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What Is a Case Study?
When you’re performing research as part of your job or for a school assignment, you’ll probably come across case studies that help you to learn more about the topic at hand. But what is a case study and why are they helpful? Read on to learn all about case studies.
Deep Dive into a Topic
At face value, a case study is a deep dive into a topic. Case studies can be found in many fields, particularly across the social sciences and medicine. When you conduct a case study, you create a body of research based on an inquiry and related data from analysis of a group, individual or controlled research environment.
As a researcher, you can benefit from the analysis of case studies similar to inquiries you’re currently studying. Researchers often rely on case studies to answer questions that basic information and standard diagnostics cannot address.
Study a Pattern
One of the main objectives of a case study is to find a pattern that answers whatever the initial inquiry seeks to find. This might be a question about why college students are prone to certain eating habits or what mental health problems afflict house fire survivors. The researcher then collects data, either through observation or data research, and starts connecting the dots to find underlying behaviors or impacts of the sample group’s behavior.
Gather Evidence
During the study period, the researcher gathers evidence to back the observed patterns and future claims that’ll be derived from the data. Since case studies are usually presented in the professional environment, it’s not enough to simply have a theory and observational notes to back up a claim. Instead, the researcher must provide evidence to support the body of study and the resulting conclusions.
Present Findings
As the study progresses, the researcher develops a solid case to present to peers or a governing body. Case study presentation is important because it legitimizes the body of research and opens the findings to a broader analysis that may end up drawing a conclusion that’s more true to the data than what one or two researchers might establish. The presentation might be formal or casual, depending on the case study itself.
Draw Conclusions
Once the body of research is established, it’s time to draw conclusions from the case study. As with all social sciences studies, conclusions from one researcher shouldn’t necessarily be taken as gospel, but they’re helpful for advancing the body of knowledge in a given field. For that purpose, they’re an invaluable way of gathering new material and presenting ideas that others in the field can learn from and expand upon.
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The List of Case Study Topics On Various Academic Subjects
Updated 01 Feb 2023
Although the majority of academic definitions of case study talk about some process or research work related to the development of a particular person, group of people, or events over a period of time, it also involves specific analysis to identify problems and find the outcomes. Therefore, the majority of case study topics already include some challenge or an assumption that requires additional research.
The case study usually includes a short description of a problem or an idea that must be explored with the data that should be helpful to let you explore and find the best solutions. For example, turning to a professional case study writing service , you will see that the case studies for nursing students will always differ from those that are used by engineering students. Keeping all these facts and related challenges in mind, we came up with a list of case study topics divided by category.
Case Study Ideas
Coming up with good and reliable case study ideas is essential for college students regardless of their course, existing skills, and academic objectives. Since case study writing explores a plethora of different research methodologies, choosing your topic correctly will help you to avoid such scenarios when your ideas become scattered all over your paper. Have a look at our list of case study ideas based on the subject and use them as a starting point for your future case study assignments. Need help with homework? Hire a professional essay writer .
Case Study Ideas For Psychology
The field of Psychology is quite challenging, which is why it is vital to choose your topic accordingly regardless if you already know the basics or want to overcome writer's block. Here are some interesting ideas to consider based on what is currently popular in various American universities:
- Military operations and the PTSD recovery process.
- The most common misconceptions about children with Autism.
- The workplace leadership and the complex of Emperor.
- The perception of danger in different cultures.
- The origins of bipolar disorder through the prism of domestic violence.
- Covid-19 and related anxiety cases among college students.
- The dangers of advertisements on children's TV networks.
- The negative influence of Instagram and distorted body image.
- Mental recovery of child abuse victims.
- Asthenic syndrome among teenage children.
Case Study Topics In Education
As you are dealing with Education, you should start by exploring the latest changes as the technology is constantly advancing. Compare old and new study methods used in schools or American universities to get the basic idea of competitive case study topics.
Here are some of them to explore:
- The challenges of remote education in rural locations in the USA.
- The teaching methods of Montessori schools.
- How to motivate children with learning disabilities?
- Pros and Cons of AI-based systems in education.
- The degree of freedom in Scandinavian schools.
- The role of self-motivation in European middle schools.
- Is Summer Camp education worth it?
- The consequences of improper examination methods.;
- The educative methodologies commonly used by male teachers.
- The changes that have taken place in education during the Covid-19 period.
Information Technology
The students majoring in Data Science or Information Technology sciences also have to face case study writing, which is usually based on various data analysis methods or the impact that technology has in certain fields of life. Still, you can always explore a little bit further and choose different topics for case studies like the ones below:
- Does technology advancement has an end?
- The limitations of the Python programming language.
- The differences between modern programming methods and the "old-school" approaches.
- The analysis of ethical hackers.
- Should one learn to become a hacker to prevent the majority of cyberattacks?
- Is user simplicity always good: WordPress case study?
- The challenges of software development in modern times.
- The safety of data analysis for medical purposes.
- The use of drones in police operations.
- Semantic methods in debugging.
Environmental Science
It is only natural to examine various case studies as you are learning all the complex environmental science aspects. Since the majority of tasks in this field will include either reflective writing or cause-and-effect essays, the use of case study writing cannot be underestimated. We're a law essay writing service that you can trust: we get A grades from our customers.
Here are some ideas to use as the starting points:
- The mobile vessel pump systems that reduce ocean pollution.
- Is saving endangered species possible in our times?
- The cons and pros of ecological tourism.
- The use of politics in the Global Warming campaigns.
- The Earthquake prevention systems in the United States.
- The clarity of Carbon Dioxide Emission reports.
- The reasons why the Kyoto Protocol has double standards.
- The correct method of planting trees in an urban environment.
- How can college students help promote environmental protection.
- The use of Green Technologies during pandemic times.
Marketing Case Study Ideas
As a rule, marketing specialists always have enough to deal with, yet choosing a successful case study topic is not always easy! Do your best to narrow your ideas down to meet the main argument of your thesis statement and the educational objectives. You can browse through a wide range of subjects, including:
- The differences between female and male target marketing methods.
- The unique strategies and popularity of Apple Inc.
- Brand development methods: the most common mistakes.
- German Automotive Industry in the American market.
- Online (digital) versus physical marketing.
- The factors that create customer loyalty in the field of beverages.
- The negativity commonly associated with McDonald's.
- The controversy between Samsung and Apple.
- Is marketing to children morally acceptable?
- The future of marketing methods in the post-Covid-19 world.
Management Case Study Topics
Management is always complex because it involves a plethora of different subjects that must be combined and analyzed. The role of case studies here is vital because it is the best way to learn both old and new methods of management. Consider this list of case study topics on Management:
- Corporate planning and strategic management by Nike Corporation.
- The activity-based costs systems in the Asian markets.
- Is child entrepreneurship taking away the aspect of childhood?
- Should financial management be taught at schools?
- Human Resources Management bias and ethnicity aspects.
- The challenges of global management in modern times.
- The management and social media.
- Does immediate innovation has a place in marketing?
- Sustainable development and globalization.
- Civil rights and the responsibilities of corporate management specialists.
Applied Physics
As you may think that Applied Physics is all about theory or lab experiments, you are quite far from the truth because it also involves case study writing to determine the engineering mistakes or provide college professors with a piece of evidence that you understand the subject correctly.
- Condensed Matter and Mechanical Engineering studies.
- The most common misconceptions about Nanoscience.
- The Green Energy systems in the domestic environment.
- Why the study of Microfluidics is often considered dangerous?
- Quantum Information Science and Data Transfer methods.
- The benefits of Astrophysics lessons for the school children.
- The application of synchrotron radiation and relevant dangers.
- The engineering mindset specifics in Applied Physics.
- Radiation therapy and related mental aspects.
- The role of female scientists in Applied Physics.
SMM Case Study Topics
It is hard to imagine our lives without social media these days. It is only natural that SMM or Social Media Marketing case study topics are becoming even more popular.
Here are some of them you must definitely check:
- The use of children in SMM strategies.
- The challenges of influencers on social media.
- Why the majority of SMM trends are dangerous?
- The reasons why TikTok became popular.
- The importance of impromptu dancing on social media.
- Is SMM Marketing the next best thing for modern sales?
- Online marketing dangers.
- The differences between globalization and mass trend following.
- Social media dangers for children.
- The age gap differences in social media groups.
MBA Case Study Topic Ideas
MBA studies still remain one of the most popular subjects for those who want to start their personal business or promote something innovative. Once you have your MBA degree, you can get employed at some of the world's best companies. Still, as you only study, it is crucial to do all these writing tasks, including reflective journals and case study papers. Have no fear as we have some MBA case study ideas for you:
- Operations management styles at Intel Inc.
- Why the majority of human resource management methods used are outdated today.
- The specifics of marketing research in Japan.
- Customer relationship management and religion.
- Strategic Thinking VS Leadership training.
- MBA marketing specifics.
- The attitude and professional success: Bill Gates personality.
- Steve Jobs' marketing style.
- Financial responsibility of CEOs in the United States.
- The IT marketing through the prism of staff training in marketing.
Human Rights Case Studies
Even though we all have heard about human rights and related challenges these days, it is often uneasy to choose the right case study topic. If you are unsure what to choose, consider these examples of case study topics below:
- The challenges of the Palestinian community.
- Misconceptions about the Black Lives Matter Movement.
- Should children be allowed to vote and participate in politics.
- The gender injustice in the scientific community of American Universities.
- The abuse of female personnel workforce.
- The Anti-Discrimination Act controversies.
- The human rights controversies in the United States versus cases in Canada.
- How can minor children stand for their basic human rights?
- The moral aspect of freedom of speech.
- The human rights activists and their moral principles: South Africa.
Nursing Case Study Subjects
- The privacy of the nurse and patient communications.
- The importance of ER nursing stress reduction methods.
- Should nurses be taught self-defense tactics?
- The presence of ethnic bias in the nursing community.
- The emotional bonds established by the nurses in a team.
- How does team solidarity affect nursing responsibilities?
- The healthcare system in Norway: Bergen hospitals case study analysis.
- Should nurses be granted additional payments for the emotional turbulence that they endure?
- Patients with Alzheimer’s and the modern nursing methods.
- How can nurses help children to communicate more efficiently?
Business Case Study Topics
Regardless of what business field you may encounter for your college studies in the United States, the chances are high that you will need some inspiration for your next case study assignment. Consider taking a look at these topic ideas:
- The quality production differences between Gibson and Fender.
- The link between production quality and strategic thinking implemented by the CEOs.
- The image of the modern business individual today.
- Pricing optimization at Apple Inc.
- The reasons why start-ups became so popular in 2022.
- Market expansion in the Asian markets.
- Industry Landscape in Australia for investment purposes.
- Profitability and moral limitations in business in China.
- Personnel management issues at Amazon business outlets.
- The problems of consumerism in the United States.
Of course, these are only the starting points or the basic ideas that you can use as you think about how to choose a good case study topic for your next project! When in doubt, always consult your academic advisor or hire a professional case study writer to pick the best subject and methodology!
How To Choose Good Case Study Topics?
Starting with your case study topic hunting, follow these simple rules:
- Choose something that inspires you.
- Narrow things down to reflect your main idea the best way possible.
- Explore similar research ideas on the topic.
- Identify the problem(s) and opinions related to your chosen subject.
- Choose relevant methodology that will make it possible to research this or that case study topic.
- Find alternate wording for your case study assignment.
- Brainstorm available case study topics for college students.
Remember that if you are not sure about something, always ask your college advisor and check your grading rubric twice to ensure that you are on the right track!
Analysis Comes First
It must be reminded again that every assignment that you approach must include a preliminary analysis of the topic because you must be aware of various research aspects related to your topic. Take your time to consider different wording patterns and always narrow things down if possible to let your case study writing reflect your thesis and the main ideas. Always provide good evidence and analyze all the available information that you have in the case study instructions. It will help you to provide enough evidence of your research based upon a specific case study. Therefore, brainstorm our case study topics and let your education struggles become easier with our help! And remember that you can always ask us to write your case study for you !
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200 Outstanding Case Study Topics on Several Academic Subjects
Table of Contents
Do you want to prepare a case study on a unique topic? Are you searching for the best case study topics? For writing a detailed case study, it is necessary to have a specific case from a subject or topic to focus on. But, in general, it is really challenging to identify a good case study topic. So, here, in this blog post, we have shared with you a list of outstanding case study topics on various academic subjects to deal with.
