Virtually every piece of qualitative research is a case study of something. For example, if you plan to interview a set of individuals who all have similar connections to topic X, you could call that "A Case Study of X."

Since you are reading Charmaz, you will see that GT in general (and not just Constructivist GT) typically relies on interviews with people who share some set of similar experiences, so if that matches your situation, then you might as well call what you are doing a GT approach, since also calling it a case study will add very little.

Dear Sidsel, interesting question though, but as you mentioned it, you should provide a bit more about the content and research aim of your project.

So far i can say, a case study design would be reasonable if you can clearly distinct your cases (answer the question: what is the case?) and you want to do a comparative analysis. If GT (whatever strand) would be the appropriate strategy for analysing your material, depends on your research question. If you are interested in latent patterns of meaning actors when in such training initiatives, then GT will be helpful. I guess a constructivist point of view at the bottom of your research will be necessary, because you want to observe techniques/strategies that are themselves just technical (digital) possibilities.

Virtually every piece of qualitative research is a case study of something. For example, if you plan to interview a set of individuals who all have similar connections to topic X, you could call that "A Case Study of X."

Since you are reading Charmaz, you will see that GT in general (and not just Constructivist GT) typically relies on interviews with people who share some set of similar experiences, so if that matches your situation, then you might as well call what you are doing a GT approach, since also calling it a case study will add very little.

The simplest answer is "yes" to the question by Ms. Sidsel Bjoernseth . I agree with Dr. Morgan that all qualitative research can be a case study.

I would like to add that not all case studies are qualitative in nature. They can have mixed data collection methods. See e.g. Robert K. Yin’s Case Study Research: design and methods." 4th edition, 2009; and Quantitative Analysis in Case Study, In: Encyclopedia of Case Study Research. Edited by: Albert J. Mills, Gabrielle Durepos & Elden Wiebe (2010).

Classic case studies, some of the best sellers, are based on both quantitative and and large qualitative datasets. For instance, a case study of impact of the seat belt safety law in a state pre-and-post the implementation of the law, uses quantitative data on injury rates. It is a case study because unit of analysis is a state. Still quantitative injury data are used.

I think the question is not whether or not you can combine GT and case study. We should ask: How to combine?

I think of two ways to combine them.

• In this case, GT is the one guiding your research in identifying your research purpose (building theory), your approach (more data-given approach), how to conduct data collection (the compatibility and corresponding among research tasks: research design, sampling, data collection, and preliminary data analysis including coding, demoing, and diagraming), and your interpretation of data and analysis.
• Case study will be useful in helping you choosing your case and unit of analysis (identifying aspects of bounded systems including time, location, people).
• And with case study within GT, you will be relying MOSTLY on interviews with people as their inputs are data on which your theory will be relying on (main method of GT).

2. Put GT into case study

• In this case, CS should be leading in designing your research purposes (descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory modes) and corresponding to each mode is type of research questions and strategies for ensuring validity (internal, external, construct validities).
• With CS as the leading one, you will have a chance of using a variety of data collection methods: not just interviews, but also documentary analysis, archival records, focus group discussion, and observation.
• GT will be helpful in ensuring the compatibility and corresponding among FOUR research tasks: research design, sampling, data collection, and preliminary data analysis including coding, demoing, and diagraming. GT is also helpful in designing your sampling strategy into three stages (open, relational and variational, discriminating) corresponding with three stages of coding strategies. In this case, you will be using GT more of its FORM, rather than its "SPIRIT" (philosophical principles).

Hope it helps.

Best,