Researchers

David Byrne, University of Durham
Wendy Olsen, University of Manchester

Aims and objectives

This project has two interlinked aims:

• to develop the expertise of UK based researchers in the integrated employment of a range of case centred methods including:
  1. Numerical Taxonomy Methods
  2. Qualitative Comparative Analysis
  3. Qualitative Statistical Modelling
  4. Traditional Case Study approaches
• to engage in a dialogical research exercise with researchers about their needs for and understanding of case based approaches in relation to the actual research problems with which they are engaged

Rationale

One of the major tasks of social science is establishing how things come to be as they are – establishing causal systems in the real world. Although the social world is complex - you can’t explain it in terms of single causes with single effects - traditional quantitative approaches based on variable analysis have tended towards such simple explanations.

Sociology has a long tradition of using detailed comparisons across a range of cases. Recently developments in computer based methods have facilitated an integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches in a way which focuses upon the cases and allows us to address the complexity of social causes.

This project combines training in the use of such approaches with an exploration of the way in which social researchers have thought about these issues in the past and can develop new strategies in the future based on case centred methods.

Workshops

The combined training and research dialogues will be run through a series of two-day research workshops to be held during July, September and December 2004 and January 2005. Participants will be fully reimbursed for travel costs and accommodation and training is free. There are 25 places available and it is intended that participants will attend all the sessions if possible.

Workshop One - Numerical taxonomy through time - exploring trajectories of cases and classifications

This will explore how numerical taxonomy techniques can be used both to construct classifications and, using longitudinal data sets, to explore the double dynamic of cases through a set of classifications and of changes in the classification system itself.. All discussion will be recorded and be processed interpretatively using NVIVO as the basis of our report on the workshop.

Workshop Two - what is a case? The fuzzy set approach

This will begin with a presentation of the realist conception of the nature of cases as this relates to Ragin’s proposal that we consider cases as ‘configurations’. This format of beginning with a conceptual discussion of the logic of enquiry will be common to all the workshops. We will then proceed to an exposition of Ragin’s fuzzy set method and a training workshop in the application of the method using examples drawn from our own work.

Workshop Three - Qualitative statistical modelling

In this workshop we explore how researchers combine multiple data types, ie survey data and qualitative data, with qualitative and multi-level modelling. We explore what types of levels exist and how they interact and interrelate in specific research contexts.

Workshop Four - The Case Study

The case study method traditionally aims to represent between one and twenty contrasting cases whilst we recommend its augmentation with an overview of the organically changing system — the ‘case’ redefined. The traditional case study method will be extended by emphasizing systematic comparison among cases and by exploring cases understood as nested open systems. The approach will use developed iterative methodological pluralism.

How to apply

Since this series is free and represents about £2,500 worth of resources, we propose to allocate places on a competitive basis. Intending participants should submit a one page application outlining their reasons for wishing to participate in this series (word attachments are fine) to dave.byrne@durham.ac.uk. Participants will be notified of acceptance by 31 March 2004.