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Sociological Methods & Research
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Studying Rare Events Through Qualitative Case Studies

Lessons from a Study of Rampage School Shootings

DAVID J. HARDING

Harvard University dharding{at}wjh.harvard.edu

CYBELLE FOX

Harvard University fox{at}fas.harvard.edu

JAL D. MEHTA

Harvard University jmehta{at}fas.harvard.edu

This article considers five methodological challenges in studying rare events such as school shootings. Drawing on the literature on causal analysis in macro-historical and other small-N research, it outlines strategies for studying school shootings using qualitative case studies and illustrates these strategies using data from case studies of two rampage school shootings: Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, and Westside Middle School outside Jonesboro, Arkansas. Strengths and limitations are discussed as well as lessons for studying rare events.

Sociological Methods & Research, Vol. 31, No. 2, 174-217 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/0049124102031002003
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