ABSTRACT
In the previous five chapters we have reported and analysed the results of our case studies of four localities. In this chapter and the next we present the result of another part of our research.
Case studies are useful in gaining a detailed understanding of particular cases and when used comparatively as in Chapter 7 enable one to examine some hypotheses about the reasons for the variation between the cases. However, I share with Hammersley (1992) the view that this intensity does not guarantees privileged access to truth (see Mitchell 1983; Pickvance, 1995). The very intensity of information gathered does not provide unmediated access to causal relationships. The drawback of case studies is that unless one has immense resources the number of cases chosen will be small and the validity of conclusions drawn from them more generally is therefore unknown (Gomm et al., 2000).
