Negative case analysis

How it is used

Use to test interpretations against challenging evidence.

Example sentences

1. Our negative case analysis focused on students who disliked the otherwise popular course.

   Unusual responses challenge the dominant interpretation.

2. The negative case analysis led us to revise our explanation of staff turnover.

   Exceptions prompted revision rather than being ignored.

Common collocations

• conduct negative case analysis
• negative case analysis strategy

Related terms

• thematic analysisA qualitative method for finding, organizing and interpreting patterns of meaning, called themes, across interviews, texts or other data.
• interpretTo explain what data, results or a text mean, especially by connecting them to theory, earlier research or the research question.

More terms: Research Design

• research
• research question
• hypothesis
• methodology
• qualitative
• quantitative
• sample
• participant
• questionnaire
• case study
• carry out
• validity