What is a Case Study?
A case study is a research method that is used for the detailed study of a person, event, organization, process, place or group. In simple terms, the case study is done for a better understanding of a process or a subject. More commonly, case studies are used in educational, social, clinical, and business research.
You can depend on case studies for describing, comparing, evaluating, and understanding a research problem from different perspectives. Taking Dissertation Help is a perfect choice for writing a thesis or dissertation.
If you are asked to prepare a case study on a particular topic, then you need to identify a particular case from your problem statement or research question, develop a theoretical framework, collect qualitative or quantitative data from reliable sources and analyze the case.
When writing your case study , first, you need to conduct in-depth research on your topic and then address the problem statement by bringing together all the relevant aspects of the subject. Remember, your case study should be structured like a thesis, research or paper writing with separate sections for methods, results, and discussion.
Case Study Topic Ideas
As said earlier, for crafting a case study, a good topic is necessary. Usually, your instructors will assign a topic for you, or they will provide a wide list of options for you to select. In such scenarios, it is easy for you to begin the case study writing.
If your instructor didn’t give you a topic and asked you to pick a topic or case on your own, then you need to spend more time gathering the case study topic ideas. It is really a hectic process to collect all the ideas and identify a perfect topic for a case study. So, to eliminate all the troubles that exist in your path, here we have grouped different subjects and have listed some interesting and unique case study topic ideas for you to consider.
Quickly dive in and pick a case study topic that inspires you and falls within the subject category as suggested by your instructor.
Education Case Study Topics
- Pros and Cons of AI-based systems in education.
- The teaching methods of Montessori schools.
- The consequences of improper examination methods
- The changes that have taken place in education during the Covid-19 period
- Is Summer Camp education worth it?
- The educative methodologies are commonly used by male teachers.
- Effective methods to motivate children with learning disabilities.
- The role of self-motivation in European middle schools.
- The challenges of remote education in rural locations in the USA.
- The degree of freedom in Scandinavian schools.
- Use of automation in higher education
- Benefits and limitations of online education
- How to motivate children with learning disabilities?
- The role of technology in distant learning
- Growing classes: do learning outcomes suffer from it?
Applied Physics Case Study Topics
- The results of improper examination methods.
- The challenges of remote education at rural places in the USA
- The proper treatment of child abuse victims in class
- How can taught self-defense tactics help minor children stand for themselves against school bullies?
- Essential university subjects for future corporate management specialists
- Where can you learn about activity-based cost systems?
- The best college degrees in global management
- Quantum Information Science and Data Transfer methods.
- The role of female scientists in Applied Physics.
- The engineering mindset specifics in Applied Physics.
- Why is the study of Microfluidics often considered dangerous?
- Condensed Matter and Mechanical Engineering studies.
- Radiation therapy and its related mental aspects.
- The Green Energy systems in the domestic environment.
Applied Physics Case Study Topics for university
- Misconceptions about Nanoscience.
- The application of synchrotron radiation and relevant dangers.
- The benefits of astrophysics lessons for school children.
- The wind is an example of convection in nature.
- Hadron Collider: a myth about the origin of the Universe.
- Ultrafast processes and laser-plasma.
- The influence of weightlessness on the vital activity of organisms.
- Nanophotonics and quantum optics of nanostructures.
- What is Môssbauer effect?
- Discuss the Predictive Theory of Neutrino Masses
- The origins of bipolar disorder through the prism of domestic violence.
- What do you mean by engineering physics?
- What do you mean by condensed matter experiment?
- What is the difference between quantum gravity as well as field theory?
Environmental Science Case Study Topics
- The pros and cons of ecological tourism.
- The correct method of planting trees in an urban environment.
- Is saving endangered species possible in our times?
- The clarity of Carbon Dioxide Emission reports.
- The use of politics in the Global Warming campaigns.
- The effective ways for college students to promote environmental protection.
- The mobile vessel pumps systems reduce ocean pollution.
Environmental Science Case Study Topics for students
- The reasons why the Kyoto Protocol has double standards.
- The use of Green Technologies during pandemic times.
- The earthquake prevention systems in the United States.
- Use of technology and science in water management
- Biodiversity and ecology conservation
- Physical, biological and chemical aspects of the environment
- What do you mean by climate change mitigation as well as adaptation?
- What is sustainability in the context of the business?
- What do you mean by remote sensing as well as geographic information systems?
- Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.
Information Technology Case Study Topics
- Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation.
- Energy and the Environment.
- The challenges of software development in modern times.
- The analysis of ethical hackers.
- The limitations of the Python programming language.
- Semantic methods in debugging.
- The safety of data analysis for medical purposes.
- Is user simplicity always good? A case study on WordPress.
- The use of drones in police operations.
- Does technology advancement have an end?
IT Case Study Topics
- Should one learn to become a hacker to prevent the majority of cyberattacks?
- Discuss the difference between modern programming methods and the “old-school” approaches.
- What is ethical hacking?
- Discuss about the types of ethical hacking
- Cybersecurity and Cyberphysical systems
- How to use Conformance testing?
- What do you mean by block chain and sustainable supply chains?
- How to create the internet powered by 100% renewable energy?
- How to measure net positive value in ICT in the online education?
Marketing Case Study Topics
- Is marketing to children morally acceptable?
- Brand development methods
- The differences between female and male target marketing methods.
- The negativity is commonly associated with McDonald’s.
- The future of marketing methods in the post-Covid-19 world.
- The German Automotive Industry in the American market.
- The controversy between Samsung and Apple.
- The factors that create customer loyalty in the field of beverages.
- Digital versus Physical Marketing
- The unique strategies and popularity of Apple Inc.
Marketing Case Study Topics for Assignments
- The study of individual purchasing decision-making.
- Study of consumer motivation and preferences when choosing durable goods.
- Study of the attitude of individual consumers to the firm.
- Marketing case for website traffic growth.
- Assess the competitive environment of the market in multiple areas.
- Bank design concept.
- Investigation of the corporate culture of the organization.
- Assess the prospects for opening a new company in the conditions of the region.
- Setting up contextual advertising.
- Search for a new product idea.
- Evolution of marketing practices over the past two decades
- The concept of Green marketing with examples and benefits
Management Case Study Topics
- What are the characteristics of male target marketing methods?
- Brand development methods in the German automotive industry
- Peculiarities of Steve Jobs marketing style
- How can other businesses implement Steve Jobs’ marketing style?
- The implementation of physical marketing in the biggest companies
- Sustainable development and globalization.
- Is child entrepreneurship taking away the aspect of childhood?
- Human Resources Management bias and ethnicity aspects.
- Civil rights and the responsibilities of corporate management specialists.
- Does immediate innovation have a place in marketing?
- The challenges of global management in modern times.
- Corporate planning and strategic management by Nike Corporation.
- Should financial management be taught at schools?
- The management and social media.
- The activity-based costs systems in the Asian markets.
Management Case Study Topics for Exam
- Stages of development strategy.
- Anti-crisis personnel management.
- The impact factors of the business environment in the activities of a particular company.
- Analysis of the necessary qualities of a modern leader.
- Recruitment technologies and their efficiency
- Methods of building personnel management systems.
- The essence of management decisions and stages of its adoption.
- Analyze the human resources of the enterprise.
- Analyze the necessary qualities of a modern leader.
- Innovative changes in the personnel management system
- Importance of strategic business management
Case Study Topics on Social Media Marketing
- Online marketing dangers.
- The age gap differences in social media groups.
- The differences between globalization and mass trends.
- The reasons why TikTok became popular.
- The use of children in Social Media Marketing strategies.
- The importance of impromptu dancing on social media.
- Why are the majority of Social Media Marketing trends dangerous?
- Is Social Media Marketing the next best thing for modern sales?
- The challenges of influencers on social media.
- Social media dangers for children.
- Evolution of social media marketing
- Importance of storytelling and influencer marketing in social media marketing
Business Case Study Topics
- The reasons why start-ups became so popular in 2021.
- The link between production quality and strategic thinking implemented by the CEOs.
- The problems of consumerism in the United States.
- Industry Landscape in Australia for investment purposes.
- Pricing optimization at Apple Inc.
- The quality production differences between Gibson and Fender.
- Personnel management issues at Amazon business outlets.
- Market expansion in the Asian markets.
- Profitability and moral limitations in business in China.
- The image of the modern business individual today.
- Best organization model to scale for driving business growth
- Most emerging Southeast Asian markets to expand for American companies
MBA Case Study Topics
- Strategic Thinking VS Leadership training.
- Financial responsibility of CEOs in the United States.
- MBA marketing specifics.
- Operations management styles at Intel Inc.
- Why are the majority of human resource management methods outdated today?
- Customer relationship management and religion.
- Steve Jobs’ marketing style.
- The specifics of marketing research in Japan.
- The IT marketing through the prism of staff training in marketing.
- The attitude and professional success of Bill Gates
- Leadership style of Warren Buffet
Case Study Ideas on Human Rights Topics
- The Anti-Discrimination Act controversies.
- The moral aspect of freedom of speech.
- Should children be allowed to vote and participate in politics?
- The challenges of the Palestinian community.
- The abuse of female personnel workforce.
- Misconceptions about the Black Lives Matter Movement.
- The gender injustice in the scientific community of American Universities.
- The human rights activists and their moral principles: South Africa.
- How can minor children stand for their basic human rights?
- The human rights controversies in the United States versus cases in Canada.
- Human rights issues faced by African Americans
Nursing Case Study Topics
- The presence of ethnic bias in the nursing community.
- How can nurses help children to communicate more efficiently?
- Should nurses be taught self-defense tactics?
- The privacy of the nurse and patient communications.
- Patients with Alzheimer’s and the modern nursing methods.
- The importance of ER nursing stress reduction methods.
- Should nurses be granted additional payments for the emotional turbulence that they endure?
- The emotional bonds are established by the nurses in a team.
- The healthcare system in Norway: Bergen hospitals case study analysis.
- Importance of patient-centred care in nursing
Psychology Case Study Topics
- Mental recovery of child abuse victims.
- The most common misconceptions about children with autism.
- Asthenic syndrome among teenage children.
- The dangers of advertisements on children’s TV networks.
- The negative influence of Instagram and distorted body image.
- The workplace leadership and the complex of the Emperor.
- Military operations and the PTSD recovery process.
- Covid-19 and related anxiety cases among college students in 2021.
- The perception of danger in different cultures.
- The inferiority complex: how to overcome
- Sexual harassment of minors
- Schizophrenia in various manifestations
- Drug use during pregnancy
- Personal complexes as a driver of progress
- Discussion on the most commonly found psychological disordered in children
Final Thoughts
For your case study assignment, you can choose any topic of your choice from the list of case study topics suggested in this blog post. Remember, a case study is a detailed study of a particular topic, and hence, spend more time on analysis and present your main ideas by providing valid evidence.
If you are struggling to complete your case study or find it difficult to perform an in-depth analysis of a case, then avail of our case study writing service . We have a team of professional academic writers to assist you in completing a well-structured, original case study on the best case study topics as per your case study instructions. To hire our instant assignment helpers and reliable case study help, quickly place your order.
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What Is a Case Study?
An in-depth study of one person, group, or event
Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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Benefits and Limitations
Types of case studies, how to write a case study.
A case study is an in-depth study of one person, group, or event. In a case study, nearly every aspect of the subject's life and history is analyzed to seek patterns and causes of behavior. Case studies can be used in various fields, including psychology, medicine, education, anthropology, political science, and social work.
The purpose of a case study is to learn as much as possible about an individual or group so that the information can be generalized to many others. Unfortunately, case studies tend to be highly subjective, and it is sometimes difficult to generalize results to a larger population.
While case studies focus on a single individual or group, they follow a format similar to other types of psychology writing. If you are writing a case study, it is important to follow the rules of APA format .
A case study can have both strengths and weaknesses. Researchers must consider these pros and cons before deciding if this type of study is appropriate for their needs.
One of the greatest advantages of a case study is that it allows researchers to investigate things that are often difficult to impossible to replicate in a lab. Some other benefits of a case study:
- Allows researchers to collect a great deal of information
- Give researchers the chance to collect information on rare or unusual cases
- Permits researchers to develop hypotheses that can be explored in experimental research
On the negative side, a case study:
- Cannot necessarily be generalized to the larger population
- Cannot demonstrate cause and effect
- May not be scientifically rigorous
- Can lead to bias
Researchers may choose to perform a case study if they are interested in exploring a unique or recently discovered phenomenon. The insights gained from such research can help the researchers develop additional ideas and study questions that might be explored in future studies.
