This Project Note
examines what case studies can and cannot tell us about why improvements in well-being happen.
It lays out methodological considerations for the use of case studies,
including how they have been used by other development policy research
projects, and how this has informed case study research in
Development Progress.
Key messages:
- Several recent public policy research projects, including ODI’s Development Progress,
have used case study-based approaches and research designs to
understand causes of progress in development. Case studies can elucidate
historical processes and important decisions, providing analysis and
guidance about how problems and constraints at the core of disappointing
development outcomes were resolved.
- While case studies can
provide a clearer understanding of the main causal factors, decisions,
and events that contribute to an outcome, case study analysis has its
limitations and potential biases, and should be interpreted in a way
that complements other forms of analysis.
- Past case study research under Development Progress
has demonstrated the importance of having a clear and transparent, yet
pragmatic, process for case selection, developing a detailed research
plan and overarching research questions, and of being cautious with
causal claims and instead focusing on describing the sequence of
decisions and events and their plausible contribution to an outcome.
