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Chapter 3 Research Framework
as culture, site, geography or resources, enables a detailed evaluation that is
embedded in particular contextual characteristics and issues.
Luck, Jackson and Usher (2006) stated that the case study is a bridge across
paradigms and is most commonly defined by the choice of case rather than the
choice of methods or paradigmatic approach. The theoretical position can then be
argued by the researcher within the logic of their epistemological, ontological and
methodological approach. With respect to the epistemological, ontological and
methodological positions, it can be argued that case study approach fosters
integration of research strategies (Jones and Lyons, 2004; Marshall and Rossman,
1995). The flexibility of case study and the potential for its practical application is
arguably one of the key strengths of case study (Luck, Jackson and Usher, 2006).
Thus case study methodology was considered at this point to be suitable for phase
one of this research. It was then explored further.
3.5 Exploration of Case Study Methodology
MacDonald and Walker (1976, pp.2) stated that case study is the “examination of an
instance in action” and Merriam (1998) defined case study as an:
“Intensive, holistic description and analysis of a single entity, phenomenon
or social unit. Case studies are particularistic, descriptive and heuristic and
rely heavily on inductive reasoning in handling multiple data sources.”
(Merriam, 1998, pp.16)
Similarly, Stake (1995) stated that:
“Case study is the study of the particularity and complexity of a single
case, coming to understand its activity within important
circumstances.”
(Stake, 1995, pp.11)
Stake (1995) focused his writing on the qualitative approaches to conducting
case studies. However, he did acknowledge that case study is not
synonymous with qualitative methods and that the research tradition must be
clarified in the rationale for choosing the case study approach.