案例研究的外推——如何使案例研究具有普适性?

Extrapolation of Case Studies:How to Make Case Studies Universal?

案例研究的探索性功能已得到国内外学术界的普遍认可,但对于研究结论的普适性仍存在诸多质疑。基于对研究普适性功能与外推的理解,针对案例研究的外推展开探讨,依次回应了“案例研究是否需要外推”“案例研究能否实现外推”以及“外推的适用条件是什么”等关键问题。首先,通过对案例研究外推情境的理解,发现情境越复杂,研究结论的普适性越弱,而案例研究除了复杂情境的限制外,更容易因样本数量较少引发普适性难题,得出“案例研究的外推是极其必要的”;其次,经由深度解析案例研究外推的情境,表明案例研究虽处于复杂情境中,却可以通过归纳得到普适化构念或是简化情境组合,以此奠定了外推的基础和条件,得出“案例研究能够在情境相似的基础上实现外推”;再次,通过对案例研究外推边界和范围的探讨,发现处于同质情境特征和相似情境组合下的研究对象,适用理论可作对比探讨,得出“案例研究实现外推的适用条件主要包括情境特征挖掘和动态情境组合两方面”;最后,为确保案例研究外推的实施,进一步将外推过程细化为“基础性外推”和“拓展性外推”,为广大学者开展具有普适性价值的案例研究提供参考和建议,助力中国特色管理研究蓬勃发展。

The exploratory function of case studies has been widely recognized by the academic circles at home and abroad,but there are still many doubts about the universality of the research conclusions.Based on the understanding of the universal function of research and extrapolation,this paper discusses the extrapolation of case studies and responds to the key questions such as whether case studies need extrapolation,whether case studies can achieve extrapolation and what are the applicable conditions of extrapolation in turn.First of all,through the understanding of the case study extrapolation context,it is found that the more complex the context is,the weaker the universality of the research conclusion.In addition to the constraints of the complex context,the case study is more likely to cause the universality issue due to the small number of samples,and it is concluded that the extrapolation of the case study is extremely necessary.Secondly,through the in-depth analysis of the case study extrapolation context,it shows that although a case study is in a complex context,it can be generalized as universal constructs or in a simplified context combination through induction,thus laying the basis and conditions for extrapolation,and reaching the conclusion that a case study can achieve extrapolation on the basis of similar contexts.Thirdly,by discussing the boundary and scope of case study extrapolation,this study finds out the research objects under the homogenous contextual characteristics and similar contextual combinations,and the applicable theory can be compared and discussed,and concludes that the applicable conditions of case study extrapolation mainly include contextual feature mining and dynamic contextual combinations.Finally,in order to ensure the implementation of case study extrapolation,the process of extrapolation is further refined into basic and extended extrapolations,which provides references and suggestions for scholars to carry out case studies with universal values,and facilitates the vigorous development of management studies in China.