However, it is important to remember that the insights gained from case studies cannot be used to determine cause and effect relationships between variables. However, case studies may be used to develop hypotheses that can then be addressed in experimental research.
Case Study Examples
There have been a number of notable case studies in the history of psychology. Much of Freud's work and theories were developed through the use of individual case studies. Some great examples of case studies in psychology include:
- Anna O : Anna O. was a pseudonym of a woman named Bertha Pappenheim, a patient of a physician named Josef Breuer. While she was never a patient of Freud's, Freud and Breuer discussed her case extensively. The woman was experiencing symptoms of a condition that was then known as hysteria and found that talking about her problems helped relieve her symptoms. Her case played an important part in the development of talk therapy as an approach to mental health treatment.
- Phineas Gage : Phineas Gage was a railroad employee who experienced a terrible accident in which an explosion sent a metal rod through his skull, damaging important portions of his brain. Gage recovered from his accident but was left with serious changes in both personality and behavior.
- Genie : Genie was a young girl subjected to horrific abuse and isolation. The case study of Genie allowed researchers to study whether language could be taught even after critical periods for language development had been missed. Her case also served as an example of how scientific research may interfere with treatment and lead to further abuse of vulnerable individuals.
Such cases demonstrate how case research can be used to study things that researchers could not replicate in experimental settings. In Genie's case, her horrific abuse had denied her the opportunity to learn language at critical points in her development.
This is clearly not something that researchers could ethically replicate, but conducting a case study on Genie allowed researchers the chance to study phenomena that are otherwise impossible to reproduce.
There are a few different types of case studies that psychologists and other researchers might utilize:
- Collective case studies : These involve studying a group of individuals. Researchers might study a group of people in a certain setting or look at an entire community. For example, psychologists might explore how access to resources in a community has affected the collective mental well-being of those living there.
- Descriptive case studies : These involve starting with a descriptive theory. The subjects are then observed, and the information gathered is compared to the pre-existing theory.
- Explanatory case studies : These are often used to do causal investigations. In other words, researchers are interested in looking at factors that may have caused certain things to occur.
- Exploratory case studies : These are sometimes used as a prelude to further, more in-depth research. This allows researchers to gather more information before developing their research questions and hypotheses .
- Instrumental case studies : These occur when the individual or group allows researchers to understand more than what is initially obvious to observers.
- Intrinsic case studies : This type of case study is when the researcher has a personal interest in the case. Jean Piaget's observations of his own children are good examples of how an intrinsic cast study can contribute to the development of a psychological theory.
The three main case study types often used are intrinsic, instrumental, and collective. Intrinsic case studies are useful for learning about unique cases. Instrumental case studies help look at an individual to learn more about a broader issue. A collective case study can be useful for looking at several cases simultaneously.
The type of case study that psychology researchers utilize depends on the unique characteristics of the situation as well as the case itself.
There are also different methods that can be used to conduct a case study, including prospective and retrospective case study methods.
Prospective case study methods are those in which an individual or group of people is observed in order to determine outcomes. For example, a group of individuals might be watched over an extended period of time to observe the progression of a particular disease.
Retrospective case study methods involve looking at historical information. For example, researchers might start with an outcome, such as a disease, and then work their way backward to look at information about the individual's life to determine risk factors that may have contributed to the onset of the illness.
Where to Find Data
There are a number of different sources and methods that researchers can use to gather information about an individual or group. Six major sources that have been identified by researchers are:
- Archival records : Census records, survey records, and name lists are examples of archival records.
- Direct observation : This strategy involves observing the subject, often in a natural setting . While an individual observer is sometimes used, it is more common to utilize a group of observers.
- Documents : Letters, newspaper articles, administrative records, etc., are the types of documents often used as sources.
- Interviews : Interviews are one of the most important methods for gathering information in case studies. An interview can involve structured survey questions or more open-ended questions.
- Participant observation : When the researcher serves as a participant in events and observes the actions and outcomes, it is called participant observation.
- Physical artifacts : Tools, objects, instruments, and other artifacts are often observed during a direct observation of the subject.
Section 1: A Case History
This section will have the following structure and content:
Background information : The first section of your paper will present your client's background. Include factors such as age, gender, work, health status, family mental health history, family and social relationships, drug and alcohol history, life difficulties, goals, and coping skills and weaknesses.
Description of the presenting problem : In the next section of your case study, you will describe the problem or symptoms that the client presented with.
Describe any physical, emotional, or sensory symptoms reported by the client. Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions related to the symptoms should also be noted. Any screening or diagnostic assessments that are used should also be described in detail and all scores reported.
Your diagnosis : Provide your diagnosis and give the appropriate Diagnostic and Statistical Manual code. Explain how you reached your diagnosis, how the client's symptoms fit the diagnostic criteria for the disorder(s), or any possible difficulties in reaching a diagnosis.
Section 2: Treatment Plan
This portion of the paper will address the chosen treatment for the condition. This might also include the theoretical basis for the chosen treatment or any other evidence that might exist to support why this approach was chosen.
- Cognitive behavioral approach : Explain how a cognitive behavioral therapist would approach treatment. Offer background information on cognitive behavioral therapy and describe the treatment sessions, client response, and outcome of this type of treatment. Make note of any difficulties or successes encountered by your client during treatment.
- Humanistic approach : Describe a humanistic approach that could be used to treat your client, such as client-centered therapy . Provide information on the type of treatment you chose, the client's reaction to the treatment, and the end result of this approach. Explain why the treatment was successful or unsuccessful.
- Psychoanalytic approach : Describe how a psychoanalytic therapist would view the client's problem. Provide some background on the psychoanalytic approach and cite relevant references. Explain how psychoanalytic therapy would be used to treat the client, how the client would respond to therapy, and the effectiveness of this treatment approach.
- Pharmacological approach : If treatment primarily involves the use of medications, explain which medications were used and why. Provide background on the effectiveness of these medications and how monotherapy may compare with an approach that combines medications with therapy or other treatments.
This section of a case study should also include information about the treatment goals, process, and outcomes.
When you are writing a case study, you should also include a section where you discuss the case study itself, including the strengths and limitiations of the study. You should note how the findings of your case study might support previous research.
In your discussion section, you should also describe some of the implications of your case study. What ideas or findings might require further exploration? How might researchers go about exploring some of these questions in additional studies?
Here are a few additional pointers to keep in mind when formatting your case study:
- Never refer to the subject of your case study as "the client." Instead, their name or a pseudonym.
- Read examples of case studies to gain an idea about the style and format.
- Remember to use APA format when citing references .
A Word From Verywell
Case studies can be a useful research tool, but they need to be used wisely. In many cases, they are best utilized in situations where conducting an experiment would be difficult or impossible. They are helpful for looking at unique situations and allow researchers to gather a great deal of information about a specific individual or group of people.
If you have been directed to write a case study for a psychology course, be sure to check with your instructor for any specific guidelines that you are required to follow. If you are writing your case study for professional publication, be sure to check with the publisher for their specific guidelines for submitting a case study.
Simply Psychology. Case Study Method .
Crowe S, Cresswell K, Robertson A, Huby G, Avery A, Sheikh A. The case study approach . BMC Med Res Methodol . 2011 Jun 27;11:100. doi:10.1186/1471-2288-11-100
Gagnon, Yves-Chantal. The Case Study as Research Method: A Practical Handbook . Canada, Chicago Review Press Incorporated DBA Independent Pub Group, 2010.
Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods . United States, SAGE Publications, 2017.
By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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Case Study Topics: Awesome Ideas for Students 2023
What Is a Case Study? Discover Some Awesome Topic Ideas
The modern scientific community uses many research techniques that fit various academic subjects. One of these methods is a case study. Although this way of research is quite popular, only some people can properly define it. A case study is an in-depth analysis that helps to examine something from different perspectives. This way, you may study anything you like:
- A person, etc.
Interestingly, people often promote a particular company or a product by using marketing topics on case study. During marketing research or any other study, thorough data analysis is crucial. Therefore, researchers carefully examine volumes of qualitative or quantitative data to do their tasks.
How to Find Awesome Case Study Topics?
But what is the use of analytical skills without good case study topics? So whether you discuss human resource management methods or customer relationship management, the theme should remain engaging.
If you think, ‘I wish someone would do my homework for me !’ help is on your way. This article contains the best examples of case study topics. Such lists of ready-to-use titles are of great service to students who struggle with broad choices. Moreover, the major rules for case study writing are here too. So, after reading this article, you will know everything about case studies and more!
How to Write a Case Study? Case Study Format
That’s it. You figured out the essence of case studies. Your next question probably is how to write a case study. Indeed, knowing the answer is essential for completing exemplary student work. A correct method to learn about the case study format is to memorize the basics first.
However, there are more specific recommendations besides the general rules. For instance, imagine the differences between workplace leadership and mechanical engineering studies! Undoubtedly, the two works may meet the general rules but differ in detail. Fortunately, in the scientific community, there is a set of rules in the scientific community that works for various academic subjects. Therefore, if a beginner follows these instructions, their paper becomes correct!
Executive Summary
According to the rules, every case study starts with an executive summary. Why should the readers see it first? The executive summary is a short recap of the whole paper. Hence, everybody can get a glimpse of what the work is. In other words, this part allows good case study topics to draw attention to the paper.
Something else to remember is that the executive summary has a certain structure, which is:
- Problem statement
- Recommendation
- Evidence and supporting arguments
- Conclusion
By this logic, you perform the next steps. First, you define the core issue of the case. Then, you suggest your solutions and prove your arguments using facts. As a result, the readers quickly get acquainted with your work!
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Problem Examination
After you have briefly described your case study on the first page, move to the next stage. Your next goal is to perform a deep analysis of the main problem. How does it look? Contrary to the vague descriptions, in the beginning, the problem examination part contains many important details.
Often, people state the causes and effects of the issue, which helps provide the most effective solutions later. For instance, in a marketing case study example, someone might talk about a product failing in a new market. Someone else can discuss business operations, management styles, or marketing tactics. So, the person should mention the reasons and consequences of such a situation.
Alternatives and Decision Criteria
The next section that the case study format contains is about alternatives and decision criteria. Indeed, a student may say, ‘I wonder how to write my research paper with a case study.’ But there is no need to worry since you can also find clear explanations about this part.
Briefly, you lay out several solutions to the issue you described before. Remember to explain every alternative shortly, without too much text and details. Additionally, present only the mutually exclusive solutions, meaning that every one of them is enough for resolving all issues. Plus, state the decisive factors that you considered during your thought process.
Suggestions and Action Plan
After vaguely discussing the recommended alternatives, it’s time to illustrate the suggestions and action plan more thoroughly. Usually, people here demonstrate their strategic thinking by discussing:
- Step-by-step solution process
- Professional skills needed for the execution
- The necessary equipment
- Accountability
- Time limits
- Costs of the operation
- Possible effects, including negative outcomes
Let’s imagine a marketing case study interview. After you perform the data analysis and marketing research, your task is to suggest some marketing methods or brand development methods, for instance. Then, if you have great strategic thinking, others can appreciate it and put the plan into practice.
Conclusion and Referencing
Eventually, every case study research ends with a conclusion and references, like many other academic works. When the text ends abruptly, without a concluding part, it may appear unnatural. On the contrary, the elaborate wrap-up is a perfect final touch that makes the reading more pleasant.
What is the correct method of finishing your paper? The best tip is to make the last part emotional and memorable. Summarize the key points, repeat the strong statements and make them convincing! Then, of course, add the list of references after to give credit to the original authors of ideas.
Case Study Topics 2023
Undoubtedly, following academic tips is of great help for a beginner. But so is the ability to pick good case study topics 2023. Teachers often grant their students creative freedom, which has an underside that makes choosing tricky. Under such circumstances, a person thinks, ‘If only someone else would do my assignment for me right now.’ In case you demand a helping hand, this article is a lifesaver! Below, you may find multiple case study topics for students. So, whether you take an interest in personnel management issues or data transfer methods, there is always a theme for you.
Psychology Case Study Topics
If your studies connect to psychology, you should always have psychology case study topics at hand. The combination of a great title and proper case study format is a formula for success, so choose from the next themes:
- The connection between a positive attitude and professional success
- Social anxiety and related mental aspects
- The impact of big age gap differences in romantic relationships
- The ways to improve workplace leadership
- Mental issues of child abuse victims in adulthood
- Personnel management issues and psychological climate
- Prevention of mobbing in a business environment
- How do children’s TV networks affect kids’ behavior?
