Robert Stake (2005) makes the point that "a case is a noun, a thing, an entity; it is seldom a verb, a participle, a functioning" (p4). I am researching a process (monitoring and evaluation) in different organisations (what Stake may refer to as a function). Can the process of monitoring and evaluation be defined as the 'case' for the purposes of conducting case study research? Or is it more appropriate for me to define the organisational entity (or team within the entity) as the case?
In my experience case refers to the fact that only 1 example is studied, i.e. 1 case.
Yes, I agree with David Eugene Booth, that a case study is one entity. Roberta Heale and Alison Twycross describe it in their 2017 publication:
Article What is a case study?
Looking at their paragraph 'Benefits and limitations of case studies', they do write about studying a phenomenon, but should you be looking at the project as multiple case research? - i.e. a group of similar cases (see their methods paragraph).
But I don't know; it will be good to hear the thoughts of others on RG.
Maybe you could contact the authors of the above article on RG:
Roberta Heale and Alison Twycross
It is well worth reading this classic nuanced account
Case and Situation Analysis
J. Clyde MitchellF (1983 Research )Articlehttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.1983.tb00387.x
Article Case and Situation Analysis
Abstract
The current division between those sociologists who prefer to rely on survey techniques and quantitative analysis in the prosecution of their art as against those who prefer to rely on observation and verbal types of analysis has manifested itself over the time in a lively debate in some of the journals about the validity of statistical methods of enquiry on the one hand as against what were called 'case studies'. It is my purpose to establish what these differences are and thereby one hopes to provide guidelines for the use of case studies in social investigation and theory building. The argument that has been advanced here, then, is that case studies of whatever form are a reliable and respectable procedure of social analysis and that much criticism of their reliability and validity has been based on a misconception of the basis upon which the analyst may justifiably extrapolate from an individual case study to the social process in general. My highlighting
and worth looking at
Jason Seawright, Multi-Method Social Science. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2016
Synopsis
Reflecting the rising popularity of research that combines qualitative and quantitative social science, Multi-Method Social Science provides the first systematic guide to designing multi-method research. It argues that methods can be productively combined using the framework of integrative multi-method research, with one method used to carry out a final causal inference, and methods from other traditions used to test the key assumptions involved in that causal inference. In making this argument, Jason Seawright considers a wide range of statistical tools including regression, matching, and natural experiments. The book also discusses qualitative tools including process tracing, the use of causal process observations, and comparative case study research. Along the way, the text develops over a dozen multi-method designs to test key assumptions about social science causation. Again my highlights.
I'm with Maia on this, that the case could be a process, but it raises the question of if the case study methodology is best suited to portray the nuances and details.
So your case study would proceed, but you might want to bring in some systematic analytical descriptive and interpretive methods to structure the relevant process details. Or if not central to the thesis or aims of the work, you can add that in notes or an appendix.
Also, some readers are territorial about solid distinctions and labels, so if you are advertising a case study and then the audience gets something else, they may not appreciate it. So clearly introduce whatever you end up doing!
I agree with both Mary and David. In typical case studies, the entity/organization and a project-specific instance is the 'case.' It puts a cap on finite instances to gather data for successes and failures of monitorization and evaluation. Otherwise, the study may be a simple narrative of different processes across organizations.
I would agree that a case rather refers to an entity or noun. You might have processes embedded within cases (organizations, firms, units, teams). Have a look at the AMJ special issue on process studies:
Langley, A., Smallman, C., Tsoukas, H., & Van De Ven, A. H. (2013). Process studies of change in organization and management: Unveiling temporality, activity, and flow. Academy of Management Journal, 56(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.4001
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