Everything you've always wanted to know about Case Studies in Urbanism. This is a very long and wordy presentation. The intention is that you can read it without having me presenting it: it works as a small reader.

1. AR3U012
Methods
“Thesis Plan”
Introduction to CASE STUDIES
“If you can’t say it clearly, you don’t understand it yourself”
John Searle (1983)
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2. This presentation is based on
TELLIS, W. 1997, Application of a Case
Study Methodology, The Qualitative
Report, Vol. 3, N. 3, September 1997.
Available at http://www.nova.edu/ssss/
QR/QR3-3/tellis2.html
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3. What is a case study?
A data collection method that involves
in-depth studies of specific cases or
projects.
The method itself is made up of one or
more data collection methods (such as
interviews and spatial analysis of the
cases) in order to compare, learn or
describe a process, a place or a group.
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4. Why is it useful?
Case study is an ideal methodology
when a holistic, in-depth
investigation is needed (Feagin,
Orum, & Sjoberg, 1991).
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5. Research in practice
• Case studies have been used in varied
investigations, particularly in the
human sciences, but they are an
essential element for research in the
applied sciences, because of its
‘practical’ character (learning from
experience/ good practices).
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6. Types of case studies
Yin (1993) has identified some specific
types of case studies:
• Exploratory (what?)
• Explanatory (why?/how?)
• Descriptive (how?)
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7. Types of case studies
Exploratory case studies are sometimes
considered as a prelude to social research.
Here one wants to discover what are the
issues at hand (sometimes totally
unexpected ones)
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8. Types of case studies
Explanatory case studies may be used for
doing causal investigations.
Descriptive cases studies require a
descriptive theory to be developed before
starting the project.
In the above types of case studies, there
can be single-case or multiple-case
applications.
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9. More types of case studies
Stake (1995) included three more types:
• Intrinsic - when the researcher has
an interest in the case
• Instrumental - when the case is used
to understand more than what is
obvious to the observer
• Collective - when a group of cases is
studied.
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10. Relevance of the cases
You must argue why the cases are RELEVANT for
your research.
First, cases must be understood in some kind of
theoretical framework.
Next, their commonalities or underlying similarities
and discrepancies must be highlighted.
Selecting cases must be done so as to maximise what
can be learned in the period of time available
for the study.
In our case, this depends on a relevant Research
Question to help guide your study (what do you
want to know?).
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11. Selection of case studies
Case studies tend to be selective, focusing
on one or two issues that are
fundamental to understanding the
system/phenomenon being examined (e.g.):
Regeneration strategies in London
Traffic oriented development in the Bay
Area
Connections between train stations and
Dutch historic centres
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12. Good practices
The role of good examples is obvious. Here,
literature research is fundamental.
You need to know in advance what a good
practice is! Unless you are the first to
document it…
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13. Example of good practice found in literature
Mobility studies in Curitiba
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14. Example of good practice found in literature
Post-Olympic use of facilities in Barcelona.
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15. Example of good practice found in literature
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Waterfront redevelopment in Rotterdam
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16. Examples of relevance of case
studies (or lack of)
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17. Housing typologies in London and Toronto
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18. A comparison between uses of public spaces in Delft and
Beijing
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19. Regeneration strategies in Kinshasa
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20. Amsterdam, London and Zurich as spaces for creativity
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21. The role of Pijnacker(NL) as a global city
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22. Units of analysis
• The unit of analysis is a critical
factor in the case study. It is
typically a system of action (a
territory) rather than an individual
or group of individuals. Or even one
single space.
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23. In urbanism, systems of action may vary a lot in size
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24. Unit of analysis
• In Urbanism, this means defining a
meaningful spatial problem which can be
spatialized into a system of action (a
recognisable entity = cities, neighbourhoods,
public spaces_ but what kind?). This entity
is generally located in a CONTEXT (a
territorial system) .
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25. A system of spaces or a context
• E.g. Trafalgar Square is a public space located in the system of public
spaces of London, and it is affected/it affects the city around it
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26. Difference to architecture
• This is perhaps the biggest
difference with the architectural
object: architectural objects are
inserted in a system of action
but the nature of their
interaction with other spaces in
a SYSTEM is different
• (although one may argue that some
architectural objects are just the same as
territorial units in Urbanism. For instance:
large train stations).
