Using yin’s approach to case studies as a paradigm for conducting examinations

Abstract

At the heart of any forensic science discipline is the need to ensure that a method applied in the discipline is based on a factual foundation or valid scientific method. In digital forensics, the aim of an examination is to make consistent inferences about events with high certainty. The highest state of inference is a determination of causality. Two scientific methods that can be applied in digital forensic examinations to determine causality are experimentation and case studies. Experimentation has been used in a range of scientific studies, but there are situations where it is not always possible to conduct experiments. In these cases, the only option is to carry out case studies. A case study approach is not widely used in the natural sciences, but it has been accepted as a valid method that can produce insightful results in digital forensic examinations. This chapter focuses on conducting digital evidence examinations using Yin’s approach to case studies as a paradigm. The goal is to show that Yin’s case study approach can be applied suitably and that it is useful in digital forensic settings.