The Case Study Method

Examining conceptions of place and community development efforts requires robust methodological design due to the complex social and physical processes involved. The case study method offers ways to analyze these complex processes using various subunits of analysis. This paper will discuss the case study as a method and discuss how this can be applied to my own research. The second part of the paper will discuss survey methods, an important tool in the case study approach. Case Studies

The case study as a method is defined as “an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon (the “case”) in depth and within a real world context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context may not be clearly evident” (Yin 16). It will typically have various variables of interest and use “multiple sources of evidence”, therefore stressing the need for a triangulated approach (Yin 17). When and why case studies should be used largely depends on the research question, control over behavioral events, and focus on contemporary events. In a case study, the research question looks at how and/or why something occurs, has no control over behavioral events and focuses on contemporary events. All of these components are what make case studies different from other common research methods.

The primary concerns include rigor, teaching, generalizing, effort, and comparative advantage. The greatest concern asks whether this method is rigorous enough. Yin (2014) argues the solution is to avoid sloppy practice and use multiple methods. When it comes to using case studies in teaching, people often confuse research with the type of case studies seen in the classroom, which are typically altered. To reduce this false perception, it is necessary to report evidence fairly and pay careful attention to