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27. Multi-perspectival analysis
• Case studies are multi-perspectival
analyses. This means that the researcher
considers not just his/her own values
and perceptions, but also those of the
relevant groups of people using/
producing/studying the space and the
interaction between them.
• This means employing several analytical
tools.
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28. Triangulation
• This means that case studies need
triangulated research strategy.
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29. Triangulation
• The need for triangulation arises from
the ethical and scientific need to
confirm the validity of the processes.
• In case studies, this could be done by
using multiple sources of data, different
tools of analysis and even different
theories to explain causality.
• The problem in case studies is to
establish meaning rather than location.
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30. Situated position
• Remember the isolationist
versus the situated
position described in the
text ‘Eight Criteria’ (Biggs
and Buchler, 2008)
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31. Types of triangulation
Denzin (1984) identified four types of
triangulation
• Data source triangulation, when the
researcher looks for equivalent data in
different contexts
• Investigator triangulation, when several
investigators examine the same phenomenon
• Theory triangulation, when investigators
with different view points interpret the
same results
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32. Generalization
It is a frequent criticism of case study
research that the results are not widely
applicable in real life or to other cases.
Yin in particular refuted that criticism by
presenting a well constructed explanation
of the difference between analytic
generalisation and statistical
generalisation: "In analytic generalisation,
previously developed theory is used as a
template against which to compare the
empirical results of the case study" (Yin,
1984).
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33. Four main applications
Yin (1994) presented at least four
applications for a case study model:
1. To explain complex causal links in
real-life interventions
2. To describe the real-life context in
which the intervention has occurred
3. To describe the intervention itself
4. To explore those situations in which
the intervention being evaluated has no
clear set of outcomes.
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34. Single cases?
Single cases may be used to confirm or
challenge a theory, or to represent a
unique or extreme case
However, it is difficult to draw
definite conclusions from one single
case.
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35. Not replicable
• Some of the early criticism of the case
study as a research methodology was
that it was unscientific in nature, and
because replication was not possible. The
literature contains major refutations
by Yin, Stake, Feagin, and others whose
work resulted in a suggested outline for
what a case study protocol could
include.
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36. In applied sciences…
• Generally what we do at the course
of Urbanism of TU Delft is to compare
our “case” (test area/design area) to
cases in literature or in other
projects and designs and to analyse
it via inter-subjective reasoning
(with our colleagues and mentors)
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37. Protocol for case study
• The protocol suggested by Yin (1994) should include the
following sections:
1. An overview of the case study project - this will
include case study issues in relation to project
objectives
2. Field procedures - reminders about procedures,
credentials for access to data sources, location of
those sources
3. Case study questions - the questions that the
investigator must keep in mind during data collection
4. A guide for the case study report - the outline and
format for the report (in this case it is the thesis
plan)
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38. Yin’s chart for evidence
Yin’s 1984, p. 80
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39. Direct observation
• Direct observation in a case study occurs when the
investigator makes a site visit to gather data. The
observations could be formal or casual activities, but
the reliability of the observation is the main concern.
Using multiple observers and/ or methods of
observation is one way to guard against this problem.
Detail from Quentin Massys "Cristo Salvator Mundi", Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerwerp, photo by Needles Eye at Flickr
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40. Participant observation
• Participant observation is a unique mode of
observation in which the researcher may
actually participate in the events being
studied.
This technique could be used in studies of
neighbourhoods or organisations. The main
concern is the potential bias of the researcher
as an active participant. While the information
may not be available in any other way, the
drawbacks should be carefully considered by
the researcher.
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41. Action research
… is a deliberate intervention in a
situation in order to bring about
improvements to it or solve a problem.
Definitions of action research often talk
about problem solving. But I think it is
impossible to do any problem solving
before you do the problem finding (which
involves theoretical research in
COMBINATION with action research)
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42. Types of Action research
Three main categories of action research were
defined by Grundy (1982):
Technical action research creates solutions that
make a process or a product better (e.g.
improving a technology for travelling)
Practical action research seeks to improve the
professional skills of practitioners
Critical or emancipatory action research can be
used to challenge the status quo and argue for
wide-scale educational reform.
