case study

Exploratory

Also known as pilot studies. This type of case study is typically used when a researcher wants to identify research questions and methods of study for a large, complex study.

case study

Both a method of analysis and a specific research design for examining a problem Relies on a single case rather than a population or sample

Critical instance

Conducted when a researcher wants to understand what happened with a unique event and/or to challenge commonly held assumptions about it that may be faulty due to a lack of critical understanding.

Illustrative

Descriptive in nature and designed to shed light on a particular situation, set of circumstances, and the social relations and processes that are embedded in them.

key cases, outlier cases, local knowledge

There are three (3) primary types of case studies.

Cumulative

Those in which a researcher pulls together already completed case studies on a particular topic.

Outlier cases

Those that are chosen because the case stands out from other events, organizations, or situations, for some reason, and social scientists recognize that we can learn a lot from those things that differ from the norm.

key cases

Those which are chosen because the researcher has ​a particular interest in it or the circumstances surrounding it.

Local knowledge

When the researcher has already amassed a usable amount of information about a given topic, person, organization, or event, and so is well-poised to conduct a study of it.

illustrative, exploratory, cumulative, critical instance

Within these types, a case study may take four (4) different forms.