Reporting Case-StudiesChapter VI

Dag Nyström

Frank Lüders

Case-Study Reports

• Compose report (format) early in CS– Select form at design time

• Wider audience

• Often comprehensive– ”Book-sized”– Part of multi-method studies

Targeting CS Reports

• Audience– Academia– Popular science– Thesis committees– Research funders

• Different versions of report

• Avoid egocentric perspectiveAvoid egocentric perspective– Understand audiences and their needs

Report Formats- Classic Single-Case Study

• Narrative

• Augment using– Tabular– Pictorial displays

• Typically Book-sized

Report Formats- Multiple-Case Studies

• A set of narrative single CSs

• One CS/chapter

• One [several] cross-case chapter[s]

Report Formats- Questions & Answers

• Not narrative

• Single/multiple case-studies

• Questions based on DB questions– Shortened and edited

• Easier to write– Avoid writers cramp

• Reader can draw direct conclusions

Report Formats- Cross-Case Report

• Not narrative

• Multiple case-studies only

• Cases intertwined in all chapters

• One Chapter/CS-topic

CS Reports as Part of Multi Method Studies

• CS encompasses other methods– Typically chapter in large study

• In overall conclusions:– CS strengthen evidence from other methods

• Triangulation

• CS share the same research questions– “Independent studies show the same result”

Illustrative Structures for CS Compositions

• Six types of structures– Linear analytic structures– Comparative structures– Chronological structures– Theory-building structures– Suspense structures– Unsequenced structures

• All may be used for multiple- or single-case studies

Linear Analytic Structures

• The classical approach for composing research reports– Problem formulation– Relevant prior literature– Methods used– Findings– Conclusions

• Suitable for all types of case studies– Explanatory, descriptive, or exploratory

Comparative Structures

• Repeat the same study two or more times – From different perspectives– Using different descriptive/explanatory models

• An example of pattern-matching at work

• Suitable for– Explanatory and descriptive studies– Not Exploratory???

Chronological Structures

• Present evidence in chronological order

• Sections represent phases of the study

• Suitable for explanatory case studies– Explain = show causal relationships– A cause always occurs before an effect– Maybe also descriptive and exploratory???

• Pitfall: overemphasize early phases– Advisable to draft report backward

Theory-Building Structures

• Sequence of chapters follows some theory-building logic

• May produce very compelling arguments

• Suitable for– Explanatory studies: build causal arguments– Exploratory: debate the value of further

investigating hypotheses and propositions

Suspense Structures

• Present the outcome of the study first

• Reveal evidence afterwards

• The inverse of linear analytical structures

• Suitable for explanatory studies

Unsequenced Structures

• The ordering of the sections or chapters is not important

• Suitable for descriptive studies

Procedures in Doing a CS Report

• When and how to start composing?– You cannot start composing early enough

• Case identities: Real or anonymous?– Avoid anonymity as much as possible

• Review of the draft CS: A validating procedure– Also review by case study subjects

What Makes an Exemplary CS?

• The case study must – be significant– be “complete”– consider alternative perspective– display sufficient evidence– be composed in an engaging manner