RESOURCES

Guidelines on Using Case Studies as an Evaluation Method

These guidelines serve as a practical resource for program and MEAL teams seeking to develop evaluative case studies (or considering their use). The guidelines first seek to introduce the reader to the concept of case studies providing a clear definition of outlining how they might be used for evaluation purposes.
They aim to guide evaluator decision-making on whether case study methods will be beneficial and relevant to their objectives. The advantages and disadvantages of case study methodologies, as well as a short checklist to test the appropriateness of case study methods, are outlined in this document. Once the reader is confident that a case study methodology is appropriate for their objectives, the guidelines provide instructions on using case studies for an evaluation, and touch on case selection, data collection, data analysis, and report writing.
Guideline sections are complementary and can be used in tandem with one another; references to other guideline chapters help the reader navigate the relevant categories. Finally, where appropriate, the guidelines provide links to and suggestions for additional resources to assist the evaluator in case study development. These include short examples or extracts from existing case studies, a “Quality Checklist,” and report samples.

Leave a Reply

Search for Common Ground

Evaluation

Tools and templates

English