Explanatory case studies: Implications and applications for clinical research

Explanatory case study methodology has been used to research complex systems in the fields of business, public policy and urban planning, to name a few. While it has been suggested by some that this might be a useful way to progress complex research issues in health science research, to date, there has been little evidence of this happening. The purpose of this paper is to review the explanatory case study method and present a framework for understanding how it differs from other case study methods. A review of the literature is undertaken to ascertain to what extent this method is currently being used in health science research. Finally, a model for guiding the implementation of the explanatory case study method is proposed in order to promote quality, rigour and applicability of this approach within clinical settings.

[1]  E. Hamera,et al.  Illness experience in a chronic disease--ALS. , 1986, Social science & medicine.

[2]  Z. Tyack,et al.  What influences the functional outcome of children at 6 months post-burn? , 2003, Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries.

[3]  A. P. Colborn.  A case for case study research. , 1996, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

[4]  R. Kirkby,et al.  Parent Adjustment to a Child’s Hospitalisation , 2000 .

[5]  R. Woodgate.  Conceptual Understanding of Resilience in the Adolescent With Cancer: Part I , 1999, Journal of pediatric oncology nursing : official journal of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses.

[6]  Paul B. Cragg,et al.  End user computing sophistication and success in small firms , 1996 .

[7]  R Campbell,et al.  Innovative Community Services for Rape Victims: An Application of Multiple Case Study Methodology , 1998, American journal of community psychology.

[8]  R. Yin.  Enhancing the quality of case studies in health services research. , 1999, Health services research.

[9]  Jeffrey L. Dcrevensky,et al.  Children with Cancer , 1998 .

[10]  G. Kielhofner,et al.  A comparison of play behavior in nonhospitalized and hospitalized children. , 1983, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.