Studying Rare Events Through Qualitative Case Studies

David J. Harding, Cybelle Fox and Jal D. Mehta
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David J. Harding: Harvard University dharding@wjh.harvard.edu
Cybelle Fox: Harvard University fox@fas.harvard.edu
Jal D. Mehta: Harvard University jmehta@fas.harvard.edu

Sociological Methods & Research, 2002, vol. 31, issue 2, 174-217

Abstract: This article considers five methodological challenges in studying rare events such as school shootings. Drawing on the literature on causal analysis in macro-historical and other small -N research, it outlines strategies for studying school shootings using qualitative case studies and illustrates these strategies using data from case studies of two rampage school shootings: Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, and Westside Middle School outside Jonesboro, Arkansas. Strengths and limitations are discussed as well as lessons for studying rare events .

Date: 2002
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:somere:v:31:y:2002:i:2:p:174-217

DOI: 10.1177/0049124102031002003

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