The problem and the solution. This chapter overviews case study research and proposes a manner in which case study research can contribute to theory building in applied disciplines. Although theory building using case study research has been discussed previously in the literature, there is no clarity as to how case study research can be used to build theory. Moreover, it should not be assumed that there is clarity on the processes of case writing, case studies, or case study research. This chapter presents definitions, purposes, and elements of case study research for the purpose of understanding how case study research can be used to build theory in applied disciplines.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Clardy, A.
(1997). Studying your workforce: Applied research methods and tools for training and development practitioners. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
2.
Eisenhardt, E. M.
(1989). Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532-550.
3.
Gall, M. D.
, Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996). Educational research: An introduction (6th ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
4.
Glaser, B.
(1978). Basics of grounded theory analysis: Emergence vs forcing. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
5.
Glaser, B. G.
, & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine.
6.
Hamel, J.
, Dufour, S., & Fortin, D. (1993). Case study methods. In Qualitative research methods (Series 32). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
7.
Herling, R. W.
, Weinberger, L., & Harris, L. (2000). Case study research: Defined for application in the field of HRD. St. Paul: University of Minnesota, Human Resource Development Research Center.
8.
Jik, T.
(1979). Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods: Triangulation in action. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24, 602-611.
9.
Kardos, G.
, & Smith, C. O. (1979). On writing engineering cases. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education National Conference on Engineering Case Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
10.
Kuhn, T. S.
(1996). The structure of scientific revolutions (3rd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
11.
Lincoln, Y. S.
, & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
12.
Lynham, S. A.
(2000). Theory building in the human resource profession. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 11(2), 159-178.
13.
Lynham, S. A.
(2002). The general method of theory-building research in applied disciplines. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 4(3), 221-241.
14.
Merriam, S. B.
(1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
15.
Merseth, K. K.
(1994). Cases, case methods, and the professional development of educators. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED401272)
16.
Mintzberg, H.
(1979). An emerging strategy of “direct” research. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24, 580-589.
17.
Patterson, C. H.
(1986). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy (4th ed.). San Francisco: Harper & Row.
18.
Soy, S. K. (1996). The case study as a research method. Retrieved December 1, 2001, from University of Texas, Graduate School of Library and Information Science Web site: http: //www. gslis. utexas. edu/~ssoy/usesusers/l391d1b. htm
19.
Stake, R. E.
(1994). Case studies. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 236-246). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
20.
Torraco, R. J.
(1997). Theory building research methods. In R. A. Swanson & E. F. Holton (Eds.), Human resource development research handbook: Linking research and practice (pp. 114-138). San Francisco: Berrett-Kohler.
21.
Yin, R. K.
(1981). The case study crisis: Some answers. Administrative Science Quarterly, 26, 58-65.
22.
Yin, R. K.
(1989). Case study research: Design and methods (Applied Social Research Methods Series, 5). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
23.
Yin, R. K.
(1994). Case study research: Design and methods (Applied Social Research Methods Series, 5, 2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
