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The use of qualitative case studies in top business and management journals: A quantitative analysis of recent patterns

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  • Runfola, Andrea
  • Perna, Andrea
  • Baraldi, Enrico
  • Gregori, Gian Luca

Abstract

The use of case studies as qualitative research strategy in social sciences seems to have increased recently, but there are no studies that empirically verify such claim. By explicitly focusing on the field of business and management studies, we aim to investigate the extent of publication and the main features of qualitative case studies published in the 20 highest impact factor business and management journals. The paper discusses the correlation between a journal's ranking and the extent of case studies it published, and between selected features of case studies (e.g. research purpose, design and data sources). Moreover, we shed light on how the identified features of a case study impact its probability of being published.

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  • Runfola, Andrea & Perna, Andrea & Baraldi, Enrico & Gregori, Gian Luca, 2017. "The use of qualitative case studies in top business and management journals: A quantitative analysis of recent patterns," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 116-127.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:35:y:2017:i:1:p:116-127
    DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2016.04.001
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