Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal (2009) 12, 59—60
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/aenj
BOOK REVIEW
Robert K. Yin. Case Study Research: Design
and Methods, Fourth Edition, Applied Social
Research Methods, Volume 5, Sage Publications
Incorporated (2008). 240 pages, Paperback,
RRP AU$ 65.00, ISBN: 9781412960991
The terms case, case study, and case methods are famil-
iar to most people, and are frequently used interchangeably.
There are many different types and definitions of case
studies and case methods, each promulgated with par-
ticular meanings and procedures for inquiry by different
authors.1—5
1574-6267/$ — see front matter © 2009 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.aenj.2009.01.005
Generally speaking, case study methods are used to
probe deeply and intensively to gain insight and under-
standings of phenomena that are new, not-understood,
or unexamined.6 Case study methods allow researchers
to understand the how and why of contemporary events,
problems and situations in ways that does not require con-
trol over those events or problems.5 They are designed
to ‘‘illuminate a decision or set of decisions: why they
were taken, how they were implemented, and with what
result’’ (Schramm, 1971 cited in Yin,7 p. 13). Thus, case-
based research methods are an appropriate choice ‘‘for
those interested in the richness of actual cases, under-
standing a good story, staying close to naturalistic events,
exploring new areas and discovering new phenomena, and
applying our understanding to therapeutic ends’’ (Carroll
and Johnson,8 p. 44). They can provide a powerful story
to illustrate a particular social context or phenomenon.9
Case study methods require the researcher to understand
the case in context where information about the case and
its context is collected over considerable time and following
considerable engagement.8 Unlike experimental research,
case study methods do not claim any particular methods for
data collection or data analysis.2 Although the hallmark of
qualitative interpretive methods, case studies should not be
thought of as synonymous with or as exclusively qualitative
research.2,4,10 They accommodate a variety of disciplinary
and philosophical perspective on the nature of research, and
can test theory or build theory, incorporate random or pur-
posive sampling, and include quantitative and qualitative
data.2
Robert K. Yin is an internationally acclaimed expert in
case study research methods. Case Study Research: Design
and Methods Fourth Edition provides the researcher with
definitive resource on Yin’s approach to case study research.
The fifth in a series of 51 titles in the Applied Social Research
Methods Series by Sage Publications, Case Study Research:
Design and Methods Fourth Edition is a must for all case
study researchers. The text consists of six chapters, each
building on highly successful earlier editions. It begins with
an introduction to case study and case methods, where Yin
steps the reader through a process to determine how to
know whether or when to use case studies as a research
method. Following on, the text explores how to design of
case studies, to prepare case study evidence, collecting
60
case study evidence, the analysis of it and what constitutes
a case report. To do so, Yin explains the overall approach
of the entire case research process diagrammatically. He
begins with a diagrammatic representation of the case
approach and then deconstructs it step by step, presenting
the steps in the process through graphics that appear at the
outset of the chapters that follow. It exemplars more than
50 case studies, and draws the readers attention to the
value case studies have mixed methods research design,
and how they can accommodate various disciplinary and
philosophical perspectives. The book draws of exemplary
case studies from a variety of academic and applied fields
of research, providing the reader with ready access to real
world examples that maximizes the learning experience. It
warrants the use of case study methods in a wide range of
disciplines including the humanities, education, business,
nursing and health, public administration, anthropology,
sociology and political science.
Special highlights of the Fourth Edition include dozens
of boxed vignettes that present previously published case
studies, methodological insights to show the similarities
between case studies and other social science methods, in-
text learning aids, practical exercises, endnotes and a new
cross referencing table. Yin offers a three-stage approach
to help readers define the initial questions that will con-
sider in their own case study research, and explores some
of the challenges of case study methods with respect to
human research ethics, including protecting human partici-
pants in case study research, the role of the human research
ethics committees throughout the design, development and
conduct of case study protocols.
What is notable about this text is the manner the text
is delivered. Although the text is highly structured and is
saturated with evidence, its delivery is almost conversa-
tional. It feels as though the reader is conversing with the
author directly, in that Yin makes available insights into his
considerable experience and expertise that often is unavail-
able to researchers. Yin writes directly to the reader as an
insider into case study methods. He privileges the reader
by making available his experience, thoughts, perceptions,
and opinions in a frank and forward manner. This value
adds to the reading and learning experience and provides a
level of author authenticity that is lacking in many definitive
research methods texts.
Case Study Research: Design and Methods Fourth Edi-
tion is the ideal resource for case study researchers. This
Book review
compact yet comprehensive text is a must for all case
study researchers, and is available internationally from Sage
Publications (www.sagepublications.com), Sage’s Australian
distributor Footprint Books (www.footprintbooks.com.au),
or any good book seller.
Conflict of interest
None.
Funding interest
None.
References
1. Bromley DB. The case-study method in psychology and related
disciplines. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons; 1986.
2. Merriam SB. Case study research in education. San Franciso:
Jossey-Bass Inc.; 1991.
3. Stake RE. The art of case research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications; 1995.
4. Yin R. Case study research: design and methods. 3rd ed. Thou-
sand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 2003.
5. Yin R. Case study research: design and methods. 4th ed. Thou-
sand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 2008.
6. Travers M. Qualitative research through case studies. London:
Sage; 2001.
7. Yin R. Case study research: design and methods. 2nd ed. Thou-
sand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 1994.
8. Carroll JS, Johnson EJ. Decision research: a field guide. New-
bury Park, CA: SAGE Publications; 1990.
9. Grbich C. Qualitative research in health. Sydney: Allen and
Unwin; 1999.
10. Denzin NK, Lincoln YS, editors. The sage handbook of qualita-
tive research. 3rd ed. London: Sage Publications; 2005.
Ramon Shaban ∗
Editor-in-Chief
Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal,
Brisbane, Australia
∗
Tel.: +61 7 3382 1271; fax: +61 7 3382 1277.
E-mail address: editor@cena.org.au
28 December 2008