Case Study research

• Case study research is useful as it enables studying a particular phenomenon in context

• Often used in business and management research

• It is suitable for answering questions about how, when and why (Yin, 2009)

Activity 1: Case study research

Download the article - "Knowledge sharing in a multi- cultural setting: a case study" Read the Abstract, Methodology section, and Implications for management subsection

• Can you understand what the researchers have done and why?
• Does their interpretation of their findings seem reasonable and defensible?
• Can you relate the case study to other research on the topic?
• Does the study suggest plausible change actions and/or further research directions?

• Yin (2009) also identifies five general characteristics of an exemplary case study: the case study must
• Be significant, Be complete, Consider alternative perspectives, Display sufficient evidence, Composed in an engaging manner

• Critical is the definition of appropriate and relevant research questions when conducting case study research

• One of the main aims of case study research is to understand and explore the case from
the inside
• Develop understanding and sense-making from the perspectives of people in the case (qualitative/non-positivist approach).
• Mapping common patterns and properties and possibly developing theoretical propositions that can be tested and generalised (quantitative/positivist approach).

• Recall: Action research has four components - Action, Research, Collaboration, and Reflexivity

• Action: addressing a real organisational issue
• Research: the discovery process for practical understanding of issue
• Collaboration: the research is with people rather than on or for them
• Reflexivity: requires a constant evaluation of what is going on, and deciding what needs to happen next

Activity 2
• Download the article - "Action research with parkrun UK volunteer organizers to develop inclusive strategies"
• Read the INTRODUCTION and REASEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY sections

• What was the researcher's rationale for choosing action research?

• How would you use action research (or participatory action research methodology) to study a problem in your field or discipline? Who would you need to involve in the project? Why would you choose or reject action research (or participatory action research) as a methodology

• Ask probing questions (and be able to interpret the answers)
• Be an effective listener - not only hearing what you expect or assume you will hear
• Be flexible and responsive to new data gathering opportunities that may present themselves during the research process
• Be alert to, and sensitive to the likelihood of, confusing or contradictory evidence from different stakeholders

Activity 3: Your case brief

• Review your formative case brief with your team

• Review the research aim/objectives/questions

• Would your research be qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods?

• If it involves qualitative research as a strategy, what is your methodological choice?

Attachment:- Case Study research.rar