Definicions de cibermitjà

In case studies, an issue is evaluated using different cases within the context of a bound system. Stake (2005) mentioned that this type of research is not a method, but is actually the topic being studied. In other instances, it is considered a comprehensive method of research (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005). As a method, it is a considered a qualitative design where the researcher would evaluate the case or cases using specific strategies of data gathering (Ivankova, et.al., 2006). Programs are also possible subjects of study. This approach is often used by social scientists especially in the field of psychology, law, political science, and medicine (Ivankova, et.al., 2006).

Different approaches have also been made available, in both qualitative and quantitative approaches in case study development (Yin, 2003). Merriam (1998) has also established the more general perspective to qualitative case studies. Different kinds of qualitative case studies are differentiated based on the size for the bounded case (single, multi-parties,

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groups, or activities) (Ivankova, et.al., 2006; Creswell, 2006). They may also be differentiated based on the intent for the case study.

a. Single Case Studies

These studies usually involve single subjects studied in the duration of the study. Most times, there is only one opportunity to carry out the observations and the study (Yin, 2003). As such, specific and clear methods of research during the case study have to be carried out in order to prevent any issues in the course of the research. Case study research excels at bringing us to an understanding of a complex issue or object and can extend experience or add strength to what is already known through previous research. Case studies emphasize detailed contextual analysis of a limited number of events or conditions and their relationships. Researchers have used the case study research method for many years across a variety of disciplines. Social scientists, in particular, have made wide use of this qualitative research method to examine contemporary real-life situations and provide the basis for the application of ideas and extension of methods. Researcher Yin (2003) defined the case study research method as an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context; when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident; and in which multiple sources of evidence are used (Yin, 1984, p. 23).

Stake (1995) Critics of the case study method believe that the study of a small number of cases can offer no grounds for establishing reliability or generality of findings. Others feel that the intense exposure to study of the case biases the findings. Some dismiss case study research as useful only as an exploratory tool. Yet researchers continue to use the case study research method with success in carefully planned and crafted studies of real-life situations,

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issues, and problems. Reports on case studies from many disciplines are widely available in the literature.

b. Multiple Case Studies

Yin (2003) has promoted the use of multiple case studies where the researcher repeats procedures for the different cases. In general, qualitative studies do not want to make generalisations in their cases (Creswell and Fetters, 2004). The researcher has to consider sufficient cases to include in the qualitative study. Another design is the use of the intrinsic study where the focus would be the actual case (Creswell and Fetters, 2004). The actual case would usually present unusual scenarios. This approach is appropriate where the researcher has sufficiently identified cases and has set out to ensure a clear understanding of the cases (Tsui, 2002). Such cases would include individuals, groups of individuals, activities, programs or events.

Baucus (1994) stated that, the strength of conclusions from case studies is not very high, and it is claimed that the use of multiple cases yields more robustness to the conclusions from the study. The reason for this is not, as the quantitatively oriented researcher might assume, that the sample is bigger. Instead, the reasons lie in other important aspects. Multiple case studies distinguish themselves from, for example, surveying many persons about something instead of one, or, increasing the number of subjects within an experiment. Lee (1997) said that, instead the usage of multiple cases should be regarded similar to the replication of an experiment or study. This means that the conclusions from one case should be compared and contrasted with the results from the other case(s).

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Bengtsson (1999) mentioned that, the number of cases needed to be performed to increase the sample and also increase the statistical strength, would require more cases than what is probably afforded or even available. Instead the selection of the cases for multiple case study is categorized into two types of selection. Lois (1995) stated that, the literal replication means that the cases selected are similar and the predicted results are similar too. The theoretical replication means that the cases are selected based on the assumption that they will produce contradicting results.

3.6.1.1 Case Study Design to Facilitate Interviews

Thomas (2011) defines a case study as an opportunity that allows for the analyses of persons, events, decisions, periods, projects, policies, institutions, or other systems that are studied holistically by one or more method. As part of the qualitative data collection approach, the researcher used managers from the three construction companies earlier alluded to in section 3.6.6. The rationale for selecting managers was to seek key performance information with regards to safety culture and safety performance. It was envisaged that because managers are entrusted to implement various operational elements of construction, there was a high likelihood of obtaining clarified information about safety culture and safety performance in the work place.

The request to undertake case study on the 3 organisations led to an estimation of 15 different managers; these were requested to participate in the research process. Only 8 of them responded positively to the request and were able to provide information about their view of safety culture and safety performance. However, there was an advantage in using the 8 managers because they brought experiences from various projects that they have

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worked on. It turned out that information from multiple case studies was collected from the 8 managers, whose three organisations.

The main design for the case study was to structure the process of getting information in a streamlined manner in order to maintain consistency. For instance, questions for discussions were raised in a similar manner; subject – specific (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). This method was preferred because it facilitated the uniformity in of analysis (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). In effect, if a case study is conducted in one work place, the single case design would apply, but where the case study is carried out in different workplaces, the case study design was transferred to other cases (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). The type of design chosen was also based on various elements.

In testing the consistency of an event or phenomena over various settings, the multiple case study design would be the best approach (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). In considering the holistic and embedded qualities of these case studies, where the workplace for instance would be treated as one unit of analysis with the end goal of establishing one single plan of action, the unit of analysis would be considered holistic (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). However, if the workplace would be considered as segmented or made up of different parts, the workplace would still be treated as a case, but one which is also embedded with different parts (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). In relation to the holistic single case study, this process unfolds only once within a single case. For holistic multiple case studies, there is an evaluation of global units of assessment carried out several times (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). In the embedded single case study, there is a focus on the different parts of the single case and in the embedded multiple case study, the focus is on more than one case with its related

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parts (Depoy and Gitlin, 2015). For this research, the multiple case studies were applied because the research has studied one phenomenon or problem under different work settings. It was also applied the embedded approach because the different aspects of assessment or evaluation have naturally different parts which would actually provide relevant information. In understanding the different aspects of the workplace and the organisational culture in the construction industry of Saudi Arabia, it is possible to actually establish relevant information which can be useful for this research.