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What Is a Case, and What Is a Case Study?

Author

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  • Hervé Dumez

    (i3-CRG - Centre de recherche en gestion i3 - X - École polytechnique - Université Paris-Saclay - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Case study is a common methodology in the social sciences (management, psychology, science of education, political science, sociology). A lot of methodological papers have been dedicated to case study but, paradoxically, the question ‘‘what is a case?'' has been less studied. Hence the fact that researchers conducting a case study are sometimes surprised by what they are experiencing. The paper deals with the problem: Why is a real case study more puzzling than expected, having read the literature on case study? We assume that the answer lies in a paradox: despite what is suggested by the double singular ‘‘case study'', a case study requires a comparative approach. This paper addresses the three fundamental issues one must tackle when doing a case study: What is my case a case of? What is the stuff that my case is made of? What can my case do? (or what do cases do?)

Suggested Citation

  • Hervé Dumez, 2015. "What Is a Case, and What Is a Case Study?," Post-Print hal-01502620, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01502620
    DOI: 10.1177/0759106315582200
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    Cited by:

    1. Albert-Cromarias, Anne & Dos Santos, Catherine, 2020. "Coopetition in healthcare: Heresy or reality? An exploration of felt outcomes at an intra-organizational level," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    2. Marek Ćwiklicki & Kamila Pilch, 2021. "Multiple case study design: the example of place marketing research," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(1), pages 50-62, March.

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