On-site Case Study Research Articles

The Retention of Black Male Students in Texas Public Community Colleges

The purposes of this study were to ascertain which Texas public community colleges have been able to graduate the highest percentages of black males and to analyze the factors contributing to that achievement. An institutional questionnaire was developed, designed to elicit information regarding policies and/or practices directly related to the retention of black male students and mailed to each college in the top and bottom quartiles. On-site case studies were conducted at one institution each from the top and bottom quartiles. The focus of the case studies was to examine the setting, policies, procedures, programs, and culture of each campus for clues concerning their black male retention rate. Data collection was from interviews, observations, and collection of institutional artifacts. This study identified several retention strategies that differentiate institutions in the top quartile of black, male student graduation rate from institutions in the bottom quartile.

Friday Night at the Plant: A Small-Scale Application of an On-Site Case Study

This article describes the experiences of one MBA class that experimented with combining classroom lecture and discussion with an on-site case study at a business organization. The project provides an example of the positives and negatives of using an on-site case study to involve students in a real-world experience. Advantages and disadvantages are presented from three perspectives: the students, the instructor, and the CEO of the firm studied by the class. The article also provides a set of recommendations for other classes and companies considering similar small-scale experiences. It concludes with a discussion of the merits of applying the on-site case study approach on a smaller scale.