ATLASResearch
methods
Qualitative/ Research design

Qualitative case study

Keep the case and its context together.

Develop an in-depth understanding of a bounded case in its real-life context. A case might be a programme, organisation, event, or implementation, examined through complementary sources of evidence.

WHEN IT FITS

A how or why question concerns a bounded case, and separating the phenomenon from its context would lose what matters.

Strengths

  • Brings perspectives and evidence sources together.
  • Preserves contextual complexity.
  • Can examine rival explanations within and across cases.

Limitations

  • Unclear case boundaries invite scope drift.
  • Access and evidence integration can be demanding.
  • Generalisation needs an explicit theoretical argument.

Know the boundary

Case study is not inherently qualitative. It can also include quantitative or mixed evidence. This profile emphasises a qualitative application.

USED ACROSS
Banking & financeBusiness & MBAPsychologyComputer scienceEducation
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