- Ways to motivate children to socialize in school
- The lack of mental health focus in the healthcare system
- The connection between ADHD and strategic thinking skills
- Social media dangers for self-perception
- Psychological reasons behind human resources management bias
- Burnout prevention in corporate management specialists
- Modern programming methods in psychological research
Case Study Topics in Education
Are you looking for quality case study topics in education? Good news, there are many great suggestions. Feel free to pick the next easy case study topics:
- How to make summer camp education worth trying?
- Progressive teaching methods in European middle schools
- How to motivate children to learn difficult academic subjects?
- Outdated academic subjects in European middle schools
- The least effective teaching methods in modern schools
- Training financial responsibility in middle schoolers
- Is summer camp education worth its increasing price?
- How can school-taught self-defense tactics help students?
- How to explain social media dangers to students in primary school?
- The educational function of children’s TV networks
- Introducing teenagers to software development in school
- Modern programming methods that kids can learn in schools
- Strategic management for educational institutions
- The proper treatment of child abuse victims in class
- How can taught self-defense tactics help minor children stand for themselves against school bullies?
- Essential university subjects for future corporate management specialists
- Where can you learn about activity-based cost systems?
- The best college degrees in global management
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Sociology Case Study Topics
A university assignment or a case study interview can relate to various subjects, including sociology. Some engaging sociology case study topics can be as follows:
- The correlation between family income and financial responsibility
- How can minor children stand for themselves in new social groups like schools?
- What are the anti-discrimination act controversies?
- Workplace safety for female personnel workforce
- How do racial stereotypes influence police operations?
- Financial stratification and related mental aspects
- How can brands create customer loyalty by abandoning gender stereotypes?
- Correlation between religiousness and age gap differences in marriage
- Do gender stereotypes make the Human Resources department discriminate against work candidates?
- Different cultures and global management in international companies
Case Study Topics in Nursing
Granted that you seek case study topics in nursing, we have a variety of them. Whether you prefer discussing plastic surgery operations, management styles in hospitals, or cures for diseases, we have options for you! See the following good case study topics and pick titles to your liking:
- The most effective nursing stress reduction methods
- Which nursing stress reduction methods are outdated?
- Why do nurses perform improper examination methods in hospitals?
- Which modern nursing methods require improvement?
- Patients with Covid-19 and the modern nursing methods
- How to improve the ethics of the female personnel workforce in hospitals?
- Does the US healthcare system treat nurses right?
- The correlation between attitude and professional success in nursing
- How can nurses motivate children to undergo medical procedures?
- The problem of burnout of human resources in nursing
- Healthcare system development strategy that considers the needs of nurses
- Anti-crisis personnel management in hospitals during epidemics
- Human resource management methods in the US hospitals
- Strategic management in small private clinics
Media Case Study Topics
Are you majoring in a media-related subject? Then, chances are that you want some new media case study topics like these:
- Can social media groups entirely replace real-life socialization?
- Correlation between age and participation in social media groups?
- The most unusual social media marketing strategies
- How can a modern business individual today benefit from social media?
- Why did some social media marketing trends pass too quickly?
- The importance of social media aspects in corporate planning
- Which social media marketing methods fit the German automotive industry?
- Online marketing dangers for the impressionable teenagers
- How can a modern business individual today minimize online marketing dangers?
- The social media marketing tactics that cater to younger audiences
- How can social media marketing methods create customer loyalty?
- Quality production differences in large media companies
Biology Case Study Topics
While someone solves a marketing case or website traffic growth, the other chooses biology case study topics. Because they are important too, here are several case study topics for students who study biology:
- Which species can survive if people promote environmental protection more?
- How can sustainable development save countries’ natural resources?
- Can green energy systems change numbers in carbon dioxide emission reports?
- Are earthquake prevention systems good for natural landscapes?
- What is sustainable development in biology?
- Do global warming campaigns affect carbon dioxide emission reports?
- How to promote environmental protection to save rainforests?
- Can green energy systems reverse the greenhouse effect?
- Earthquake prevention systems and wildlife sanctuaries
- Can global warming campaigns slow down the great extinction?
Criminal Justice Case Study Topics
There are many great options for somebody who has to find criminal justice case study topics. We prepared a list of case study example titles:
- The consequences of using improper examination methods in crime scenes
- Why do police officers break the law during police operations?
- Famous United States versus cases
- The most controversial United States versus cases
- Why are the anti-discrimination act controversies hard to interpret in court?
- The problem of xenophobia among American prisoners
- Attorney professionalism and success in court
- Crime prevention in public places
- Fair punishment for workplace harassment
- The major reasons for women breaking the law
Marketing Project Topics With Case Study
People learn different things, from mechanical engineering studies to software development, from building personnel management systems to data transfer methods. A student may also be interested in marketing case study research. Some of the examples of case study topics related to this field are:
- What are the characteristics of male target marketing methods?
- Brand development methods in the German automotive industry
- Peculiarities of Steve Jobs marketing style
- How can other businesses implement Steve Jobs' marketing style?
- The implementation of physical marketing in the biggest companies
- Impact of physical marketing on individual purchasing decision making
- Customer relationship management and corporate planning
- Male target marketing methods and gender stereotypes
- Activity-based cost systems and marketing
- Marketing and quality production differences
Certainly, the suggested topics on case study are helpful. However, try learning real-life cases along with them for better understanding.
Case 1: Converse and Instagram Marketing
The collected data shows Converse has higher organic engagement rates in this application compared to the rival companies. And the goal here is to detect reasons for such success. Upon investigating, it became clear that Converse collaborates with celebrities on Instagram, naturally drawing more attention to their page.
Case 2: UNICEF and COVID-19 Vaccination
In this case, the main issue was the spreading of coronavirus misinformation. As a result, the vaccination rates in developing countries slowed down. So, to solve the problem, UNICEF turned to use consumer intelligence to track false information about COVID-19 online. Eventually, this move helped to promote vaccination.
Case 3: Popularization of the CustomizedStickers company
In this marketing case study, the developing business aimed to become bigger and gain a larger market share. So, the perfect solution for them was direct contact with resellers. Markedly, emails gained them multiple contracts with printers all over Australia and huge popularity.
As you saw the mentioned marketing project topics with case study, solving your cases seems much easier!
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- Published: 27 June 2011
The case study approach
- Sarah Crowe 1 ,
- Kathrin Cresswell 2 ,
- Ann Robertson 2 ,
- Guro Huby 3 ,
- Anthony Avery 1 &
- Aziz Sheikh 2
BMC Medical Research Methodology volume 11 , Article number: 100 ( 2011 ) Cite this article
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The case study approach allows in-depth, multi-faceted explorations of complex issues in their real-life settings. The value of the case study approach is well recognised in the fields of business, law and policy, but somewhat less so in health services research. Based on our experiences of conducting several health-related case studies, we reflect on the different types of case study design, the specific research questions this approach can help answer, the data sources that tend to be used, and the particular advantages and disadvantages of employing this methodological approach. The paper concludes with key pointers to aid those designing and appraising proposals for conducting case study research, and a checklist to help readers assess the quality of case study reports.
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Introduction
The case study approach is particularly useful to employ when there is a need to obtain an in-depth appreciation of an issue, event or phenomenon of interest, in its natural real-life context. Our aim in writing this piece is to provide insights into when to consider employing this approach and an overview of key methodological considerations in relation to the design, planning, analysis, interpretation and reporting of case studies.
The illustrative 'grand round', 'case report' and 'case series' have a long tradition in clinical practice and research. Presenting detailed critiques, typically of one or more patients, aims to provide insights into aspects of the clinical case and, in doing so, illustrate broader lessons that may be learnt. In research, the conceptually-related case study approach can be used, for example, to describe in detail a patient's episode of care, explore professional attitudes to and experiences of a new policy initiative or service development or more generally to 'investigate contemporary phenomena within its real-life context' [ 1 ]. Based on our experiences of conducting a range of case studies, we reflect on when to consider using this approach, discuss the key steps involved and illustrate, with examples, some of the practical challenges of attaining an in-depth understanding of a 'case' as an integrated whole. In keeping with previously published work, we acknowledge the importance of theory to underpin the design, selection, conduct and interpretation of case studies[ 2 ]. In so doing, we make passing reference to the different epistemological approaches used in case study research by key theoreticians and methodologists in this field of enquiry.
This paper is structured around the following main questions: What is a case study? What are case studies used for? How are case studies conducted? What are the potential pitfalls and how can these be avoided? We draw in particular on four of our own recently published examples of case studies (see Tables 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 ) and those of others to illustrate our discussion[ 3 – 7 ].
What is a case study?
A case study is a research approach that is used to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in its real-life context. It is an established research design that is used extensively in a wide variety of disciplines, particularly in the social sciences. A case study can be defined in a variety of ways (Table 5 ), the central tenet being the need to explore an event or phenomenon in depth and in its natural context. It is for this reason sometimes referred to as a "naturalistic" design; this is in contrast to an "experimental" design (such as a randomised controlled trial) in which the investigator seeks to exert control over and manipulate the variable(s) of interest.
Stake's work has been particularly influential in defining the case study approach to scientific enquiry. He has helpfully characterised three main types of case study: intrinsic , instrumental and collective [ 8 ]. An intrinsic case study is typically undertaken to learn about a unique phenomenon. The researcher should define the uniqueness of the phenomenon, which distinguishes it from all others. In contrast, the instrumental case study uses a particular case (some of which may be better than others) to gain a broader appreciation of an issue or phenomenon. The collective case study involves studying multiple cases simultaneously or sequentially in an attempt to generate a still broader appreciation of a particular issue.
These are however not necessarily mutually exclusive categories. In the first of our examples (Table 1 ), we undertook an intrinsic case study to investigate the issue of recruitment of minority ethnic people into the specific context of asthma research studies, but it developed into a instrumental case study through seeking to understand the issue of recruitment of these marginalised populations more generally, generating a number of the findings that are potentially transferable to other disease contexts[ 3 ]. In contrast, the other three examples (see Tables 2 , 3 and 4 ) employed collective case study designs to study the introduction of workforce reconfiguration in primary care, the implementation of electronic health records into hospitals, and to understand the ways in which healthcare students learn about patient safety considerations[ 4 – 6 ]. Although our study focusing on the introduction of General Practitioners with Specialist Interests (Table 2 ) was explicitly collective in design (four contrasting primary care organisations were studied), is was also instrumental in that this particular professional group was studied as an exemplar of the more general phenomenon of workforce redesign[ 4 ].
What are case studies used for?
According to Yin, case studies can be used to explain, describe or explore events or phenomena in the everyday contexts in which they occur[ 1 ]. These can, for example, help to understand and explain causal links and pathways resulting from a new policy initiative or service development (see Tables 2 and 3 , for example)[ 1 ]. In contrast to experimental designs, which seek to test a specific hypothesis through deliberately manipulating the environment (like, for example, in a randomised controlled trial giving a new drug to randomly selected individuals and then comparing outcomes with controls),[ 9 ] the case study approach lends itself well to capturing information on more explanatory ' how ', 'what' and ' why ' questions, such as ' how is the intervention being implemented and received on the ground?'. The case study approach can offer additional insights into what gaps exist in its delivery or why one implementation strategy might be chosen over another. This in turn can help develop or refine theory, as shown in our study of the teaching of patient safety in undergraduate curricula (Table 4 )[ 6 , 10 ]. Key questions to consider when selecting the most appropriate study design are whether it is desirable or indeed possible to undertake a formal experimental investigation in which individuals and/or organisations are allocated to an intervention or control arm? Or whether the wish is to obtain a more naturalistic understanding of an issue? The former is ideally studied using a controlled experimental design, whereas the latter is more appropriately studied using a case study design.
Case studies may be approached in different ways depending on the epistemological standpoint of the researcher, that is, whether they take a critical (questioning one's own and others' assumptions), interpretivist (trying to understand individual and shared social meanings) or positivist approach (orientating towards the criteria of natural sciences, such as focusing on generalisability considerations) (Table 6 ). Whilst such a schema can be conceptually helpful, it may be appropriate to draw on more than one approach in any case study, particularly in the context of conducting health services research. Doolin has, for example, noted that in the context of undertaking interpretative case studies, researchers can usefully draw on a critical, reflective perspective which seeks to take into account the wider social and political environment that has shaped the case[ 11 ].
