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Doing Case Study Research: A Practical Guide for Beginning Researchers PDF

121 Pages·2006·0.39 MB·english
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Doing Case Study Research Doing Case Study Research A Practical Guide for Beginning Researchers Dawson R. Hancock Bob Algozzine Teachers College Columbia University New York and London Published by Teachers College Press, 1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027 Copyright © 2006 by Teachers College, Columbia University All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hancock, Dawson R. Doing case study research : a practical guide for beginning researchers / Dawson R. Hancock, Bob Algozzine. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8077-4708-7 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-8077-4707-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8077-4708-4 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8077-4707-6 (pbk : alk. paper) 1. Education—Research—Methodology. 2. Education—Research—Case studies. 3. Case method. I. Algozzine, Robert. II. Title. LB1028.H313 2006 370.7'2—dc22 2006040499 ISBN-13: ISBN-10: 978-0-8077-4707-0 (paper) 0-8077-4707-6 (paper) 978-0-8077-4708-7 (cloth) 0-8077-4708-4 (cloth) Printed on acid-free paper Manufactured in the United States of America 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Preface ix Key Features x Rationale x Course Applications xi Acknowledgments xiii PART I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1. Scientific Inquiry 3 Content Review 6 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 6 2. Qualitative and Quantitative Research 7 Illustrations from Practice 10 Content Review 10 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 10 PART II: STAGES OF DOING CASE STUDY RESEARCH 3. Setting the Stage 15 What Has Been Studied Using Case Study Research? 17 Illustrations from Practice 23 Content Review 24 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 25 4. Determining What We Know 26 How to Do a Literature Review 28 Illustrations from Practice 28 v vi Contents Content Review 29 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 30 5. Selecting a Design 31 Relations Between Design and Method 34 Illustrations from Practice 34 Content Review 38 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 38 6. Gathering Information from Interviews 39 Illustration from Practice 41 Content Review 45 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 45 7. Gathering Information from Observations 46 Design Illustrations 47 Illustrations from Practice 48 Content Review 49 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 50 8. Gathering Information from Documents 51 Authenticity of Documents 52 Questions to Answer When Gathering Information from Documents 53 Illustrations from Practice 53 Content Review 55 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 55 9. Summarizing and Interpreting the Information 56 Design Illustration: Thinking About Method 58 Illustrations from Practice 58 Content Review 60 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 60 10. Reporting Findings 61 How to Synthesize Findings 62 Design Illustration 63 Content Review 64 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 64 11. Confirming Case Study Findings 66 Illustrations from Practice 67 Content Review 68 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 68 Contents vii Part III: Putting It All Together 12. Preparing Proposals for Case Study Research 71 Introduction 71 Review of Literature 72 Method 72 Supporting Materials 73 Frequently Asked Questions About Research Proposals 74 Content Review 77 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 77 13. Disseminating Case Study Research 78 Introduction 79 Method 79 Results 79 Discussion 80 Content Review 81 Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers 81 Epilogue 83 Key Terms 85 References 89 Annotated Bibliography 93 Index 101 About the Authors 106 Preface As university professors teaching quantitative and qualitative methods courses to beginning and advanced graduate students in education and health professions, we are constantly faced with the need for resources that guide novice researchers through the stages of planning and imple- menting studies. This handbook is a guide for doing case study research. The emphasis throughout is on learning how to plan, conduct, and write up a case study research project. Our goal is to provide sufficient struc- ture, detail, and guidance for beginning researchers to get a handle on what it takes to complete a systematic case study. Doing Case Study Research begins with an examination of the scientific method (Chapter 1, Scientific Inquiry) as the context for exploring topolo- gies and procedures used to conduct educational research (Chapter 2, Qualitative and Quantitative Research). The rationale and circumstances for conducting a certain type of research, the case study (Chapter 3, Set- ting the Stage), are followed by a discussion of how to identify literature that informs the research effort (Chapter 4, Determining What We Know). We then describe how to determine an appropriate research design (Chap- ter 5, Selecting a Design) and how to conduct informative interviews (Chapter 6, Gathering Information from Interviews), observations (Chapter 7, Gathering Information from Observations), and document analyses (Chapter 8, Gathering Information from Documents). After describing how data are acquired, we discuss how to derive meaning from them (Chapter 9, Interpreting the Information) and how to communicate results (Chap- ter 10, Reporting Findings). Finally, we describe ways to verify, substan- tiate, and back up the results attained through a case study research effort (Chapter 11, Confirming Findings). Applying the steps examined in this handbook, researchers at all levels will be able to design and conduct a high-quality case study research project. To facilitate understanding, Doing Case Study Research contains many examples that illustrate key concepts contained in the chapters. Sources of additional case study research information are cited throughout the book for those interested in more in-depth information. Finally, each chapter ix

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