ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies what a case study is and what constitutes a case (which is problematical), what are its key elements and different kinds of case study (e.g. descriptive, exploratory, explanatory, evaluative, interpretative). The chapter notes that case studies have a time dimension and can be single-time, longitudinal and cumulative. It examines the advantages and disadvantages of case study and considers issues of generalizability, validity, reliability and sampling in case study research. The chapter provides practical advice on the planning, conduct and reporting of case study, and it gives examples of different case study designs, stages, methods of data collection and kinds of data. It provides different ways of writing up case studies and characteristics of each way. Finally, the chapter suggests a range of characteristics and skills of an effective case study researcher, including personal, interpersonal, academic and organizational matters.