How are case studies conducted?
Here, we focus on the main stages of research activity when planning and undertaking a case study; the crucial stages are: defining the case; selecting the case(s); collecting and analysing the data; interpreting data; and reporting the findings.
Defining the case
Carefully formulated research question(s), informed by the existing literature and a prior appreciation of the theoretical issues and setting(s), are all important in appropriately and succinctly defining the case[ 8 , 12 ]. Crucially, each case should have a pre-defined boundary which clarifies the nature and time period covered by the case study (i.e. its scope, beginning and end), the relevant social group, organisation or geographical area of interest to the investigator, the types of evidence to be collected, and the priorities for data collection and analysis (see Table 7 )[ 1 ]. A theory driven approach to defining the case may help generate knowledge that is potentially transferable to a range of clinical contexts and behaviours; using theory is also likely to result in a more informed appreciation of, for example, how and why interventions have succeeded or failed[ 13 ].
For example, in our evaluation of the introduction of electronic health records in English hospitals (Table 3 ), we defined our cases as the NHS Trusts that were receiving the new technology[ 5 ]. Our focus was on how the technology was being implemented. However, if the primary research interest had been on the social and organisational dimensions of implementation, we might have defined our case differently as a grouping of healthcare professionals (e.g. doctors and/or nurses). The precise beginning and end of the case may however prove difficult to define. Pursuing this same example, when does the process of implementation and adoption of an electronic health record system really begin or end? Such judgements will inevitably be influenced by a range of factors, including the research question, theory of interest, the scope and richness of the gathered data and the resources available to the research team.
Selecting the case(s)
The decision on how to select the case(s) to study is a very important one that merits some reflection. In an intrinsic case study, the case is selected on its own merits[ 8 ]. The case is selected not because it is representative of other cases, but because of its uniqueness, which is of genuine interest to the researchers. This was, for example, the case in our study of the recruitment of minority ethnic participants into asthma research (Table 1 ) as our earlier work had demonstrated the marginalisation of minority ethnic people with asthma, despite evidence of disproportionate asthma morbidity[ 14 , 15 ]. In another example of an intrinsic case study, Hellstrom et al.[ 16 ] studied an elderly married couple living with dementia to explore how dementia had impacted on their understanding of home, their everyday life and their relationships.
For an instrumental case study, selecting a "typical" case can work well[ 8 ]. In contrast to the intrinsic case study, the particular case which is chosen is of less importance than selecting a case that allows the researcher to investigate an issue or phenomenon. For example, in order to gain an understanding of doctors' responses to health policy initiatives, Som undertook an instrumental case study interviewing clinicians who had a range of responsibilities for clinical governance in one NHS acute hospital trust[ 17 ]. Sampling a "deviant" or "atypical" case may however prove even more informative, potentially enabling the researcher to identify causal processes, generate hypotheses and develop theory.
In collective or multiple case studies, a number of cases are carefully selected. This offers the advantage of allowing comparisons to be made across several cases and/or replication. Choosing a "typical" case may enable the findings to be generalised to theory (i.e. analytical generalisation) or to test theory by replicating the findings in a second or even a third case (i.e. replication logic)[ 1 ]. Yin suggests two or three literal replications (i.e. predicting similar results) if the theory is straightforward and five or more if the theory is more subtle. However, critics might argue that selecting 'cases' in this way is insufficiently reflexive and ill-suited to the complexities of contemporary healthcare organisations.
The selected case study site(s) should allow the research team access to the group of individuals, the organisation, the processes or whatever else constitutes the chosen unit of analysis for the study. Access is therefore a central consideration; the researcher needs to come to know the case study site(s) well and to work cooperatively with them. Selected cases need to be not only interesting but also hospitable to the inquiry [ 8 ] if they are to be informative and answer the research question(s). Case study sites may also be pre-selected for the researcher, with decisions being influenced by key stakeholders. For example, our selection of case study sites in the evaluation of the implementation and adoption of electronic health record systems (see Table 3 ) was heavily influenced by NHS Connecting for Health, the government agency that was responsible for overseeing the National Programme for Information Technology (NPfIT)[ 5 ]. This prominent stakeholder had already selected the NHS sites (through a competitive bidding process) to be early adopters of the electronic health record systems and had negotiated contracts that detailed the deployment timelines.
It is also important to consider in advance the likely burden and risks associated with participation for those who (or the site(s) which) comprise the case study. Of particular importance is the obligation for the researcher to think through the ethical implications of the study (e.g. the risk of inadvertently breaching anonymity or confidentiality) and to ensure that potential participants/participating sites are provided with sufficient information to make an informed choice about joining the study. The outcome of providing this information might be that the emotive burden associated with participation, or the organisational disruption associated with supporting the fieldwork, is considered so high that the individuals or sites decide against participation.
In our example of evaluating implementations of electronic health record systems, given the restricted number of early adopter sites available to us, we sought purposively to select a diverse range of implementation cases among those that were available[ 5 ]. We chose a mixture of teaching, non-teaching and Foundation Trust hospitals, and examples of each of the three electronic health record systems procured centrally by the NPfIT. At one recruited site, it quickly became apparent that access was problematic because of competing demands on that organisation. Recognising the importance of full access and co-operative working for generating rich data, the research team decided not to pursue work at that site and instead to focus on other recruited sites.
Collecting the data
In order to develop a thorough understanding of the case, the case study approach usually involves the collection of multiple sources of evidence, using a range of quantitative (e.g. questionnaires, audits and analysis of routinely collected healthcare data) and more commonly qualitative techniques (e.g. interviews, focus groups and observations). The use of multiple sources of data (data triangulation) has been advocated as a way of increasing the internal validity of a study (i.e. the extent to which the method is appropriate to answer the research question)[ 8 , 18 – 21 ]. An underlying assumption is that data collected in different ways should lead to similar conclusions, and approaching the same issue from different angles can help develop a holistic picture of the phenomenon (Table 2 )[ 4 ].
Brazier and colleagues used a mixed-methods case study approach to investigate the impact of a cancer care programme[ 22 ]. Here, quantitative measures were collected with questionnaires before, and five months after, the start of the intervention which did not yield any statistically significant results. Qualitative interviews with patients however helped provide an insight into potentially beneficial process-related aspects of the programme, such as greater, perceived patient involvement in care. The authors reported how this case study approach provided a number of contextual factors likely to influence the effectiveness of the intervention and which were not likely to have been obtained from quantitative methods alone.
In collective or multiple case studies, data collection needs to be flexible enough to allow a detailed description of each individual case to be developed (e.g. the nature of different cancer care programmes), before considering the emerging similarities and differences in cross-case comparisons (e.g. to explore why one programme is more effective than another). It is important that data sources from different cases are, where possible, broadly comparable for this purpose even though they may vary in nature and depth.
Analysing, interpreting and reporting case studies
Making sense and offering a coherent interpretation of the typically disparate sources of data (whether qualitative alone or together with quantitative) is far from straightforward. Repeated reviewing and sorting of the voluminous and detail-rich data are integral to the process of analysis. In collective case studies, it is helpful to analyse data relating to the individual component cases first, before making comparisons across cases. Attention needs to be paid to variations within each case and, where relevant, the relationship between different causes, effects and outcomes[ 23 ]. Data will need to be organised and coded to allow the key issues, both derived from the literature and emerging from the dataset, to be easily retrieved at a later stage. An initial coding frame can help capture these issues and can be applied systematically to the whole dataset with the aid of a qualitative data analysis software package.
The Framework approach is a practical approach, comprising of five stages (familiarisation; identifying a thematic framework; indexing; charting; mapping and interpretation) , to managing and analysing large datasets particularly if time is limited, as was the case in our study of recruitment of South Asians into asthma research (Table 1 )[ 3 , 24 ]. Theoretical frameworks may also play an important role in integrating different sources of data and examining emerging themes. For example, we drew on a socio-technical framework to help explain the connections between different elements - technology; people; and the organisational settings within which they worked - in our study of the introduction of electronic health record systems (Table 3 )[ 5 ]. Our study of patient safety in undergraduate curricula drew on an evaluation-based approach to design and analysis, which emphasised the importance of the academic, organisational and practice contexts through which students learn (Table 4 )[ 6 ].
Case study findings can have implications both for theory development and theory testing. They may establish, strengthen or weaken historical explanations of a case and, in certain circumstances, allow theoretical (as opposed to statistical) generalisation beyond the particular cases studied[ 12 ]. These theoretical lenses should not, however, constitute a strait-jacket and the cases should not be "forced to fit" the particular theoretical framework that is being employed.
When reporting findings, it is important to provide the reader with enough contextual information to understand the processes that were followed and how the conclusions were reached. In a collective case study, researchers may choose to present the findings from individual cases separately before amalgamating across cases. Care must be taken to ensure the anonymity of both case sites and individual participants (if agreed in advance) by allocating appropriate codes or withholding descriptors. In the example given in Table 3 , we decided against providing detailed information on the NHS sites and individual participants in order to avoid the risk of inadvertent disclosure of identities[ 5 , 25 ].
What are the potential pitfalls and how can these be avoided?
The case study approach is, as with all research, not without its limitations. When investigating the formal and informal ways undergraduate students learn about patient safety (Table 4 ), for example, we rapidly accumulated a large quantity of data. The volume of data, together with the time restrictions in place, impacted on the depth of analysis that was possible within the available resources. This highlights a more general point of the importance of avoiding the temptation to collect as much data as possible; adequate time also needs to be set aside for data analysis and interpretation of what are often highly complex datasets.
Case study research has sometimes been criticised for lacking scientific rigour and providing little basis for generalisation (i.e. producing findings that may be transferable to other settings)[ 1 ]. There are several ways to address these concerns, including: the use of theoretical sampling (i.e. drawing on a particular conceptual framework); respondent validation (i.e. participants checking emerging findings and the researcher's interpretation, and providing an opinion as to whether they feel these are accurate); and transparency throughout the research process (see Table 8 )[ 8 , 18 – 21 , 23 , 26 ]. Transparency can be achieved by describing in detail the steps involved in case selection, data collection, the reasons for the particular methods chosen, and the researcher's background and level of involvement (i.e. being explicit about how the researcher has influenced data collection and interpretation). Seeking potential, alternative explanations, and being explicit about how interpretations and conclusions were reached, help readers to judge the trustworthiness of the case study report. Stake provides a critique checklist for a case study report (Table 9 )[ 8 ].
Conclusions
The case study approach allows, amongst other things, critical events, interventions, policy developments and programme-based service reforms to be studied in detail in a real-life context. It should therefore be considered when an experimental design is either inappropriate to answer the research questions posed or impossible to undertake. Considering the frequency with which implementations of innovations are now taking place in healthcare settings and how well the case study approach lends itself to in-depth, complex health service research, we believe this approach should be more widely considered by researchers. Though inherently challenging, the research case study can, if carefully conceptualised and thoughtfully undertaken and reported, yield powerful insights into many important aspects of health and healthcare delivery.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the participants and colleagues who contributed to the individual case studies that we have drawn on. This work received no direct funding, but it has been informed by projects funded by Asthma UK, the NHS Service Delivery Organisation, NHS Connecting for Health Evaluation Programme, and Patient Safety Research Portfolio. We would also like to thank the expert reviewers for their insightful and constructive feedback. Our thanks are also due to Dr. Allison Worth who commented on an earlier draft of this manuscript.
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AS conceived this article. SC, KC and AR wrote this paper with GH, AA and AS all commenting on various drafts. SC and AS are guarantors.
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Crowe, S., Cresswell, K., Robertson, A. et al. The case study approach. BMC Med Res Methodol 11 , 100 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-11-100
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Case Study Analysis: Examples + How-to Guide & Writing Tips
A case study analysis is a typical assignment in business management courses. The task aims to show high school and college students how to analyze a current situation, determine what problems exist, and develop the best possible strategy to achieve the desired outcome.
Our specialists will write a custom essay on any topic for $13.00 $10.40/page
Many students feel anxious about writing case analyses because being told to analyze a case study and provide a solution can seem like a big task. That is especially so when working with real-life scenarios. However, you can rest assured writing a case analysis paper is easier than you think. Just keep reading this article and you will find case study examples for students and the advice provided by Custom-writing experts!
