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methods
ACROSS FAMILIES/ Research design

Single and multiple case study: Yin tradition

Bound cases and test analytic propositions

The Yin tradition investigates a contemporary phenomenon in context using a specified case, unit of analysis and multiple evidence sources. Single-case designs require a substantive rationale; multiple-case designs use literal or theoretical replication logic. Either can be holistic or contain embedded units. These distinctions concern design structure, not the number of interviewees.

WHEN IT FITS

Use for how or why questions where context and phenomenon are closely connected, with access to bounded cases, multiple evidence sources and propositions or a clear exploratory rationale.

Strengths

  • Makes case boundaries and evidence chains explicit
  • Multiple cases can examine anticipated similarities and theoretically meaningful contrasts

Limitations

  • Strong protocols can restrict attention to unexpected meanings
  • Multiple cases substantially increase access and analytic demands

Know the boundary

An embedded unit is a unit within a case; it does not automatically mean embedded mixed methods.

USED ACROSS
Banking & financeBusiness & MBAPsychologyComputer scienceEducation
CONNECTED METHODS