Review by Choice Review
Political scientist Gerring (Boston Univ.) defends the use of case studies against the criticism of social scientists with a heavy quantitative bent, and he describes how to conduct case studies with methodological sophistication. The author discusses how to define case studies, what research questions they answer, and how they complement statistical analyses conducted on large-sample data sets. As the book progresses, Gerring examines how the selection of cases relates to hypothesis testing, the myriad ways one can select cases, and the link between case studies and quasi-experimental research designs. The final two chapters cover "process tracing" and "single outcome" case studies. Gerring puts considerable convincing effort into defending these somewhat amorphous but methodologically necessary research models. This book is intended for those who have thought deeply about methodological issues and are already familiar with the debates around case studies and the challenges of case selection. Gerring adeptly connects his arguments to the extensive interdisciplinary literature on this subject, proving his mastery of the field. Probably beyond the level of undergraduates at most institutions. Summing Up: Recommended. Faculty and graduate students will find this book useful. R. E. Barlow Trinity College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