- 👣 Main Steps
- 🕵 Preparing the Case
🔬 Analyzing the Case
- 📑 Format & Structure
- 🙅 Things to Avoid
- 🏁 Conclusion
🔗 References
👣 writing a case study analysis: main steps.
Business management is built on case analysis. Every single economic result shows that the methods and instruments employed were either well-timed and expedient, in the event of success, or not, in case of failure. These two options indicate whether the strategy is efficient (and should be followed) or requires corrections (or complete change). Such an approach to the case study will make your writing piece more proficient and valuable for the reader. The following steps will direct your plan for writing a case study analysis.
Step 1: Preliminary work
- Make notes and highlight the numbers and ideas that could be quoted.
- Single out as many problems as you can, and briefly mark their underlying issues. Then make a note of those responsible. In the report, you will use two to five of the problems, so you will have a selection to choose from.
- Outline a possible solution to each of the problems you found. Course readings and outside research shall be used here. Highlight your best and worst solution for further reference.
Step 2: Drafting the Case
- Provide a general description of the situation and its history.
- Name all the problems you are going to discuss.
- Specify the theory used for the analysis.
- Present the assumptions that emerged during the analysis, if any.
- Describe the detected problems in more detail.
- Indicate their link to, and effect on, the general situation.
- Explain why the problems emerged and persist.
- List realistic and feasible solutions to the problems you outlined, in the order of importance.
- Specify your predicted results of such changes.
- Support your choice with reliable evidence (i.e., textbook readings, the experience of famous companies, and other external research).
- Define the strategies required to fulfill your proposed solution.
- Indicate the responsible people and the realistic terms for its implementation.
- Recommend the issues for further analysis and supervision.
Step 3: Finalizing the Case
Like any other piece of writing, a case analysis requires post-editing. Carefully read it through, looking for inconsistencies and gaps in meaning. Your purpose is to make it look complete, precise, and convincing.
🕵 Preparing a Case for Analysis
Your professor might give you various case study examples from which to choose, or they may just assign you a particular case study. To conduct a thorough data analysis, you must first read the case study. This might appear to be obvious. However, you’d be surprised at how many students don’t take adequate time to complete this part.
Read the case study very thoroughly, preferably several times. Highlight, underline, flag key information, and make notes to refer to later when you are writing your analysis report.
If you don’t have a complete knowledge of the case study your professor has assigned, you won’t conduct a proper analysis of it. Even if you make use of a business case study template or refer to a sample analysis, it won’t help if you aren’t intimately familiar with your case study.
You will also have to conduct research. When it comes to research, you will need to do the following:
- Gather hard, quantitative data (e.g. 67% of the staff participated in the meeting).
- Design research tools , such as questionnaires and surveys (this will aid in gathering data).
- Determine and suggest the best specific, workable solutions.
It would be best if you also learned how to analyze a case study. Once you have read through the case study, you need to determine the focus of your analysis. You can do this by doing the following:
Compare your chosen solutions to the solutions offered by the experts who analyzed the case study you were given or to online assignments for students who were dealing with a similar task. The experts’ solutions will probably be more advanced than yours simply because these people are more experienced. However, don’t let this discourage you; the whole point of doing this analysis is to learn. Use the opportunity to learn from others’ valuable experience, and your results will be better next time.
If you are still in doubt, the University of South Carolina offers a great guide on forming a case study analysis.
Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions.
📑 Case Analysis Format & Structure
When you are learning how to write a case study analysis, it is important to get the format of your analysis right. Understanding the case study format is vital for both the professor and the student. The person planning and handing out such an assignment should ensure that the student doesn’t have to use any external sources .
In turn, students have to remember that a well-written case analysis provides all the data, making it unnecessary for the reader to go elsewhere for information.
Regardless of whether you use a case study template, you will need to follow a clear and concise format when writing your analysis report. There are some possible case study frameworks available. Still, a case study should contain eight sections laid out in the following format:
- Describe the purpose of the current case study;
- Provide a summary of the company;
- Briefly introduce the problems and issues found in the case study
- Discuss the theory you will be using in the analysis;
- Present the key points of the study and present any assumptions made during the analysis.
- Present each problem you have singled out;
- Justify your inclusion of each problem by providing supporting evidence from the case study and by discussing relevant theory and what you have learned from your course content;
- Divide the section (and following sections) into subsections, one for each of your selected problems.
- Present a summary of each problem you have identified;
- Present plausible solutions for each of the problems, keeping in mind that each problem will likely have more than one possible solution;
- Provide the pros and cons of each solution in a way that is practical.
- Conclusion . This is a summary of your findings and discussion.
- Decide which solution best fits each of the issues you identified;
- Explain why you chose this solution and how it will effectively solve the problem;
- Be persuasive when you write this section so that you can drive your point home;
- Be sure to bring together theory and what you have learned throughout your course to support your recommendations.
- Provide an explanation of what must be done, who should take action, and when the solution should be carried out;
- Where relevant, you should provide an estimate of the cost in implementing the solution, including both the financial investment and the cost in terms of time.
- References. While you generally do not need to refer to many external sources when writing a case study analysis, you might use a few. When you do, you will need to properly reference these sources, which is most often done in one of the main citation styles, including APA, MLA, or Harvard. There is plenty of help when citing references, and you can follow these APA guidelines , these MLA guidelines , or these Harvard guidelines .
- Appendices. This is the section you include after your case study analysis if you used any original data in the report. These data, presented as charts, graphs, and tables, are included here because to present them in the main body of the analysis would be disruptive to the reader. The University of Southern California provides a great description of appendices and when to make use of them.
When you’ve finished your first draft, be sure to proofread it. Look not only for potential grammar and spelling errors but also for discrepancies or holes in your argument.
You should also know what you need to avoid when writing your analysis.
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🙅 Things to Avoid in Case Analysis
Whenever you deal with a case study, remember that there are some pitfalls to avoid! Beware of the following mistakes:
- Excessive use of colloquial language . Even though it is a study of an actual case, it should sound formal.
- Lack of statistical data . Give all the important data, both in percentages and in numbers.
- Excessive details. State only the most significant facts, rather than drowning the reader in every fact you find.
- Inconsistency in the methods you have used . In a case study, theory plays a relatively small part, so you must develop a specific case study research methodology.
- Trivial means of research . It is critical that you design your own case study research method in whatever form best suits your analysis, such as questionnaires and surveys.
It is useful to see a few examples of case analysis papers. After all, a sample case study report can provide you with some context so you can see how to approach each aspect of your paper.
👀 Case Study Examples for Students
It might be easier to understand how a case study analysis works if you have an example to look at. Fortunately, examples of case studies are easy to come by. Take a look at this video for a sample case study analysis for the Coca-Cola Company.
If you want another example, then take a look at the one below!
Business Case Analysis: Example
CRM’s primary focus is customers and customer perception of the brand or the company. The focus may shift depending on customers’ needs. The main points that Center Parcs should consider are an increase in customer satisfaction and its market share. Both of these points will enhance customer perception of the product as a product of value. Increased customer satisfaction will indicate that the company provides quality services, and increased market share can reduce the number of switching (or leaving) customers, thus fostering customer loyalty.
🏁 Concluding Remarks
Writing a case study analysis can seem incredibly overwhelming, especially if you have never done it before. Just remember, you can do it provided you follow a plan, keep to the format described here, and study at least one case analysis example.
If you still need help analyzing a case study, your professor is always available to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. You can also get help with any aspect of the project from a custom writing company. Just tackle the research and hand over the writing, write a rough draft and have it checked by a professional, or completely hand the project off to an expert writer.
Regardless of the path you choose, you will turn in something of which you can be proud!
✏️ Case Study Analysis FAQ
Students (especially those who study business) often need to write a case study analysis. It is a kind of report that describes a business case. It includes multiple aspects, for example, the problems that exist, possible solutions, forecasts, etc.
There should be 3 main points covered in a case study analysis:
- The challenge(s) description,
- Possible solutions,
- Outcomes (real and/or foreseen).
Firstly, study some examples available online and in the library. Case study analysis should be a well-structured paper with all the integral components in place. Thus, you might want to use a template and/or an outline to start correctly.
A case study analysis is a popular task for business students. They typically hand it in the format of a paper with several integral components:
- Description of the problem
- Possible ways out
- Results and/or forecasts
Students sometimes tell about the outcome of their research within an oral presentation.
- Case Study: Academia
- Windows of vulnerability: a case study analysis (IEEE)
- A (Very) Brief Refresher on the Case Study Method: SAGE
- The case study approach: Medical Research Methodology
- Strengths and Limitations of Case Studies: Stanford University
- A Sample APA Paper: Radford University
- How to Write a Case Study APA Style: Seattle PI
- The Case Analysis: GVSU
- How to Outline: Purdue OWL
- Incorporating Interview Data: UW-Madison Writing Center
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Quite an impressive piece The steps and procedures outlined here are well detailed and the examples facilitates understanding.
Thank you for the great feedback, Collins!
it was very helpful. I have an assessment to write where in I need to mention different effective components that are needed to compile a high quality case study assessment.
Glad you liked our article! Your opinion means so much for us!
It is very important and helpful.
Thanks for the feedback, Abraham! Your opinion is very important for us!
Thanks a lot. A knowledge shared with a structured template. Stay the course
Thanks for the feedback!
Thanks for this valuable knowledge.I loved this. keep sharing. to know more about click Air India Case Study – Why Air India failed ?
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This is going to be a great help in my monthly analysis requirements for my subject. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much for this insightful guidelines… It has really been a great tool for writing my project. Thanks once again.
We are so glad to hear that! Thank you for your feedback!
This article was very helpful, even though I’ll have a clearer mind only after I do the case study myself but I felt very much motivated after reading this, as now I can at least have a plan of what to do compared to the clueless me I was before I read it. I hope if I have any questions or doubts about doing a case study I can clear it out here.
Sarmistha, I’m happy you found the article helpful 🙂
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- Grading Someone Else's Paper
- Types of Structured Group Activities
- Group Project Survival Skills
- Leading a Class Discussion
- Multiple Book Review Essay
- Reviewing Collected Works
- Writing a Case Analysis Paper
- Writing a Case Study
- About Informed Consent
- Writing Field Notes
- Writing a Policy Memo
- Writing a Reflective Paper
- Writing a Research Proposal
- Acknowledgments
A case study research paper examines a person, place, event, condition, phenomenon, or other type of subject of analysis in order to extrapolate key themes and results that help predict future trends, illuminate previously hidden issues that can be applied to practice, and/or provide a means for understanding an important research problem with greater clarity. A case study research paper usually examines a single subject of analysis, but case study papers can also be designed as a comparative investigation that shows relationships between two or more subjects. The methods used to study a case can rest within a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method investigative paradigm.
Case Studies. [email protected] Colorado State University; Mills, Albert J. , Gabrielle Durepos, and Eiden Wiebe, editors. Encyclopedia of Case Study Research . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010 ; “What is a Case Study?” In Swanborn, Peter G. Case Study Research: What, Why and How? London: SAGE, 2010.
How to Approach Writing a Case Study Research Paper
General information about how to choose a topic to investigate can be found under the " Choosing a Research Problem " tab in the Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper writing guide. Review this page because it may help you identify a subject of analysis that can be investigated using a case study design.
However, identifying a case to investigate involves more than choosing the research problem . A case study encompasses a problem contextualized around the application of in-depth analysis, interpretation, and discussion, often resulting in specific recommendations for action or for improving existing conditions. As Seawright and Gerring note, practical considerations such as time and access to information can influence case selection, but these issues should not be the sole factors used in describing the methodological justification for identifying a particular case to study. Given this, selecting a case includes considering the following:
- The case represents an unusual or atypical example of a research problem that requires more in-depth analysis? Cases often represent a topic that rests on the fringes of prior investigations because the case may provide new ways of understanding the research problem. For example, if the research problem is to identify strategies to improve policies that support girl's access to secondary education in predominantly Muslim nations, you could consider using Azerbaijan as a case study rather than selecting a more obvious nation in the Middle East. Doing so may reveal important new insights into recommending how governments in other predominantly Muslim nations can formulate policies that support improved access to education for girls.
