CASE STUDY RESEARCH DESIGN AND MOTHEDS Chapter 4.

Conducting Case Studies: Collecting the Evidence

Author : Robert K. Yin Presenter: Anderson Aesl Lab

LOGO

Outline Introduction Six data sources The three principles for data collection Q&A

1/22

Introduction

Collecting the Evidence for Case Study Research

Six Data Sources

1. Documents 3. Interviews 5. ParticipantObservations 2. Archival Records 4. Direct Observations 6. Physical Artifacts

Three Principles
1. Use Multiple Sources of Evidence 2. Create a Case Study Database 3. Maintain a Chain of Evidence
2/22

SIX DATA SOURCES

3/22

1. Six Data Sources : Documents Documents can refer to letters, memoranda, and other communiques agendas, announcements and minutes of meetings, and other written reports of events administrative documents proposals, progress reports, and other internal records formal studies or evaluations of the same site under study Newspaper clippings and other articles appearing in the mass media or in community newsletters
4/22

1. Six Data Sources : Documents You can use documents to Verify the correct spellings and tiles or names of organizations that might have been mentioned in the interview. Provide other specific details to verify information from other sources. Make inferences But Notice!!! Any document is written for some specific purposes and interests. Be careful not to be misled by the documents we collected.

5/22

2. Six Data Sources : Archival Records Archival records can refer to

service records, such as those showing the number of clients served over a given period of time organizational records, such as organizational charts and budgets over a period of time maps and charts of the geographical characteristics or layouts of a place lists of names and other relevant items survey data, such as census records or data previously collected about a site personal records, such as diaries, calendars, and telephone listing
6/22

2. Six Data Sources : Archival Records Archival records are also produced for a specific purpose and a specific audience and these conditions must be fully appreciated in interpreting the usefulness and accuracy of records.

7/22

3. Six Data Sources : Interviews

Case study interviews are of an open-ended nature. Note that this means you have two jobs
to follow your own line of inquiry, as reflected by your case study protocol to ask your actual questions in an unbiased manner

You can ask key respondents about the facts of a matter and their opinions about events. Sometimes a respondent is not just a respondent. He / She can also play an informant who suggests sources of corroboratory or contrary evidence.
8/22

3. Six Data Sources : Interviews The other type of interview entails more structured questions, along the lines of a formal survey. Which can be designed as part of a case study and produce quantitative data as part of the case study evidence. Overall, interviews are an essential source of case study case study evidence because most case studies are about human affairs.
9/22

4. Six Data Sources : Direct Observation By making a field visit to the case study site, you are creating the opportunity for direct observations. Some relevant behaviors or environmental conditions will be available for observation. This can involve observations of meetings, sidewalk activities, factory work, classrooms and the like. To increase the reliability of observational evidence, a common procedure is to have more than a single observer making an 10/22 observation.

5. Six Data Sources : ParticipantObservation Participant-Observation is a special mode of observation in which you are not merely a passive observer. For examples, Being a resident in a neighborhood that is the subject of a case study. Taking some other functional role in a neighborhood, such as serving as a storekeepers assistant. Serving as a staff member in an organizational setting. Being a key decision maker in an 11/22 organizational setting

5. Six Data Sources : Participant-Observation

Opportunities
To gain access to events or groups that are otherwise inaccessible to scientific investigation To perceive reality from the viewpoint of someone inside the case study May have the ability to manipulate minor events

Problems
May have less ability to work as an external observer May become a supporter of the group or organization being studied May not have sufficient time to take notes or to raise questions about events from different perspectives, as a good observer might If the organization or social group being studied is physically dispersed, the investigator may find it difficult to be at the right place at the right time 12/22

6. Six Data Sources : Physical Artifacts A final source of evidence is a physical or cultural artifact a technology logical device, a tool or instrument, a work of art or some other physical evidence.

13/22

Summary The various sources are highly complementary, and a good case study therefore does not only use one data source. The trained case study investigator should be acquainted with the procedures associated with using each source of evidence.

14/22

THE THREE PRINCIPALS

15/22

Principle 1: Use Multiple Sources of Evidence

The use of multiple sources of evidence in case studies allows an investigator to address a broader range of historical, attitudinal, and behavioral issues. Thus, any finding or conclusion in a case study is likely to be much more convincing and accurate if it is based on several different sources of information.

16/22

Principle 1: Use Multiple Sources of Evidence

Triangulation: Rationale for using multiple sources of evidence. There are four types of triangulation the triangulation
of data sources (data triangulation) among different evaluators ( investigator triangulation) of perspectives to the same data set ( theory triangulation) Of methods (methodological triangulation)

17/22

Principle 1: Use Multiple Sources of Evidence

Prerequisites for using multiple sources of evidence. It is more expensive. The investigator needs to know how to carry out the full variety of data collection techniqes.

18/22

Principle 2: Create a Case Study Database

The lack of a formal database for most case study efforts is a major shortcoming of case study research and needs to be corrected. In doing so, other investigators can review the evidence directly and not to be limited to the written case study reports.

19/22

Principle 2: Create a Case Study Database

The case study database could include the four components. Case study notes ( EX: a results of investigator interviews, observations or document analysis) Case study documents (Ex: any document relevant to a case study) Tabular materials ( EX: survey and other quantitative data) Narratives

20/22

Principle 3: Maintain a Chain of Evidence

Case Study Report

Case Study Database

Citations to Specific Evidentiary Sources in the Case Study Data base

Case Study Protocol (linking questions to protocol topics)

Case Study Questions

21/22

Summary With applying these three principles, the validity and reliability of the case study can be more enhanced.

22/22

Q&A

AeSL, Ambient e-Service Lab

Please visit our website: http://www.aesl.nccu.edu.tw

Research Topics: SOA & SSME (service science)

64, Sec. 2,Zhi-nan Rd., Wenshan, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China,Commerce Building 5F