BUSI 830 Case Study Research Methods and Literature Review

This doctoral level course examines the qualitative method used in the research related to the program of study, with a focus on case studies. Students will begin development of the literature review in preparation for the Applied Doctoral Research Project.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Case study research is a powerful method for exploring complex problems within real-life contexts, making it especially relevant for applied doctoral research in business, leadership, and related disciplines. The course provides the student with the theoretical foundations and practical skills necessary to design, conduct, and analyze case studies. It emphasizes methodological rigor, ethical considerations, and the strategic selection of cases to ensure meaningful and credible research outcomes. Through critical engagement with scholarly literature, the student will deepen his or her understanding and use of case study methods in his or her own research projects.

In parallel, the course focuses the development of the literature review, a cornerstone of the Applied Doctoral Research Project. The student will deepen his or her knowledge on how to conduct comprehensive literature searches, synthesize existing research, identify gaps in the literature, and construct a coherent narrative that supports his or her research questions. By integrating case study research training with literature review development, this course ensures that the student is well-prepared to embark on his or her doctoral research journey with clarity and scholarly rigor.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirement Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each thread must be 300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 1 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be close to 300 words.

Overview of Case Studies Assignment

Each case study type and its design are slightly different. These differences are important for researchers to consider when selecting a case study type most appropriate for their research. Regardless of the type or design, each case study centers around its subject and object. Researchers typically build their cases around the purpose that drives a type and design. The student will write a 1,000-1,500 page paper covering this.

Case Study Methodology Assignment

Researchers describe the background of the problem to define the root problem and explain the organizational consequences – this is where the student will ‘well-define’ their case study. The problem statement is a foundational component of the research study. In this assignment, the student will begin to craft a single case study scenario by scoping the root problem. Then, the student will research the root problem in the literature to determine how it starts and the broad organizational consequences that result before developing a researchable problem statement. Once the problem statement is written, an applicable research question (RQ) is created. The paper should be 1,000-1,500 words in total.

Data Gathering Tools and Analysis Techniques Assignment

While data is information, evidence is data in support of some proposition. Collecting and analyzing data is a major element of the work of a case study that requires several considerations, such as delimitations, limitations, and assumptions; triangulation; population and sampling, etc. This assignment will provide an opportunity to exercise this critical middle (‘meat’) component of the student’s case study. This paper should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length.

Biblical, Ethical Research Assignment

In this assignment, the student will research Biblical, ethical research. Establishing a firm ethical foundation based on Biblical principles can reduce the researcher’s bias as well as misrepresenting the literature and study findings. As Christians, we want to ensure we are being obedient to God in our research and study conduct. This paper should be 1,600 to 2,400 words in length.

Mindmap to Storyboard Assignment

Scanning and scoping one’s own literature review is one of the most difficult tasks in conducting a research project, as the pool of sources is so vast, yet narrowing the focus is challenging.  A visual representation of the student’s research (potentially useful literature and then research focus) will help them see and understand relationships. This assignment will provide an opportunity for them to exercise this task of ‘visualizing’ their literature review through midmapping to storyboarding. 

Literature Review Research Assignment

This assignment takes a literature review from a ‘visualized’ set of ideas to doing more specific research (various sources) and then determining a review structure.  Determining their literature review structure will require the students to match their approach to the relational and contextual framework of their research goals. These will generally be discussed in the ‘chapter 2’ introduction, followed by the main body and conclusion to the literature review. This paper should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length.

Literature Review Fusion and Examining Assignment

Now that the students have done some literature review research and decided on a structure and approach, it is time for them to put some real ‘meat on the bone’ – synthesis and analysis (or examination and fusion) of their research. This is where the students will ‘develop’ the story through a literature review’s introduction, main body, and conclusion. This includes connecting the ideas, theory-building, constant comparison, and developing an argument. This paper should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length.

Case Study Literature Review Assignment

In a Liberty University ADRP/dissertation, many approaches could be used, but the predominant research method is a case study. In this culminating assignment, the student will synthesize the qualitative methodology of Case Study research as well as principles of a comprehensive Literature Review in developing a ‘partial’ case study. This paper should be 2,400 to 3,000 words in length.