ABSTRACT
The methodological versatility of case study research is so established that it spreads broadly and deeply across many human sciences and healthcare disciplines. The popularity of case study research relates to its accessibility as an easy-to-apply approach to investigate human interests. Over time, the proliferation of projects has led to considerable confusion in the demarcation of principles between disciplines and to the ways in which various authors apply case study methods. Therefore, in this chapter my brief is to ameliorate some of the methodological confusion, by providing some guidance in defining case study as research. The origins of case study research give rise to some common assumptions and key concepts, so I will trace these ideas. In the final sections of this chapter, I describe some case study research methods and exemplify them in projects that have been undertaken in the health sciences.
