Interpretive Research Aiming at Theory Building: Adopting and Adapting the Case Study Design

Authors

Antonio Diaz Andrade, The University of Auckland Business SchoolFollow

Abstract

Although the advantages of case study design are widely recognised, its original positivist underlying assumptions may mislead interpretive researchers aiming at theory building. The paper discusses the limitations of the case study design for theory building and explains how grounded theory systemic process adds to the case study design. The author reflects upon his experience in conducting research on the articulation of both traditional social networks and new virtual networks in six rural communities in Peru, using both case study design and grounded theory in a combined fashion in order to discover an emergent theory.

Keywords

Case Study, Interpretive Approach, Theory Building, and Grounded Theory

Author Bio(s)

Dr. Antonio Díaz Andrade is a lecturer in the Management and International Business Department at the University of The University of Auckland. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland New Zealand; Email: a.diaz@auckland.ac.nz

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express gratefulness to the reviewers and editors, especially to Dan Wulff, for their invaluable comments on this paper.

Publication Date

3-1-2009

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2009.1392

Recommended APA Citation

Diaz Andrade, A. (2009). Interpretive Research Aiming at Theory Building: Adopting and Adapting the Case Study Design. The Qualitative Report, 14(1), 42-60. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2009.1392