The use of case studies to build and test theories in political science and the other social
sciences has increased in recent years. Many scholars have argued that the social sciences rely
too heavily on quantitative research and formal models and have attempted to develop and refine
rigorous methods for using case studies. This text presents a comprehensive analysis of
research methods using case studies and examines the place of case studies in social science
methodology. It argues that case studies statistical methods and formal models are
complementary rather than competitive. The book explains how to design case study research that
will produce results useful to policymakers and emphasizes the importance of developing
policy-relevant theories. It offers three major contributions to case study methodology: an
emphasis on the importance of within-case analysis a detailed discussion of process tracing
and development of the concept of typological theories. Case Studies and Theory Development in
the Social Sciences will be particularly useful to graduate students and scholars in social
science methodology and the philosophy of science as well as to those designing new research
projects and will contribute greatly to the broader debate about scientific methods.
