Aimed at providing a complete, systematic description of a phenomenon in its real-life context.

Is your "case" a person, a program, an organization, or a specific event?

According to Yin, the case study is the preferred strategy when you are asking or "why" questions. Step 1: Choosing Your Research Design

This guide explores the foundational principles of case study design, drawing on Yin’s robust framework to help you move beyond simple anecdotes and into high-level research. What Defines Case Study Research?

A case study is not just a "story." It is an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-world context. It is particularly powerful when the boundaries between the phenomenon (e.g., a specific policy change) and its context (e.g., the political landscape) are not clearly evident.

The biggest criticism of case studies is that they lack scientific rigor. Yin refutes this by emphasizing four critical tests for quality:

Used at the initial stage to identify variables or hypotheses for future research.

Document your procedures in a case study protocol so that a future researcher could arrive at the same findings. Step 4: Collecting Evidence