Your guide to case study research

Case study is a popular approach that allows researchers to develop and present an in-depth view of a particular situation, event or entity. But developing a rich case study, with the texture, detail and critical insight to make it valuable in its field, poses a significant challenge. Your guide to case study research serves both as a practical, step-by-step guide to conducting a case study and a critical engagement with key research issues involving case study. Your guide to case study research provides both practical and theoretical perspectives and draws on African examples to illustrate the approach. It includes practical activities to help develop and apply skills.
Contents include:
Understanding case study (definitions, types, strengths and limitations)
Developing a focus
Dealing with context and generating questions
Data gathering methods and strategies of data analysis and interpretation
Addressing issues of power, ethics, trustworthiness and generalisability
 
Your guide to case study research will be of value to researchers, academics and research students in the social sciences and education.
Dr Peter Rule is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, specialising in research methodology and adult education, and is an academic coordinator on the PhD programme. His published research includes several case studies and he has conducted commissioned research for UNICEF and the World Bank.
Dr Vaughn John is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the coordinator of the Peace Education Programme. He is an active researcher with recently published research on community development, HIV & AIDS and peace education.