An innovative and accessible textbook on multimethod and case-study research Multimethod research has become indispensable to doing social science, and is essential to anyone who conducts large-scale research projects in political science, sociology, education, comparative law, or business. This authoritative and accessible book offers the first truly comprehensive approach to multimethod and case-study research, and is particularly aimed at students of qualitative methods in the social sciences. Walking step-by-step through these cutting-edge tools and techniques, Gary Goertz introduces a new integrated approach that unites three corners of a powerful research triad—causal mechanisms, cross-case causal inference, and within-case causal inference. He explains how the investigation of causal mechanisms and the making of within-case causal inference are the central goals of multimethod and case study research, and provides a logic for connecting case studies and causal mechanism analysis with cross-case analysis, whether they are statistical analyses, experiments, or QCA. In addition, Goertz analyzes how one can generalize using case studies, as well as systematically test game-theoretic and other models using multiple case studies. Provides a fully integrated approach to multimethod and case-study research An essential resource for students and researchers in political science, sociology, education, law, and business Covers constraint causal mechanism, game theory and case studies, QCA, and the use of case studies to systematically test and generalize theories An ideal textbook for a first-year graduate course in methods or research design

Social scientists have identified a need to move beyond the analysis of correlation among variables to the study of causal mechanisms that link them. Nicholas Weller and Jeb Barnes propose that a solution lies in 'pathway analysis', the use of case studies to explore the causal links between related variables. This book focuses on how the small-N component of multi-method research can meaningfully contribute and add value to the study of causal mechanisms. The authors present both an extended rationale for the unique role that case studies can play in causal mechanism research, and a detailed view of the types of knowledge that case studies should try to generate and how to leverage existing large-N data to guide the case selection process. The authors explain how to use their approach both to select cases and to provide context on previously studied cases.

A discussion of the case study method which develops an integrative framework for causal inference in small-n research. This framework is applied to research design tasks such as case selection and process tracing. The book presents the basics, state-of-the-art and arguments for improving the case study method and empirical small-n research.

The study of causal mechanisms interests scholars across the social sciences. Statistical approaches to studying mechanisms can be used to bolster our confidence in the causal connection between variables or estimate the average effect of a mechanism on an outcome. These approaches, however, often require more knowledge about mechanisms than we possess. Case studies can be a valuable tool in developing the knowledge need to utilize these statistical tools to study mechanisms. The usefulness of case studies in the search for causal mechanisms depends on effective case selection and there are few guidelines for selecting cases to study causal mechanisms. We fill that gap by focusing on case selection for “pathway analysis”: the use of case studies to probe causal links between statistically related variables across settings. Our case selection procedures are tied to the goal of building knowledge that can ultimately be utilized in statistical studies of mechanisms. Our approach focuses on selecting cases that allow scholars to both observe the mechanism being studied and to understand what, if any, generalizations can be made from the chosen cases. We demonstrate how to apply our approach and compare our approach to a leading example of pathway analysis in the so-called “resource curse” literature, a prominent example of a well-established X1/Y correlation featuring a non-linear relationship and multiple causal mechanisms.

Case Study Research: Principles and Practices provides a general understanding of the case study method as well as specific tools for its successful implementation. These tools are applicable in a variety of fields including anthropology, business and management, communications, economics, education, medicine, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology. Topics include: a survey of case study approaches; a methodologically tractable definition of 'case study'; strategies for case selection, including random sampling and other algorithmic approaches; quantitative and qualitative modes of case study analysis; and problems of internal and external validity. The second edition of this core textbook is designed to be accessible to readers who are new to the subject and is thoroughly revised and updated, incorporating recent research, numerous up-to-date studies and comprehensive lecture slides.

Aims to provide a general understanding of the case study method as well as specific tools for its successful implementation. It breaks down traditional boundaries between qualitative and quantitative, experimental and nonexperimental, positivist and interpretivist.

Revised edition of the author's Social science concepts, c2006.