Best Practices for Case Studies in Construction Engineering and Management Research

Abstract

Construction engineering and management research faces a fundamental dilemma: projects are designed and built just once. Case studies, a qualitative research method, are an appealing choice that is suited to this unique reality. But the analytical training of engineers prefers quantitative approaches, even if statistical questions of sample size arise. If carefully designed and executed, case studies can achieve generalizability. Yet the larger question is how to optimally plan and implement them. This paper therefore makes four contributions: First, it quantifies the growth of case studies and assembles definitions to illuminate their nature. Second, it creates a structured framework aligned to the Scientific Method and extracts best practices from pertinent sources. Third, it exemplifies them on successful applications in recent construction studies to inspire future studies. Fourth, it distills them into criteria to plan or evaluate quality case studies that academics and practitioners alike can use to efficiently deploy this powerful research method.