Embedded Case Study Methods : Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Knowledge

Bridging the gap between quantitative and qualitative approaches, Embedded Case Study Methods presents methods for interrelating and integrating the variables, findings, and evaluations from the facets of the case (i.e., different perspectives of inquiry such as participant observation, open-ended interviews, etc.) or sub-units of case inquiry. Using case examples from five different disciplines (neuropsychology, education, law, business, and environmental sciences), the authors show the reader how to use the embedded case design to enhance synthesis and knowledge integration. The authors share their broad knowledge of the philosophy of science to explain the rationale behind each step of embedded case designs, and recap each explanation with concept recaps called "lessons to be learned." In addition, they include a variety of boxes that offer statistical models for doing the analysis. This book offers readers a sophisticated approach to integrating mixed methods in case studies.

Roland W. Scholz holds the Chair of Natural and Social Science Interface in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich, Switzerland). He is also adjunct professor (Privatdozent) of Psychology at the University of Zurich and from 2011 to 2013 he is extraordinary professor at the School of Management and Planning, Stellenbosch University (S.A.). Scholz graduated in Mathematics (Dipl.-Math.), Social Psychology (Dr. phil.), and Cognitive Psychology (Dr. phil. habil.). After specializing in game theory and decision sciences he switched to systems analysis, and environmental modeling, evaluation and risk assessment. Scholz was elected as the fifth holder of the King Carl XVI Gustaf′s Professorship 2001/2002 hosted at the Center of Environment and Sustainability of Chalmers University of Technology and Gothenborg University (Sweden). Since 2002, he is speaking at the International Transdisciplinarity Network on Case Study Teaching (ITdNet). His work relates transdisciplinarity as a methodology of organizing sustainable transition processes and interdisciplinary research on inextricably coupled human-environment systems. Since 1994 Scholz has run large-scale transdisciplinary studies on sustainable transitions of urban and regional systems, organizational development, and of policy and decision processes.