Overview
Case study research is frequently criticized for being ungeneralizable — a criticism that misunderstands what case studies are designed to generalize. Statistical generalization (from sample to population) is not the purpose or strength of case study research. Analytical generalization (from case to theory) is — a well-designed case study tests, extends, or refines a theoretical proposition in the same way a well-designed experiment does. The appropriate question is not "how representative is this case?" but "how does this case illuminate the theoretical proposition?"
The Case Study Methodology Framework designs cases based on their theoretical relevance, builds multi-source evidence collection, designs within-case and cross-case analysis, and establishes analytical generalization claims that are appropriate to case study's logic.