Practical guidance for the use of a pattern-matchingudtechnique in case-study research : a case presentation

摘要

This paper reports on a study that demonstrates how to apply pattern matching as an analytical method inudcase-study research. Case-study design is appropriate for the investigation of highly-contextualized phenomenaudthat occur within the social world. Case-study design is considered a pragmatic approach that permitsudemployment of multiple methods and data sources in order to attain a rich understanding of the phenomenonudunder investigation. The findings from such multiple methods can be reconciled in case-study analysis,udspecifically through a pattern-matching technique. Although this technique is theoretically explained in theudliterature, there is scant guidance on how to apply the method practically when analyzing data. This paperuddemonstrates the steps taken during pattern matching in a completed case-study project that investigated theudinfluence of cultural diversity in a multicultural nursing workforce on the quality and safety of patient care.udThe example highlighted in this paper contributes to the practical understanding of the pattern-matchingudprocess, and can also make a substantial contribution to case-study methods.