PA 710 Homework #3

Spring 2001

Due March 19

 

Evaluating Case Study Research

 

Please read the attached article, “Reinventing Government: The Case of National Service,” (Public Administration Review, July/August 2000) and answer the following questions:

 

  1. What is the overall question that Lenkowsky and Perry are addressing with this case study?
  2. Is this case study exploratory, explanatory or descriptive? (Please explain)
  3. What was the authors’ rationale for choosing this case; e.g., was it critical, extreme or revelatory?
  4. Is there a theory guiding the research in this case? If so, what is it?
  5.  What is the unit of analysis?
  6. What are the specific propositions examined?
  7. What data are used to examine them?  Are these data sufficient, and appropriate?  If not, what would you add?
  8. To what extent are the following measures of quality relevant in this case?  For those that are relevant, to what extent does this case study meet these tests?

·                      Construct validity

·                      Internal validity

·                      External validity

·                      Reliability

  1. How useful is this case study, in your opinion.  Would a different design have been more appropriate for answering the authors’ research question, in your view?