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This accessible guide takes you through the process of designing, conducting and writing up a research project using case study methods. In his characteristic warm and friendly style, Gary Thomas covers each step at a confidence-building pace, helping you to get to grips with the theory and practice of doing a case study.Focusing on vital issues like validity, reliability and quality in research, the author helps you ensure your research is rigorous and methodologically sound. This third edition:
· Offers an expanded discussion of key ethical issues in case study research
· Provides up to date information about using social media in research
· Presents a new navigation tool to help you plan your case study project
· Enables you to develop the skills you need to become a critical and reflexive researcher
Covering international examples of case study in practice and accompanied by downloadable checklists and templates, this book is the perfect companion to help you successfully complete a case study.
List of contents
Stage I: Getting Your Bearings
Chapter 1: What is a case study?
Chapter 2: The case study and research design
Chapter 3: The whole is more than the sum of the parts: seeing a complete picture
Chapter 4: Rigour and quality in your case study: what's important?
Chapter 5: Ethics
Stage II: Choosing a case and structuring your study
Chapter 6: Different kinds of case studies: selecting a subject for your case study
Chapter 7: Your purpose: thinking about the object of your study
Chapter 8: Your approach: theory testing or theory building; interpretation or illustration
Chapter 9: Your process: the shape, style and manner of your case study
Stage III: Collecting evidence, analysing and writing up
Chapter 10: Out in the field: some ways to collect data and evidence
Chapter 11: Analysis: a toolkit for analysing and thinking in case study
Chapter 12: Writing your study
About the author
Gary Thomas is an emeritus professor of education at the University of Birmingham. His teaching and research have focused on inclusion, special education, and research methodology in education, with a particular focus on case study. He has conducted research funded by the AHRC, the ESRC, the Nuffield Foundation, the Leverhulme Trust, the Department for Education, Barnardos, local authorities, and a range of other organisations. He has coedited the British Educational Research Journal and is currently an executive editor of Educational Review. He is author of many books, most recently Education: A Very Short Introduction published by Oxford University Press.
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The learning features are excellent. I love the highlight boxes and the If you take only one thing... feature. It is also good to have further reading at the end of each chapter. Overall, this is an excellent book on case study design. Shirley Larkin
