The Art Of Case Study Research

Rating:
Summary: Not for the graduate student/professional
Review: Availability of books on case study methodology remains limited. Case study as a method of research - used particularly among social scientists - is still developing as a reputable approach. This book was appropriate for lower division, undergraduate students - but woefully inadequate for the upper division or graduate student and/or practitioner.

Related to the content, this book failed to provide a comprehensive listing of research appropriate for case study methods - especially over other methods. Qualitative methods were adequately covered, but appropriate uses of available quantitative data often found within case studies were not addressed. The book covered triangulation principles but did not regonize other uses of data in case study research - in particluar the essential role of documentation of protocol to ensure replicability of methods by other researchers. The discussion about sources of data was incomplete and failed to illustrate the relative strengths and weaknesses of each and potential remedies to reduce weaknesses. The author only provided a few common modes of analysis without covering other legitimate means. Throughout the book, the author provided little reference to prior research done on the subject under discussion for a researcher to explore further nor was there any particluar recognition of the contribution of other theorists to the field.

Related to the style, this book used a lot of reference symbols throughout that were distracting to the reader without adding any particular benefit. All of the examples used were from the education field making it difficult for the reader to draw parallels to other fields and maintain interest. The book did not use adequate illustration or presentation of information in tables and formats usually successfully presented in simlar materials. The information was presented in a "lecture" and "exercise" teaching style that is to simple for a learned student or professional.

I gained no "new" knowledge from reading this book and it was a frustrating waste of my time, money and effort. Your mileage may vary!

Rating:
Summary: For the fellow students in KOREA
Review: I am a high school teacher of physics in KOREA and also working on science research as a graduate student.
We choose this book as a text book in the class named advanced research of physics class at graduate course for the education.
This book doesn¡¯t have complete and detailed guide into conducting case study research and not so many example as well. But the contents are delivered in synchronized order and style. And it's goal and reasons for why we doing case study research are clearly mentioned and referred, and more over it includes workshop activities at the end of each chapter.
In that respect this book is right on target for academic researchers using a case study approach.

Rating:
Summary: Great for those working on a dissertation
Review: If you're looking for a practial book on completing a case study this is it! The chapters are organized in such a way that the process is laid out and easily understood. The book is reader friendly and doesn't spend much time in the technical aspect of case study. It allows the reader to understand and then sit down and get to work. I've read several books dealing with case study and this one I found most useful. It is written during the authors time of teaching a course. The benefit of the book for the reader is that you most likely don't have time to take a course specifically on case study and can read the book in place of taking the course!I am much further ahead in the completion of my own dissertation case study since I've read the book. I recommend it to anyone moving in this direction and believe that you will find it understandable, useful, and key in your successful completion of a case study. Wow - what a find!

Rating:
Summary: Great for those working on a dissertation
Review: If you're looking for a practial book on completing a case study this is it! The chapters are organized in such a way that the process is laid out and easily understood. The book is reader friendly and doesn't spend much time in the technical aspect of case study. It allows the reader to understand and then sit down and get to work. I've read several books dealing with case study and this one I found most useful. It is written during the authors time of teaching a course. The benefit of the book for the reader is that you most likely don't have time to take a course specifically on case study and can read the book in place of taking the course!I am much further ahead in the completion of my own dissertation case study since I've read the book. I recommend it to anyone moving in this direction and believe that you will find it understandable, useful, and key in your successful completion of a case study. Wow - what a find!