Doing Case Study Research : A Practical Guide for Beginning Researchers

by Hancock, Dawson R.; Algozzine, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780807747070
• ISBN10: 0807747076
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-06-09
• Publisher: Teachers College Pr

Summary

This step-by-step handbook guides beginning researchers through the stages of planning and implementing case studies. Starting with how to establish a rationale for conducting a systematic case study and identifying literature that informs the research effort, this indispensable resource shows students how to determine an appropriate research design and conduct informative interviews, observations and document analyses. It also describes how to derive meaning from data and how to communicate results. Finally, the authors delineate the ways to verify the results attained. Students and advisors can use these easy-to-follow steps to shape a thesis, dissertation, or independent project from conceptualization to completion. There are many concrete examples to illustrate key concepts, and questions, illustrations and activities to reinforce what has been learned.

Author Biography

Dawson R. Hancock is Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bob Algozzine is the codirector of the Behavior and Reading Improvement Center at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Key Features	x
Rationale	x
Course Applications	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
PART I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. Scientific Inquiry	3	(4)
Content Review	6	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	6	(1)
2. Qualitative and Quantitative Research	7	(8)
Illustrations from Practice	10	(1)
Content Review	10	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	10	(5)
PART II: STAGES OF DOING CASE STUDY RESEARCH
3. Setting the Stage	15	(11)
What Has Been Studied Using Case Study Research?	17	(6)
Illustrations from Practice	23	(1)
Content Review	24	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	25	(1)
4. Determining What We Know	26	(5)
How to Do a Literature Review	28	(1)
Illustrations from Practice	28	(1)
Content Review	29	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	30	(1)
5. Selecting a Design	31	(8)
Relations Between Design and Method	34	(1)
Illustrations from Practice	34	(4)
Content Review	38	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	38	(1)
6. Gathering Information from Interviews	39	(7)
Illustration from Practice	41	(4)
Content Review	45	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	45	(1)
7. Gathering Information from Observations	46	(5)
Design Illustrations	47	(1)
Illustrations from Practice	48	(1)
Content Review	49	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	50	(1)
8. Gathering Information from Documents	51	(5)
Authenticity of Documents	52	(1)
Questions to Answer When Gathering Information from Documents	53	(1)
Illustrations from Practice	53	(2)
Content Review	55	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	55	(1)
9. Summarizing and Interpreting the Information	56	(5)
Design Illustration: Thinking About Method	58	(1)
Illustrations from Practice	58	(2)
Content Review	60	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	60	(1)
10. Reporting Findings	61	(5)
How to Synthesize Findings	62	(1)
Design Illustration	63	(1)
Content Review	64	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	64	(2)
11. Confirming Case Study Findings	66	(5)
Illustrations from Practice	67	(1)
Content Review	68	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	68	(3)
Part III: Putting It All Together
12. Preparing Proposals for Case Study Research	71	(7)
Introduction	71	(1)
Review of Literature	72	(1)
Method	72	(1)
Supporting Materials	73	(1)
Frequently Asked Questions About Research Proposals	74	(3)
Content Review	77	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	77	(1)
13. Disseminating Case Study Research	78	(5)
Introduction	79	(1)
Method	79	(1)
Results	79	(1)
Discussion	80	(1)
Content Review	81	(1)
Activities and Applications for Prospective Researchers	81	(2)
Epilogue	83	(2)
Key Terms	85	(4)
References	89	(4)
Annotated Bibliography	93	(8)
Index	101	(5)
About the Authors	106