Case selection starts with relevance to the research question, although relevance alone is insufficient. Enough material must exist, and the researcher must be able to reach it under real constraints such as closed archives, travel restrictions, and interview access. Comparative projects should use at least three cases, preferably four, provided each remains viable. Intensive study can make a researcher highly familiar with each subject, which creates a citation risk when remembered wording or ideas become detached from their source. Recording everything consulted in the bibliography provides an audit trail and a defense against accidental plagiarism.
Chapter · 20:29-23:10
Choosing viable case studies and recording every source
A useful case study must be relevant, well documented, and realistically accessible. Complete source records protect a deeply immersed researcher from accidental plagiarism.