The Case for Case Studies in the Context of Environmental Issues—Updated

In its most distilled form, a “case study” involves investigation of “real-life phenomenon through detailed contextual analysis of a limited number of events or conditions, and their relationships.”¹ The “case” may focus upon an individual, organization, event, project, or phenomenon, anchored in a specific time and place. Most cases are based on real events, or a plausible construction of events,² and tell a story, often involving issues or conflicts that require resolution.³ The most effective case studies facilitate multiple assessments of the same situation, “leading to several equally plausible and compelling conclusions, each with different implications for action.”⁴

A case study usually focuses on a single subject of analysis; however, case study analyses can also be designed as comparative investigations that highlight the relationship between two or more subjects. They also frequently include central characters and quotations and dialogue.⁵ The methodology can be a quantitative,...