Theory Building, Case Dependence, and Researchers’ Bounded Rationality: An Illustration From Studies of Innovation Diffusion

Abstract

Researchers increasingly take advantage of the comparative case design to build theory, but the degree of case dependence is occasionally discussed and theorized. We suggest that the comparative case study design might be subject to an often underappreciated threat—dependence across cases—under certain conditions. Using research on innovation diffusion as an illustration, we explore the role of social linkages across cases when building theory through comparison and contrast between cases. We develop an agent-based simulation, grounded by comparative case research about innovation diffusion, as novel way to study the implications of case dependence in theory building using multiple-case study research. Our simulation results suggest that the degree of case dependence has a nontrivial bearing on innovation diffusion experienced by case entities, specifically when the researcher draws a few case entities operating in a highly interconnected industry. Under these conditions, overlooking the degree of case dependence might weaken newly built theory against commonly held standards of internal validity and external validity in inductive research. We conceptualize the issue of case dependence as a concern about researchers’ bounded rationality. Accordingly, we build on our findings to provide actionable advice aiming to alleviate this concern while being amendable to the variety of approaches to build theory from multiple cases in social sciences.

A Study on the Factors Influencing Users’ Online Knowledge Paying-Behavior Based on the UTAUT Model

“…In terms of innovation diffusion theory, online knowledge payment activities are new ideas, new things, and new products and influence mass communication on a social and cultural level. The process of user acceptance is the process of diffusion of communication effects and the integration and absorption of new things [28]. In this process, users are informed, persuaded, and self-persuaded, make decisions, implement and give feedback on the innovation in willingness, behavior, and emotions.…”

Editorial: Introducing “short notes on methods”

“…On the problem of dependence in multiple case study research, an active approach to this methodology is required (e.g. see Oliveira and Secchi, 2021).…”