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43. Action research is not the same as humanitarian aid.
Haitians struggled over bottles of oil thrown from a food aid truck in Gonaïves,
Haiti. , Roberto Schmidt/AFP-Getty Images, NYT 2004
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44. Got ethics?
• And action research has to be
discussed in terms of an ethical
approach to the subjects of the
research.
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45. Stages in action research
Action research is a formative, cyclic
process, involving four stages:
• Planning
• Action
• Evaluation and
• Reflection. Each stage supports the next
and once one cycle is completed, the
process begins again with modifications.
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46. Action research model
source: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/home/
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47. Characteristics of action research (to read at home)
• Practitioner Based: action researchers are practitioner-researchers. They
are integrally involved in the process, not passive observers.
• Reflexive: since it involved practitioner-researchers, the process is aims
to improve the researcher's own practice. It is a self-critical form of
research.
• Participatory: the change process is driven by participants - those
affected by the change, and those with the responsibility of delivering
change.
• Collaborative: since action research is participatory, all those affected
by change should be involved in the action research process, hence action
research should be collaborative, unless the change is limited to one
teacher.
• Situational: action research focuses on a specific situation, not a
general educational concern.
• Small Scale: since action research is specific to a situation, its use and
results tend to be small scale. However, this is not the case in
emancipatory action research.
• Relevant: action research focuses on problems relevant to the
practitioners, not to the academic world.
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48. Analysing the data
• "Data analysis consists of examining,
categorising, tabulating, or otherwise
recombining the evidence to address
the initial propositions of a
study" (Yin, 1994).
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49. Data analysis
• The analysis of case study is one of
the least developed aspects of the
case study methodology. The
researcher needs to rely on experience
and the literature to present the
evidence in various ways, using
various interpretations.
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50. Data analysis
• For example, one can use a series of
statistical tests to help in the
presentation of the data to the reader.
• However not all case studies lend
themselves to statistical analysis, and
in fact the attempt to make the study
conducive to such analysis could inhibit
the development of other aspects of the
study.
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51. Alternative expression of data
• Miles and Huberman (1984) have suggested
alternative analytic techniques of analysis
in such situations, such as:
1. Graphic expression of comparative data
2. Mapping (followed by interpretation of the
map)
3. Tabulating the frequency of events,
4. Ordering the information. This must be
done in a way that will not bias the
results.
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52.
References
• Danziger, J. (1985). Social science and the social impacts of computer technology. Social Science Quarterly, 66, 1.
• Denzin, N. (1984). The research act. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
• Feagin, J., Orum, A., & Sjoberg, G. (Eds.). (1991). A case for case study. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North
Carolina Press. King, J., & Kraemer, K. (1985). The dynamics of computing. New York: Columbia University Press.
• Miles, M., & Huberman, M. (1984). Qualitative data analysis: A source book for new methods. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage
Publications.
• Sjoberg, G., Williams, N.,Vaughan, T., & Sjoberg, A. (1991). The case study approach in social research. In Feagin, J.,
Orum, A., & Sjoberg, G. (Eds.), (1991). A case for case study (pp. 27-79). Chapel Hill, NC: University of North
Carolina Press.
• Stake, R. (1995). The art of case research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
• Tellis, W. (1997, July). Introduction to case study [68 paragraphs]. The Qualitative Report [On-line serial], 3(2).
Available: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-2/tellis1.html
• Yin, R. (1984). Case study research: Design and methods (1st ed.). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publishing.
• Yin, R. (1989). Case study research: Design and methods (Rev. ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publishing.
• Yin, R. (1993). Applications of case study research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publishing.
• Yin, R. (1994). Case study research: Design and methods (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.
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53. Thanks for listening
and watching
Any questions?
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54. This presentation was prepared by Roberto
Rocco, from the Chair Spatial Planning and
Strategy of the Delft University of
Technology. For further information, please
write to
r.c.rocco@tudelft.nl
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