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Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences
In this Handbook, Peter Rule and Vaughn M. John bring together international experts to provide a thorough overview of case study research in the social sciences. Analysing both historical and contemporary examples, the Handbook contains a comprehensive grounding for both experienced and novice researchers in case study theory and methodology, drawing out the challenges as well as the prospects for its development.
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Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
In this Handbook, Peter Rule and Vaughn M. John bring together international experts to provide a thorough overview of case study research in the social sciences. Analysing both historical and contemporary examples, the Handbook contains a comprehensive grounding for both experienced and novice researchers in case study theory and methodology, drawing out the challenges as well as the prospects for its development.
The Handbook elaborates on the foundational issues of case study research, for instance meaning-making, definition, context and theory. Chapter authors examine methodological dimensions, including single and multiple case study design, methods of data collection, analysis and presentation, and the relation of case study to narrative and ethnographical research. They deploy an interdisciplinary approach across education, anthropology, psychotherapy, social work, public administration and business ethics and draw connections between the local and the global.
Spanning a range of disciplines and fields, this Handbook is a vital resource for students and scholars of the social sciences with an interest in case study methodology, as well as academics who use case studies in their research.
The Handbook elaborates on the foundational issues of case study research, for instance meaning-making, definition, context and theory. Chapter authors examine methodological dimensions, including single and multiple case study design, methods of data collection, analysis and presentation, and the relation of case study to narrative and ethnographical research. They deploy an interdisciplinary approach across education, anthropology, psychotherapy, social work, public administration and business ethics and draw connections between the local and the global.
Spanning a range of disciplines and fields, this Handbook is a vital resource for students and scholars of the social sciences with an interest in case study methodology, as well as academics who use case studies in their research.
Critical Acclaim
‘As a professor teaching a graduate course on case study research methodology, I look forward to incorporating Rule and John’s Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences into my curriculum. I particularly appreciate the book’s clear structure, focusing on the foundations and methodological dimensions of CSR, along with examples from various fields and disciplines. Chapter 5 by Rule and Chapter 6 by Spooner and Myres offer important insights into the relationship between CSR and theory, answering questions that frequently arise among my students. Although the chapters span many disciplines, my field of health services, systems, and policy remains unaddressed—a gap I encourage the editors to explore in future editions. Overall, a welcome addition to the CSR methodology literature!’
– Mark Dobrow, University of Toronto, Canada
‘The Edward Elgar Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences edited by Peter Rule and Vaughn M. John showcases the high potential and flexibility of case study research. The emphasis on narrative, relationality, context, ethnography, and participatory research makes the Handbook highly relevant and significant for undertaking research on social problems relevant to our times, from decolonization to business ethics, counselling and beyond. The Handbook’s breadth, evident in academic disciplines it spans and philosophical approaches it covers, is certain to ensure its relevance across time. The Edward Elgar Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences offers a fresh take on case study research while demonstrating the value of case study research for all social science disciplines.’
– Gabrielle Durepos, Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada
‘Case study research is ubiquitous in the field of adult and continuing education. The editors did a great service to the field through their book, Your Guide to Case Study Research (2011). This Handbook takes understandings of case study research to a new level by expanding and deepening engagement with case study research across disciplines and fields. This is a welcome addition to the literature and will, like their previous book, become an indispensable reference for case study researchers globally.’
– Shirley Walters, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
– Mark Dobrow, University of Toronto, Canada
‘The Edward Elgar Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences edited by Peter Rule and Vaughn M. John showcases the high potential and flexibility of case study research. The emphasis on narrative, relationality, context, ethnography, and participatory research makes the Handbook highly relevant and significant for undertaking research on social problems relevant to our times, from decolonization to business ethics, counselling and beyond. The Handbook’s breadth, evident in academic disciplines it spans and philosophical approaches it covers, is certain to ensure its relevance across time. The Edward Elgar Handbook of Case Study Research in the Social Sciences offers a fresh take on case study research while demonstrating the value of case study research for all social science disciplines.’