- The case provides important insight or illuminate a previously hidden problem? In-depth analysis of a case can be based on the hypothesis that the case study will reveal trends or issues that have not been exposed in prior research or will reveal new and important implications for practice. For example, anecdotal evidence may suggest drug use among homeless veterans is related to their patterns of travel throughout the day. Assuming prior studies have not looked at individual travel choices as a way to study access to illicit drug use, a case study that observes a homeless veteran could reveal how issues of personal mobility choices facilitate regular access to illicit drugs. Note that it is important to conduct a thorough literature review to ensure that your assumption about the need to reveal new insights or previously hidden problems is valid and evidence-based.
- The case challenges and offers a counter-point to prevailing assumptions? Over time, research on any given topic can fall into a trap of developing assumptions based on outdated studies that are still applied to new or changing conditions or the idea that something should simply be accepted as "common sense," even though the issue has not been thoroughly tested in current practice. A case study analysis may offer an opportunity to gather evidence that challenges prevailing assumptions about a research problem and provide a new set of recommendations applied to practice that have not been tested previously. For example, perhaps there has been a long practice among scholars to apply a particular theory in explaining the relationship between two subjects of analysis. Your case could challenge this assumption by applying an innovative theoretical framework [perhaps borrowed from another discipline] to explore whether this approach offers new ways of understanding the research problem. Taking a contrarian stance is one of the most important ways that new knowledge and understanding develops from existing literature.
- The case provides an opportunity to pursue action leading to the resolution of a problem? Another way to think about choosing a case to study is to consider how the results from investigating a particular case may result in findings that reveal ways in which to resolve an existing or emerging problem. For example, studying the case of an unforeseen incident, such as a fatal accident at a railroad crossing, can reveal hidden issues that could be applied to preventative measures that contribute to reducing the chance of accidents in the future. In this example, a case study investigating the accident could lead to a better understanding of where to strategically locate additional signals at other railroad crossings so as to better warn drivers of an approaching train, particularly when visibility is hindered by heavy rain, fog, or at night.
- The case offers a new direction in future research? A case study can be used as a tool for an exploratory investigation that highlights the need for further research about the problem. A case can be used when there are few studies that help predict an outcome or that establish a clear understanding about how best to proceed in addressing a problem. For example, after conducting a thorough literature review [very important!], you discover that little research exists showing the ways in which women contribute to promoting water conservation in rural communities of east central Africa. A case study of how women contribute to saving water in a rural village of Uganda can lay the foundation for understanding the need for more thorough research that documents how women in their roles as cooks and family caregivers think about water as a valuable resource within their community. This example of a case study could also point to the need for scholars to build new theoretical frameworks around the topic [e.g., applying feminist theories of work and family to the issue of water conservation].
Eisenhardt, Kathleen M. “Building Theories from Case Study Research.” Academy of Management Review 14 (October 1989): 532-550; Emmel, Nick. Sampling and Choosing Cases in Qualitative Research: A Realist Approach . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2013; Gerring, John. “What Is a Case Study and What Is It Good for?” American Political Science Review 98 (May 2004): 341-354; Mills, Albert J. , Gabrielle Durepos, and Eiden Wiebe, editors. Encyclopedia of Case Study Research . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010; Seawright, Jason and John Gerring. "Case Selection Techniques in Case Study Research." Political Research Quarterly 61 (June 2008): 294-308.
Structure and Writing Style
The purpose of a paper in the social sciences designed around a case study is to thoroughly investigate a subject of analysis in order to reveal a new understanding about the research problem and, in so doing, contributing new knowledge to what is already known from previous studies. In applied social sciences disciplines [e.g., education, social work, public administration, etc.], case studies may also be used to reveal best practices, highlight key programs, or investigate interesting aspects of professional work.
In general, the structure of a case study research paper is not all that different from a standard college-level research paper. However, there are subtle differences you should be aware of. Here are the key elements to organizing and writing a case study research paper.
I. Introduction
As with any research paper, your introduction should serve as a roadmap for your readers to ascertain the scope and purpose of your study . The introduction to a case study research paper, however, should not only describe the research problem and its significance, but you should also succinctly describe why the case is being used and how it relates to addressing the problem. The two elements should be linked. With this in mind, a good introduction answers these four questions:
- What is being studied? Describe the research problem and describe the subject of analysis [the case] you have chosen to address the problem. Explain how they are linked and what elements of the case will help to expand knowledge and understanding about the problem.
- Why is this topic important to investigate? Describe the significance of the research problem and state why a case study design and the subject of analysis that the paper is designed around is appropriate in addressing the problem.
- What did we know about this topic before I did this study? Provide background that helps lead the reader into the more in-depth literature review to follow. If applicable, summarize prior case study research applied to the research problem and why it fails to adequately address the problem. Describe why your case will be useful. If no prior case studies have been used to address the research problem, explain why you have selected this subject of analysis.
- How will this study advance new knowledge or new ways of understanding? Explain why your case study will be suitable in helping to expand knowledge and understanding about the research problem.
Each of these questions should be addressed in no more than a few paragraphs. Exceptions to this can be when you are addressing a complex research problem or subject of analysis that requires more in-depth background information.
II. Literature Review
The literature review for a case study research paper is generally structured the same as it is for any college-level research paper. The difference, however, is that the literature review is focused on providing background information and enabling historical interpretation of the subject of analysis in relation to the research problem the case is intended to address . This includes synthesizing studies that help to:
- Place relevant works in the context of their contribution to understanding the case study being investigated . This would involve summarizing studies that have used a similar subject of analysis to investigate the research problem. If there is literature using the same or a very similar case to study, you need to explain why duplicating past research is important [e.g., conditions have changed; prior studies were conducted long ago, etc.].
- Describe the relationship each work has to the others under consideration that informs the reader why this case is applicable . Your literature review should include a description of any works that support using the case to investigate the research problem and the underlying research questions.
- Identify new ways to interpret prior research using the case study . If applicable, review any research that has examined the research problem using a different research design. Explain how your use of a case study design may reveal new knowledge or a new perspective or that can redirect research in an important new direction.
- Resolve conflicts amongst seemingly contradictory previous studies . This refers to synthesizing any literature that points to unresolved issues of concern about the research problem and describing how the subject of analysis that forms the case study can help resolve these existing contradictions.
- Point the way in fulfilling a need for additional research . Your review should examine any literature that lays a foundation for understanding why your case study design and the subject of analysis around which you have designed your study may reveal a new way of approaching the research problem or offer a perspective that points to the need for additional research.
- Expose any gaps that exist in the literature that the case study could help to fill . Summarize any literature that not only shows how your subject of analysis contributes to understanding the research problem, but how your case contributes to a new way of understanding the problem that prior research has failed to do.
- Locate your own research within the context of existing literature [very important!] . Collectively, your literature review should always place your case study within the larger domain of prior research about the problem. The overarching purpose of reviewing pertinent literature in a case study paper is to demonstrate that you have thoroughly identified and synthesized prior studies in relation to explaining the relevance of the case in addressing the research problem.
III. Method
In this section, you explain why you selected a particular case [i.e., subject of analysis] and the strategy you used to identify and ultimately decide that your case was appropriate in addressing the research problem. The way you describe the methods used varies depending on the type of subject of analysis that constitutes your case study.
If your subject of analysis is an incident or event . In the social and behavioral sciences, the event or incident that represents the case to be studied is usually bounded by time and place, with a clear beginning and end and with an identifiable location or position relative to its surroundings. The subject of analysis can be a rare or critical event or it can focus on a typical or regular event. The purpose of studying a rare event is to illuminate new ways of thinking about the broader research problem or to test a hypothesis. Critical incident case studies must describe the method by which you identified the event and explain the process by which you determined the validity of this case to inform broader perspectives about the research problem or to reveal new findings. However, the event does not have to be a rare or uniquely significant to support new thinking about the research problem or to challenge an existing hypothesis. For example, Walo, Bull, and Breen conducted a case study to identify and evaluate the direct and indirect economic benefits and costs of a local sports event in the City of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia. The purpose of their study was to provide new insights from measuring the impact of a typical local sports event that prior studies could not measure well because they focused on large "mega-events." Whether the event is rare or not, the methods section should include an explanation of the following characteristics of the event: a) when did it take place; b) what were the underlying circumstances leading to the event; and, c) what were the consequences of the event in relation to the research problem.
If your subject of analysis is a person. Explain why you selected this particular individual to be studied and describe what experiences they have had that provide an opportunity to advance new understandings about the research problem. Mention any background about this person which might help the reader understand the significance of their experiences that make them worthy of study. This includes describing the relationships this person has had with other people, institutions, and/or events that support using them as the subject for a case study research paper. It is particularly important to differentiate the person as the subject of analysis from others and to succinctly explain how the person relates to examining the research problem [e.g., why is one politician in a particular local election used to show an increase in voter turnout from any other candidate running in the election]. Note that these issues apply to a specific group of people used as a case study unit of analysis [e.g., a classroom of students].
If your subject of analysis is a place. In general, a case study that investigates a place suggests a subject of analysis that is unique or special in some way and that this uniqueness can be used to build new understanding or knowledge about the research problem. A case study of a place must not only describe its various attributes relevant to the research problem [e.g., physical, social, historical, cultural, economic, political], but you must state the method by which you determined that this place will illuminate new understandings about the research problem. It is also important to articulate why a particular place as the case for study is being used if similar places also exist [i.e., if you are studying patterns of homeless encampments of veterans in open spaces, explain why you are studying Echo Park in Los Angeles rather than Griffith Park?]. If applicable, describe what type of human activity involving this place makes it a good choice to study [e.g., prior research suggests Echo Park has more homeless veterans].
If your subject of analysis is a phenomenon. A phenomenon refers to a fact, occurrence, or circumstance that can be studied or observed but with the cause or explanation to be in question. In this sense, a phenomenon that forms your subject of analysis can encompass anything that can be observed or presumed to exist but is not fully understood. In the social and behavioral sciences, the case usually focuses on human interaction within a complex physical, social, economic, cultural, or political system. For example, the phenomenon could be the observation that many vehicles used by ISIS fighters are small trucks with English language advertisements on them. The research problem could be that ISIS fighters are difficult to combat because they are highly mobile. The research questions could be how and by what means are these vehicles used by ISIS being supplied to the militants and how might supply lines to these vehicles be cut off? How might knowing the suppliers of these trucks reveal larger networks of collaborators and financial support? A case study of a phenomenon most often encompasses an in-depth analysis of a cause and effect that is grounded in an interactive relationship between people and their environment in some way.
NOTE: The choice of the case or set of cases to study cannot appear random. Evidence that supports the method by which you identified and chose your subject of analysis should clearly support investigation of the research problem and linked to key findings from your literature review. Be sure to cite any studies that helped you determine that the case you chose was appropriate for examining the problem.
IV. Discussion
The main elements of your discussion section are generally the same as any research paper, but centered around interpreting and drawing conclusions about the key findings from your analysis of the case study. Note that a general social sciences research paper may contain a separate section to report findings. However, in a paper designed around a case study, it is common to combine a description of the results with the discussion about their implications. The objectives of your discussion section should include the following:
Reiterate the Research Problem/State the Major Findings Briefly reiterate the research problem you are investigating and explain why the subject of analysis around which you designed the case study were used. You should then describe the findings revealed from your study of the case using direct, declarative, and succinct proclamation of the study results. Highlight any findings that were unexpected or especially profound.
Explain the Meaning of the Findings and Why They are Important Systematically explain the meaning of your case study findings and why you believe they are important. Begin this part of the section by repeating what you consider to be your most important or surprising finding first, then systematically review each finding. Be sure to thoroughly extrapolate what your analysis of the case can tell the reader about situations or conditions beyond the actual case that was studied while, at the same time, being careful not to misconstrue or conflate a finding that undermines the external validity of your conclusions.
Relate the Findings to Similar Studies No study in the social sciences is so novel or possesses such a restricted focus that it has absolutely no relation to previously published research. The discussion section should relate your case study results to those found in other studies, particularly if questions raised from prior studies served as the motivation for choosing your subject of analysis. This is important because comparing and contrasting the findings of other studies helps support the overall importance of your results and it highlights how and in what ways your case study design and the subject of analysis differs from prior research about the topic.
Consider Alternative Explanations of the Findings Remember that the purpose of social science research is to discover and not to prove. When writing the discussion section, you should carefully consider all possible explanations revealed by the case study results, rather than just those that fit your hypothesis or prior assumptions and biases. Be alert to what the in-depth analysis of the case may reveal about the research problem, including offering a contrarian perspective to what scholars have stated in prior research if that is how the findings can be interpreted from your case.
