Case Studies Case Study Research 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which analytic technique compares an empirically observed pattern with a pattern predicted before data collection?
- Pattern matching (Correct answer)
- Open coding
- Factor analysis
- Snowball sampling
Correct answer: Pattern matching
Pattern matching compares predicted patterns with observed ones, strengthening internal validity when they coincide.
Question 2: Explanation building as an analytic strategy in case studies is best described as:
- An iterative process of revising causal propositions as evidence is examined (Correct answer)
- A one-time statistical test of a hypothesis
- A method for randomizing case selection
- A way to transcribe interviews verbatim
Correct answer: An iterative process of revising causal propositions as evidence is examined
Explanation building iteratively refines theoretical propositions against case evidence until a coherent explanation emerges.
Question 3: A researcher studying a hospital merger interviews executives, reviews board minutes, and observes staff meetings. This combination illustrates:
- Data source triangulation (Correct answer)
- Statistical generalization
- Member checking
- Deductive coding
Correct answer: Data source triangulation
Using interviews, documents, and observations on the same phenomenon is triangulation of data sources.
Question 4: What is the main threat when a case study relies heavily on interviews conducted long after the events occurred?
- Retrospective bias and inaccurate recall by informants (Correct answer)
- Excessive external validity
- Too much observer intrusion in real time
- Over-reliance on archival records
Correct answer: Retrospective bias and inaccurate recall by informants
Retrospective accounts are vulnerable to memory distortion and post-hoc rationalization by informants.
Question 5: In case study reporting, a 'chain of evidence' allows the reader to:
- Trace each conclusion back through the data to the original research questions (Correct answer)
- Skip the methodology section entirely
- Generalize findings to a statistical population
- Verify that the sample was randomly drawn
Correct answer: Trace each conclusion back through the data to the original research questions
A chain of evidence links research questions, protocol, data, and conclusions so readers can follow the derivation in either direction.
Question 6: Which sampling logic is most characteristic of case study research?
- Purposeful selection of information-rich cases (Correct answer)
- Simple random sampling for representativeness
- Systematic sampling at fixed intervals
- Cluster sampling of geographic regions
Correct answer: Purposeful selection of information-rich cases
Case studies purposefully select cases expected to yield the richest insight, not statistically representative samples.
Question 7: Rival explanations are addressed in case study analysis primarily to:
- Strengthen internal validity by ruling out alternative causes (Correct answer)
- Increase the sample size of the study
- Eliminate the need for triangulation
- Convert qualitative data into quantitative form
Correct answer: Strengthen internal validity by ruling out alternative causes
Explicitly testing and ruling out plausible rival explanations bolsters the credibility of the causal inference.
Case Studies Case Study Research 3
Which analytic technique compares an empirically observed pattern with a pattern predicted before data collection?