Better Stories and Better Constructs: The Case for Rigor and Comparative Logic

Abstract

In this article the author replies to comments made over an approach to building theory using case studies as previously presented by the author. She notes that the benefits of her method are that the researcher is granted the opportunity to view a variety of cases allowing one to draw conclusions from a wider base of knowledge. This allows the researcher to view patterns on a larger scale as well as the opportunity to eliminate chance associations. The author goes on to address the concerns raised in the critique of her work suggesting that the classic case studies referred to were not single case examinations and that the trade-off between good stories and good constructs has to be made when working in the journal format instead of publishing an entire book.