 101
5.4 Increasing the number of cases 104
5.5 Increasing the number of predictions , 106
5.6 Using several gradations of the independent variables 108
5.7 Diversifying methods of collecting data 108
5.8 Diversifying researchers , 109
5.9 Presenting results to participants and using their opinions
as extra data 110
5.10 Conclusions .,. 112
Exercises 112
Key terms 112
6 How to analyse ydttr data? 113
6.1 Introduction 113
6.2 Five traditions 114
6.3 Analysis 124
6.4 Limits of tabulations on qualitative data- 130
6.5 Conclusions 134
Exercises 135
Key terms 135
7 Assets and opportunities 136
7.1 Styles of reporting 136
7.2 Combining intensive and extensive approaches 139
7.3 Generalising from the user's perspective 146
7.4 Meta-analysis 148
7.5 The efficiency of case studies 150
7.6 Epilogue 151
Key terms 152
Appendix 1 Selected literature on case studies 153
Appendix 2 The political science debate on case studies 157
Appendix 3 A note on triangulation 160
Appendix 4 A note on contamination 162
Bibliography 163
Author Index 174
Subject Index 177