Multiple Case Study Research in Co-operative Workplaces using Qualitative Interview Techniques

This methods case study examines the research process for a multiple case study project into people’s experiences of working life at workers’ co-operatives in the UK, using semi-structured interviews as the data collection process. The case study explains the rationale behind the qualitative approach, including reflections on an aborted quantitative survey approach, and justifies the multiple-case study design. It explains the blend of purposive and opportunistic sampling used in the study and reflects on the limitations of these sampling strategies. The unique ethical considerations of organisational research are considered in depth, including the role of anonymity and confidentiality and the relation of this to the success of interviews. The semi-structured interview approach used is explained in relation to the understanding of individual experiences of working life. Finally, the case study reflects on the challenges of entering new environments to carry out these interviews and the lessons to be learned for future organizational research.