Case Study Research and Applications
Design and Methods

Sixth Edition

Robert K. Yin - COSMOS Corporation

Other Titles in:
Case Study & Narrative Analysis | Educational Research Methods | Sociological Research Methods

January 2018 | 352 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

The Sixth Edition of Robert K. Yin's bestseller provides a complete portal to the world of case study research. Offering comprehensive coverage of the design and use of the case study method in addition to an integration of applications, the book gives readers access to exemplary case studies drawn from a wide variety of academic and applied fields. The integration of applications will enable users to see more directly how concrete case studies can implement the principles of case study research methods.

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Chapter 1. Getting Started: How to Know Whether and When to Use the Case Study as a Research Method

Being Ready for the Challenge, and Setting High Expectations

Comparing Case Studies With Other Social Science Research Methods

Variations in Case Studies, but a Common Definition

Addressing Traditional Concerns About Case Study Research

Summary

Notes to Chapter 1

Chapter 2. Designing Case Studies: Identifying Your Case(s) and Establishing the Logic of Your Case Study

General Approach to Designing Case Studies

The Role of Theory in Research Designs

Criteria for Judging the Quality of Research Designs

Case Study Research Designs

Modest Advice in Selecting Case Study Designs

Notes to Chapter 2

Application #1: An Exploratory Case Study: How New Organizational Practices Become Routinized

Application #2: Defining the “Case” in a Case Study: Linking Job Training and Economic Development Initiatives at the Local Level

Application #3: How “Discovery” Can Occur in the Field: Social Stratification in a Midsized Community

Chapter 3. Preparing to Collect Case Study Evidence: What You Need to Do Before Starting to Collect Case Study Data

The Case Study Researcher: Desired Skills and Values

Preparation and Training for a Specific Case Study

The Case Study Protocol

Screening the Candidate Cases for Your Case Study

The Pilot Case Study

Summary

Notes to Chapter 3

Chapter 4. Collecting Case Study Evidence: The Principles You Should Follow in Working With Six Sources of Evidence

Six Sources of Evidence

Four Principles of Data Collection

Summary

Notes to Chapter 4

Application #4: Doing Interviews in the Field: Citizens on Patrol

Application #5: Making Field Observations: First Day in an Urban Neighborhood

Application #6: Assembling a Question-and-Answer Database: A Case Study of a Community Organization

Chapter 5. Analyzing Case Study Evidence: How to Start Your Analysis, Your Analytic Choices, and How They Work

An Analytic Strategy: More Than Relying on Analytic Tools

Five Analytic Techniques

Pressing for a High-Quality Analysis

Summary

Notes to Chapter 5

Application #7: Using a Case Study to Compare Directly Competing Rival Hypotheses: Whether Military Base Closures Produce Catastrophic Economic Impacts or Not

Application #8: A Nutshell Example of an Explanatory Case Study: How a Federal Award Affected a University Computer Department

Application #9: An Explanatory Case Study: Transforming a Business Firm Through Strategic Planning

Chapter 6. Reporting Case Studies: How and What to Compose

Audiences for Case Study Research

Varieties of Case Study Compositions

Procedures in Composing a Case Study

What Makes an Exemplary Case Study?

Notes to Chapter 6

Application #10: A Multiple-Case Study Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Data: Proposal Processing at 17 Universities

Appendix A. A Note on the Uses of Case Study Research in Psychology

Appendix B. A Note on the Uses of Case Study Research in Evaluations

Application #11: An Evaluation Case Study: Evaluation of a Community Coalition’s Campaign

Brief Glossary of Terms Directly Related to Case Study Research

References

Author Index

Subject Index

Supplements

Instructor Teaching Site

Password-protected Instructor Resources include the following:

An expanded glossary provided by the author in the form of downloadable Briefs.
Additional tutorials written by the author which correspond to Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.
A selection of author Robert Yin's SAGE journal articles.
Tables and figures from the book available for download.

Student Resource Site
The open-access Student Study Site includes a selection of author Robert Yin's SAGE journal articles.

“The book is filled with tips to the researcher on how to master the craft of doing research overall and specifically how to account for multi-layered cases.”

Asta Zelenkauskaite

Drexel University

“Yin covers all of the basic and advanced knowledge for conducting case study and why they are useful for specific research studies without getting lost in the weeds.”

Michael A Guerra

Lincoln University

“The applications enhance the original material because it gives the reader concrete examples.”

Claretha Hughes

University of Arkansas

“Yin is much more in-depth on case study methods both within a general qualitative text and any other case study text I have seen.”

David M. Sprick, PhD

Park University

On demand used as recommendation for basic literature for case study research

Mrs Stefanie Neumeister

Economics and Social Science Faculty, University of Rostock

May 4, 2023

Report this review

An essential reading for people doing case studies.

Miss May Chen

School of Nursing (Canterbury), Canterbury Christ Church University

September 27, 2023

Report this review

very thoruogh introduction

Professor Gernot Gehrke

Communications, Hannover University of Applied Sci And Arts

October 10, 2021

Report this review

Very good introduction to Case Study design. I have used case study approach for my PhD study. I would recommend this book for an indepth understanding of case study design for research projects.

Dr Siew Lee
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

Dr Siew Lee

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Robert Gordon University

November 2, 2021

Report this review

The book is a really good introduction to case study research and is full of useful examples. I will recommend as the definitive source for students interested in pursuing this further in their projects.

Dr Peter Hemming

School of Education, Brighton University

February 4, 2021

Report this review

In our Doctor of Ministerial Leadership (DML), Case Study is the Methodology that is required in this program. Robert Yin's book provides the foundational knowledge needed to conduct research using his Case Study design.

Dr Michael W. Langston

Chaplaincy Ministries, Columbia International Univ

February 28, 2020

Report this review