Acknowledge the Study's Limitations You can state the study's limitations in the conclusion section of your paper but describing the limitations of your subject of analysis in the discussion section provides an opportunity to identify the limitations and explain why they are not significant. This part of the discussion section should also note any unanswered questions or issues your case study could not address. More detailed information about how to document any limitations to your research can be found here .
Suggest Areas for Further Research Although your case study may offer important insights about the research problem, there are likely additional questions related to the problem that remain unanswered or findings that unexpectedly revealed themselves as a result of your in-depth analysis of the case. Be sure that the recommendations for further research are linked to the research problem and that you explain why your recommendations are valid in other contexts and based on the original assumptions of your study.
V. Conclusion
As with any research paper, you should summarize your conclusion in clear, simple language; emphasize how the findings from your case study differs from or supports prior research and why. Do not simply reiterate the discussion section. Provide a synthesis of key findings presented in the paper to show how these converge to address the research problem. If you haven't already done so in the discussion section, be sure to document the limitations of your case study and any need for further research.
The function of your paper's conclusion is to: 1) reiterate the main argument supported by the findings from your case study; 2) state clearly the context, background, and necessity of pursuing the research problem using a case study design in relation to an issue, controversy, or a gap found from reviewing the literature; and, 3) provide a place to persuasively and succinctly restate the significance of your research problem, given that the reader has now been presented with in-depth information about the topic.
Consider the following points to help ensure your conclusion is appropriate:
- If the argument or purpose of your paper is complex, you may need to summarize these points for your reader.
- If prior to your conclusion, you have not yet explained the significance of your findings or if you are proceeding inductively, use the conclusion of your paper to describe your main points and explain their significance.
- Move from a detailed to a general level of consideration of the case study's findings that returns the topic to the context provided by the introduction or within a new context that emerges from your case study findings.
Note that, depending on the discipline you are writing in or the preferences of your professor, the concluding paragraph may contain your final reflections on the evidence presented as it applies to practice or on the essay's central research problem. However, the nature of being introspective about the subject of analysis you have investigated will depend on whether you are explicitly asked to express your observations in this way.
Problems to Avoid
Overgeneralization One of the goals of a case study is to lay a foundation for understanding broader trends and issues applied to similar circumstances. However, be careful when drawing conclusions from your case study. They must be evidence-based and grounded in the results of the study; otherwise, it is merely speculation. Looking at a prior example, it would be incorrect to state that a factor in improving girls access to education in Azerbaijan and the policy implications this may have for improving access in other Muslim nations is due to girls access to social media if there is no documentary evidence from your case study to indicate this. There may be anecdotal evidence that retention rates were better for girls who were engaged with social media, but this observation would only point to the need for further research and would not be a definitive finding if this was not a part of your original research agenda.
Failure to Document Limitations No case is going to reveal all that needs to be understood about a research problem. Therefore, just as you have to clearly state the limitations of a general research study , you must describe the specific limitations inherent in the subject of analysis. For example, the case of studying how women conceptualize the need for water conservation in a village in Uganda could have limited application in other cultural contexts or in areas where fresh water from rivers or lakes is plentiful and, therefore, conservation is understood more in terms of managing access rather than preserving access to a scarce resource.
Failure to Extrapolate All Possible Implications Just as you don't want to over-generalize from your case study findings, you also have to be thorough in the consideration of all possible outcomes or recommendations derived from your findings. If you do not, your reader may question the validity of your analysis, particularly if you failed to document an obvious outcome from your case study research. For example, in the case of studying the accident at the railroad crossing to evaluate where and what types of warning signals should be located, you failed to take into consideration speed limit signage as well as warning signals. When designing your case study, be sure you have thoroughly addressed all aspects of the problem and do not leave gaps in your analysis that leave the reader questioning the results.
Case Studies. [email protected] Colorado State University; Gerring, John. Case Study Research: Principles and Practices . New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007; Merriam, Sharan B. Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education . Rev. ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1998; Miller, Lisa L. “The Use of Case Studies in Law and Social Science Research.” Annual Review of Law and Social Science 14 (2018): TBD; Mills, Albert J., Gabrielle Durepos, and Eiden Wiebe, editors. Encyclopedia of Case Study Research . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010; Putney, LeAnn Grogan. "Case Study." In Encyclopedia of Research Design , Neil J. Salkind, editor. (Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2010), pp. 116-120; Simons, Helen. Case Study Research in Practice . London: SAGE Publications, 2009; Kratochwill, Thomas R. and Joel R. Levin, editors. Single-Case Research Design and Analysis: New Development for Psychology and Education . Hilldsale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1992; Swanborn, Peter G. Case Study Research: What, Why and How? London : SAGE, 2010; Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research: Design and Methods . 6th edition. Los Angeles, CA, SAGE Publications, 2014; Walo, Maree, Adrian Bull, and Helen Breen. “Achieving Economic Benefits at Local Events: A Case Study of a Local Sports Event.” Festival Management and Event Tourism 4 (1996): 95-106.
Writing Tip
At Least Five Misconceptions about Case Study Research
Social science case studies are often perceived as limited in their ability to create new knowledge because they are not randomly selected and findings cannot be generalized to larger populations. Flyvbjerg examines five misunderstandings about case study research and systematically "corrects" each one. To quote, these are:
Misunderstanding 1 : General, theoretical [context-independent] knowledge is more valuable than concrete, practical [context-dependent] knowledge. Misunderstanding 2 : One cannot generalize on the basis of an individual case; therefore, the case study cannot contribute to scientific development. Misunderstanding 3 : The case study is most useful for generating hypotheses; that is, in the first stage of a total research process, whereas other methods are more suitable for hypotheses testing and theory building. Misunderstanding 4 : The case study contains a bias toward verification, that is, a tendency to confirm the researcher’s preconceived notions. Misunderstanding 5 : It is often difficult to summarize and develop general propositions and theories on the basis of specific case studies [p. 221].
While writing your paper, think introspectively about how you addressed these misconceptions because to do so can help you strengthen the validity and reliability of your research by clarifying issues of case selection, the testing and challenging of existing assumptions, the interpretation of key findings, and the summation of case outcomes. Think of a case study research paper as a complete, in-depth narrative about the specific properties and key characteristics of your subject of analysis applied to the research problem.
Flyvbjerg, Bent. “Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research.” Qualitative Inquiry 12 (April 2006): 219-245.
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Case Study Research Method in Psychology
Saul Mcleod, PhD
Educator, Researcher
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years experience of working in further and higher education.
Learn about our Editorial Process
Olivia Guy-Evans
Associate Editor for Simply Psychology
BSc (Hons), Psychology, MSc, Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event, or community. Typically, data is gathered from various sources and by using several different methods (e.g., observations & interviews ).
What are Case Studies?
The case study research method originated in clinical medicine (the case history, i.e., the patient’s personal history). In psychology, case studies are often confined to the study of a particular individual.
The information is mainly biographical and relates to events in the individual’s past (i.e., retrospective), as well as to significant events which are currently occurring in his or her everyday life.
The case study is not itself a research method, but researchers select methods of data collection and analysis that will generate material suitable for case studies.
Case studies are widely used in psychology, and amongst the best known were the ones carried out by Sigmund Freud, including Anna O and Little Hans .
Freud (1909a, 1909b) conducted very detailed investigations into the private lives of his patients in an attempt to both understand and help them overcome their illnesses. Even today, case histories are one of the main methods of investigation in abnormal psychology and psychiatry.
This makes it clear that the case study is a method that should only be used by a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist, i.e., someone with a professional qualification.
There is an ethical issue of competence. Only someone qualified to diagnose and treat a person can conduct a formal case study relating to atypical (i.e., abnormal) behavior or atypical development.
The procedure used in a case study means that the researcher provides a description of the behavior. This comes from interviews and other sources, such as observation.
The client also reports detail of events from his or her point of view. The researcher then writes up the information from both sources above as the case study and interprets the information.
The research may also continue for an extended period of time, so processes and developments can be studied as they happen.
Amongst the sources of data the psychologist is likely to turn to when carrying out a case study are observations of a person’s daily routine, unstructured interviews with the participant herself (and with people who know her), diaries, personal notes (e.g., letters, photographs, notes) or official document (e.g., case notes, clinical notes, appraisal reports).
The case study method often involves simply observing what happens to or reconstructing ‘the case history’ of a single participant or group of individuals (such as a school class or a specific social group), i.e., the idiographic approach .
The interview is also an extremely effective procedure for obtaining information about an individual, and it may be used to collect comments from the person’s friends, parents, employer, workmates, and others who have a good knowledge of the person, as well as to obtain facts from the person him or herself.
Most of this information is likely to be qualitative (i.e., verbal description rather than measurement), but the psychologist might collect numerical data as well.
The data collected can be analyzed using different theories (e.g., grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, text interpretation, e.g., thematic coding).
All the approaches mentioned here use preconceived categories in the analysis, and they are ideographic in their approach, i.e., they focus on the individual case without reference to a comparison group.
Interpreting the information means the researcher decides what to include or leave out. A good case study should always clarify which information is the factual description and which is an inference or the researcher’s opinion.
- Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information.
- Provides insight for further research.
- Permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations.
Case studies allow a researcher to investigate a topic in far more detail than might be possible if they were trying to deal with a large number of research participants (nomothetic approach) with the aim of ‘averaging’.
Because of their in-depth, multi-sided approach, case studies often shed light on aspects of human thinking and behavior that would be unethical or impractical to study in other ways.
Research that only looks into the measurable aspects of human behavior is not likely to give us insights into the subjective dimension of experience, which is important to psychoanalytic and humanistic psychologists.
Case studies are often used in exploratory research. They can help us generate new ideas (that might be tested by other methods). They are an important way of illustrating theories and can help show how different aspects of a person’s life are related to each other.
The method is, therefore, important for psychologists who adopt a holistic point of view (i.e., humanistic psychologists ).
Limitations
- Lacking scientific rigor and providing little basis for generalization of results to the wider population.
- Researchers’ own subjective feelings may influence the case study (researcher bias).
- Difficult to replicate.
- Time-consuming and expensive.
- The volume of data, together with the time restrictions in place, impacted the depth of analysis that was possible within the available resources.
Because a case study deals with only one person/event/group, we can never be sure if the case study investigated is representative of the wider body of “similar” instances. This means the conclusions drawn from a particular case may not be transferable to other settings.
Because case studies are based on the analysis of qualitative (i.e., descriptive) data, a lot depends on the psychologist’s interpretation of the information she has acquired.
This means that there is a lot of scope for observer bias , and it could be that the subjective opinions of the psychologist intrude in the assessment of what the data means.
For example, Freud has been criticized for producing case studies in which the information was sometimes distorted to fit particular behavioral theories (e.g., Little Hans ).
This is also true of Money’s interpretation of the Bruce/Brenda case study (Diamond, 1997) when he ignored evidence that went against his theory.
How to reference this article:
McLeod, S. A. (2019, August 03). Case study method . Simply Psychology. simplypsychology.org/case-study.html
Diamond, M., & Sigmundson, K. (1997). Sex Reassignment at Birth: Long-term Review and Clinical Implications. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , 151(3), 298-304
Freud, S. (1909a). Analysis of a phobia of a five year old boy. In The Pelican Freud Library (1977), Vol 8, Case Histories 1, pages 169-306
Freud, S. (1909b). Bemerkungen über einen Fall von Zwangsneurose (Der “Rattenmann”). Jb. psychoanal. psychopathol. Forsch ., I, p. 357-421; GW, VII, p. 379-463; Notes upon a case of obsessional neurosis, SE , 10: 151-318.
Further Information
- Case Study Approach
- Case Study Method
- Enhancing the Quality of Case Studies in Health Services Research
- “We do things together” A case study of “couplehood” in dementia
- Using mixed methods for evaluating an integrative approach to cancer care: a case study
- Little Hans – Freudian Case Study
- H.M. Case Study
- Anna O – Freudian Case Study
- Genie Case Study – Curtiss (1977)
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The case study approach allows in-depth, multi-faceted explorations of complex issues in their real-life settings. The value of the case
A case analysis in business is a study of a business problem . Anyone conducting a case analysis can use evidence to propose viable solutions to
A case study analysis is a typical assignment in business management courses. The task aims to show high school and college students how to
However, identifying a case to investigate involves more than choosing the research problem. A case study encompasses a problem
Limitations · Lacking scientific rigor and providing little basis for · Researchers' own subjective feelings may influence the case study (researcher bias).