Bradshaw, York & Michael Wallace, "Informing Generality and Explaining Uniqueness: The Place of Case Studies in Comparative Research," International Journal of Comparative Sociology, Vol. 32, pp. 154-171.

Abstract

Consistent with the thrust of American sociology, cross-national and other types of comparative research are interested in establishing broad and general findings that are theoretically relevant. Given this predisposition, such research tends to deemphasize, single-nation (case) studies because they seemingly lack generalizability and theoretical significance. By contrast, we argue that the case study constitutes an important type of comparative research and, in fact, may be of preferred strategy in certain instances. More specifically, these studies are useful perspective - the case does not fit any extant theory. (2) a case partially supports (or deviates from) existing theories; and (3) a case represents a special (perhaps unique) set of circumstances not theoretical; to the contrary, they help inform general theory and explain conditions that deviate from conventional theoretical explanations. Because many theories have been formulated in advanced Western societies, they reflect an (often unintended) ethnocenteric bias again underdeveloped and other less studied regions of the world. Thus, case-study research is indispensable when investigating Third World anomalies with appropriate sensitivity and accuracy.