Study Questions

Yin, Case Study Research, 2nd ed.

Political Science 5335
Problems in Research Methodology
Southwest Texas State University

Patricia M. Shields

1. Under what conditions should a case study research method be used? Compare these conditions to those of an experiment or history.

2. What are common problems or concerns associated with case study research?

3. What does divorcing a phenomenon form its context mean?

4. What is meant by triangulation? How is it relevant to case studies?

5. Why are propositions (working hypotheses) important in developing a case study design? What propositions did Hendrickson use?

6. What is the difference between an analytic generalization and a statistical generalization?

7. How is it possible for a case study to have multiple units of analysis? What are the implications for data collection? What is an imbedded design?

8. What is the difference between literal and theoretical replication? Why is the distinction useful?

9. Why did Yin maintain that changing purposes would add bias to a case study?

10. What is the difference between testing a hypothesis and substantiating a preconceived position?

11. What is a case study protocol?

12. Compare and contrast document analysis and archival analysis.

13. What is the difference between focuses and open ended interviews?

14. What would a case study data base look like if documents were uses as the source? interviews as the source?

15. How would the notebook method be useful in conducting a case study? What would you include in the notebook? How would you organize it?

16. How can a literature review help a researcher develop a set of theoretical propositions?

17. How does the Texas State University-San Marcos Applied Research Project process facilitate the writing procedures suggested by Yin?



Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System.