Compatibility of the biographical method and the multiple case method in qualitative research - advantages and limitations

The paper raises the question in which ways the multiple case method and the biographical method can be compatible in qualitative research of an exploratory type. The basic assumption is that the combination of these two methods in certain research areas (under-researched) could provide adequate space for research progress. The biographical method is determined as a relevant way of research in which all the ways individual experience can explain social processes and the wider social context. Given that, it is possible to follow the development of social processes from the perspective of "personal stories", the question arises whether the biographical method represents only the reconstruction of the past, leaning towards overemphasizing the personal in the social, or is it a way to introduce uniqueness, complexity and understanding into social research. The similar nature of the multiple case method is also observed, where it is emphasized that one case can provide the potential for generalizations. Both of these methods are to some extent understood as "delicate" and specific. The analysis of the potential effectiveness of the combination of these two methods was performed on the basis of three key parameters: 1. convergence 2. complementarity and 3. compatibility of their characteristics. The results lead to the view that there is a significant connection in the domain: diversity of data sources, selection of relevant data, data integration, data comparison, broader understanding of the uniqueness of the social context of the researched phenomenon, strengthening the validity and objectivity of the results, reconciling the definition of the respondents' situation and the objective parameters of the analysis. Therefore, the conclusion is drawn that the combination of these two methods can be understood as a bridge that connects particularization with generalization, as a means for drawing conclusions in social sciences.