Reporting Case-Studies Chapter VI

1. Reporting Case-StudiesChapter VI Dag Nyström Frank Lüders

2. Case-Study Reports • Compose report (format) early in CS • Select form at design time • Wider audience • Often comprehensive • ”Book-sized” • Part of multi-method studies

3. Targeting CS Reports • Audience • Academia • Popular science • Thesis committees • Research funders • Different versions of report • Avoid egocentric perspective • Understand audiences and their needs

4. Report Formats- Classic Single-Case Study • Narrative • Augment using • Tabular • Pictorial displays • Typically Book-sized

5. Report Formats- Multiple-Case Studies • A set of narrative single CSs • One CS/chapter • One [several] cross-case chapter[s]

6. Report Formats- Questions & Answers • Not narrative • Single/multiple case-studies • Questions based on DB questions • Shortened and edited • Easier to write • Avoid writers cramp • Reader can draw direct conclusions

7. Report Formats- Cross-Case Report • Not narrative • Multiple case-studies only • Cases intertwined in all chapters • One Chapter/CS-topic

8. CS Reports as Part of Multi Method Studies • CS encompasses other methods • Typically chapter in large study • In overall conclusions: • CS strengthen evidence from other methods • Triangulation • CS share the same research questions • “Independent studies show the same result”

9. Illustrative Structures for CS Compositions • Six types of structures • Linear analytic structures • Comparative structures • Chronological structures • Theory-building structures • Suspense structures • Unsequenced structures • All may be used for multiple- or single-case studies

10. Linear Analytic Structures • The classical approach for composing research reports • Problem formulation • Relevant prior literature • Methods used • Findings • Conclusions • Suitable for all types of case studies • Explanatory, descriptive, or exploratory

11. Comparative Structures • Repeat the same study two or more times • From different perspectives • Using different descriptive/explanatory models • An example of pattern-matching at work • Suitable for • Explanatory and descriptive studies • Not Exploratory???

12. Chronological Structures • Present evidence in chronological order • Sections represent phases of the study • Suitable for explanatory case studies • Explain = show causal relationships • A cause always occurs before an effect • Maybe also descriptive and exploratory??? • Pitfall: overemphasize early phases • Advisable to draft report backward

13. Theory-Building Structures • Sequence of chapters follows some theory-building logic • May produce very compelling arguments • Suitable for • Explanatory studies: build causal arguments • Exploratory: debate the value of further investigating hypotheses and propositions

14. Suspense Structures • Present the outcome of the study first • Reveal evidence afterwards • The inverse of linear analytical structures • Suitable for explanatory studies

15. Unsequenced Structures • The ordering of the sections or chapters is not important • Suitable for descriptive studies

16. Procedures in Doing a CS Report • When and how to start composing? • You cannot start composing early enough • Case identities: Real or anonymous? • Avoid anonymity as much as possible • Review of the draft CS: A validating procedure • Also review by case study subjects

17. What Makes an Exemplary CS? • The case study must • be significant • be “complete” • consider alternative perspective • display sufficient evidence • be composed in an engaging manner