– Gabrielle Durepos, Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada
‘Case study research is ubiquitous in the field of adult and continuing education. The editors did a great service to the field through their book, Your Guide to Case Study Research (2011). This Handbook takes understandings of case study research to a new level by expanding and deepening engagement with case study research across disciplines and fields. This is a welcome addition to the literature and will, like their previous book, become an indispensable reference for case study researchers globally.’
– Shirley Walters, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Contents
Contents
1 Introduction: case study research in the social sciences 1
Peter Rule
PART I FOUNDATIONS
2 Case study as meaning making 16
Malcolm Tight
3 Knowledge and knowing in case study research: towards a relational
epistemology 31
Peter Rule and Bedrettin Yazan
4 Studying a case in context 51
Vaughn M. John
5 Theory and theorizing in case study research 67
Peter Rule
6 Building theoretical frameworks from an intrinsic single case and
a diverse multi-case study: a comparison 88
Vivienne Spooner and Kerrin Myres
PART II METHODOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS
7 Multiple case study design 112
Veena Vohra
8 Navigating participatory methods in childhood research: a qualitatively
driven approach to case study design 131
Jane Spiteri
9 Case study and narrative 149
Mariette Volschenk
10 Case study and ethnography 172
Joan M. Verd and Germán Quaranta
PART III CASE STUDY IN FIELDS AND DISCIPLINES
11 Case study research in education: considering possible paradoxes and concerns 194
Lorna Hamilton
12 The invention of the case study method in anthropology: first steps to
decolonise knowledge in colonial and postcolonial societies 215
Karen Sykes
13 Case study research in social work 231
Ian F. Shaw, Mark Hardy, and Peter Sommerfeld
14 Case study research in counselling and psychotherapy 248
David Edwards
15 Case study research in public administration: analytical framework and
systematic review 272
J.S. (Kobus) Wessels and J.N. Zongozzi
16 Methodology for case studies in business ethics 301
Jacob Dahl Rendtorff
17 Case study at the nexus of the global and the local 309
Adriana Nunez-Picado and Kirsten Martinus
18 Concluding reflections on case study research and its prospects 329
Vaughn M. John
1 Introduction: case study research in the social sciences 1
Peter Rule
PART I FOUNDATIONS
2 Case study as meaning making 16
Malcolm Tight
3 Knowledge and knowing in case study research: towards a relational
epistemology 31
Peter Rule and Bedrettin Yazan
4 Studying a case in context 51
Vaughn M. John
5 Theory and theorizing in case study research 67
Peter Rule
6 Building theoretical frameworks from an intrinsic single case and
a diverse multi-case study: a comparison 88
Vivienne Spooner and Kerrin Myres
PART II METHODOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS
7 Multiple case study design 112
Veena Vohra
8 Navigating participatory methods in childhood research: a qualitatively
driven approach to case study design 131
Jane Spiteri
9 Case study and narrative 149
Mariette Volschenk
10 Case study and ethnography 172
Joan M. Verd and Germán Quaranta
PART III CASE STUDY IN FIELDS AND DISCIPLINES
11 Case study research in education: considering possible paradoxes and concerns 194
Lorna Hamilton
12 The invention of the case study method in anthropology: first steps to
decolonise knowledge in colonial and postcolonial societies 215
Karen Sykes
13 Case study research in social work 231
Ian F. Shaw, Mark Hardy, and Peter Sommerfeld
14 Case study research in counselling and psychotherapy 248
David Edwards
15 Case study research in public administration: analytical framework and
systematic review 272
J.S. (Kobus) Wessels and J.N. Zongozzi
16 Methodology for case studies in business ethics 301
Jacob Dahl Rendtorff
17 Case study at the nexus of the global and the local 309
Adriana Nunez-Picado and Kirsten Martinus
18 Concluding reflections on case study research and its prospects 329
Vaughn M. John
