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Case Study Research in Practice
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Case Study Research in Practice



March 2009 | 200 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Case Study Research in Practice explores the theory and practice of case study research. Helen Simons draws on her extensive experience of teaching and conducting case study to provide a comprehensive and practical account of how to design, conduct and communicate case study research. It addresses questions often raised by students and common misconceptions about case research. In four sections the book covers

- Rationale, concept and design of case study research

- Methods, ethics and reflexivity in case study

- Interpreting, analyzing and reporting the case

- Generalizing and theorizing in case study research

Rich with 'tales from the field' and summary memos as an aide-memoire to future action, the book provides fresh insights and challenges for researchers to guide their practice of case study research.

This is an ideal text for those studying and conducting case study research in education, health and social care, and related social science disciplines.

Helen Simons is Professor Emeritus of Education University of Southampton

 
PART ONE: GETTING STARTED
 
Evolution and Concept of Case Study Research
 
Planning, Designing, Gaining Access
 
Listen, Look, Document: Methods in Case Study Research
 
PART TWO: IN THE FIELD
 
Who Are They? Studying Others
 
Who Are We? Studying Our 'Self '
 
Whose Data Are They? Ethics in Case Study Research
 
Mid-term Letter
 
PART THREE: MAKING SENSE
 
Begin at the Beginning: Analysis and Interpretation
 
From Data to Story: Examples in Practice
 
PART FOUR: TELLING THE STORY
 
Start at Any Point: Reporting and Writing
 
Dispelling Myths in Case Study Research

'This is a particularly useful book for educational research students, for researchers looking to use case study methods for the first time, or for those about to teach a course on case study methods...For a book on research methodology, this is also a remarkably lively read. A case study is like great art, to adapt Simons' quote from MacDonald and Walker, in which 'content and intent emerge in form'. As such, Simons has written a manual for creating great art in educational research' -
Teacher Development


'Practical and immensely helpful… With its highly readable style, it is well suited to the needs of research students. Throughout it addresses the practicalities at a level that connects immediately to thorny issues in relation to the quality of the data, the quality of the analysis: in short the quality of the research' - Jane Payler, University of Winchester


'…unravelling the complexity of 'the case'…makes this kind of research very challenging. This book provides a practical and reflective approach to doing case study research and will be a valuable resource for students, supervisors and researchers' - Professor Brendan McCormack, University of Ulster


'From soundings of the depths of her experience in art, teaching, cinema, program evaluation and policy study, Helen Simons brings counsel to the making of case studies. She locates… particularization and situated generalization centrally in qualitative inquiry, an inquiry that reckons with story telling and contested meaning as much as with the functional relationships of social science'- Professor Robert E. Stake, University of Illinois'


'This book prompts readers and researchers to consider ways in which the robustness of their work can be improved. It is the clarity with which this is achieved and the encouragement it provides to readers that are the real strengths of this book' - Nurse Researcher


great and helpful book to be recommended

Mrs Imelda Hatton-Yeo
School of Public Health & Clinical Sci, University of Central Lancashire
September 22, 2016

This book is great for students who want to learn more about case study research. Giving great insight how researchers develop their case study research.

Mrs Susan Simpson
Scarborough Campus, Hull University
June 25, 2015

Case study research is often misunderstood, how to carry it out in practice is also subject to many myths and misconceptions. This book allows students to see how they should conduct a case study in real life. It is a good guide and a useful addition to any set of texts on methods for MA students.

James Williams
Sussex School of Education, Sussex University
September 1, 2015

Case study reserach is often misunderstood, how to carry it out in practice is also subject to many myths and misconceptions. This book allows students to see how they should conduct a case study in real life. It is a good guide and a useful addition to any set of texts on methods for MA students.

James Williams
Sussex School of Education, Sussex University
September 1, 2015

Provides a good insight into the case study approach.

Ms Aoife Cooney
Business & Social Sciences, Sligo Institute of Technology
April 7, 2015

Extremely well written, detailed and informative text book that will appeal to, and help, any researcher considering using a case study approach. Quite pragmatic, but with essential theory and a good chapter on ethical issues to consider. Lays out key concepts in aappropriate language for UG and PG students.

Mr Andrew Holmes
Centre for Educational Studies, Hull University
March 23, 2015

This is an excellent book for guiding students generally. Explanations are given with clarity and I specifically recommend it for the design stage of a case study and strongly suggest that students return to this book for guidance when writing up of the methodology chapter.

Ms Margaret Bunting
The Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia
January 7, 2015

An excellent guide for those undertaking case study research. Logically presented and clearly discussed

Dr Valerie Larkin
Public Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University
December 23, 2014

A useful text that students could use to support their methodology.

Miss Alyson Lewis
Newport School of Education, University of Wales, Newport
March 6, 2014

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