Case selection for case study research

Abstract

When a case study is presented, there is often criticism regarding the representativeness of such studies. This criticism is commonly rebutted by the response that extreme cases reveal the true nature of the matter. Here, we scrutinize the concept of “extreme case” and conclude that cases should be selected on the basis of their theoretical or practical significance. No essential distinction exists between being representative and being extreme. Moreover, determining precisely whether a case is extreme or not is practically impossible. Case selection procedures that devote attention to the surrounding situations will enable researchers to discover theoretically significant cases. However, they should still leave room for serendipity.