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- What Is a Case Study? | Definition, Examples & Methods
What Is a Case Study? | Definition, Examples & Methods
Published on May 8, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023.
A case study is a detailed study of a specific subject, such as a person, group, place, event, organization, or phenomenon. Case studies are commonly used in social, educational, clinical, and business research.
A case study research design usually involves qualitative methods , but quantitative methods are sometimes also used. Case studies are good for describing , comparing, evaluating and understanding different aspects of a research problem .
Table of contents
When to do a case study, step 1: select a case, step 2: build a theoretical framework, step 3: collect your data, step 4: describe and analyze the case, other interesting articles.
A case study is an appropriate research design when you want to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world subject. It allows you to explore the key characteristics, meanings, and implications of the case.
Case studies are often a good choice in a thesis or dissertation . They keep your project focused and manageable when you don’t have the time or resources to do large-scale research.
You might use just one complex case study where you explore a single subject in depth, or conduct multiple case studies to compare and illuminate different aspects of your research problem.
| Research question | Case study |
|---|---|
| What are the ecological effects of wolf reintroduction? | Case study of wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park |
| How do populist politicians use narratives about history to gain support? | Case studies of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and US president Donald Trump |
| How can teachers implement active learning strategies in mixed-level classrooms? | Case study of a local school that promotes active learning |
| What are the main advantages and disadvantages of wind farms for rural communities? | Case studies of three rural wind farm development projects in different parts of the country |
| How are viral marketing strategies changing the relationship between companies and consumers? | Case study of the iPhone X marketing campaign |
| How do experiences of work in the gig economy differ by gender, race and age? | Case studies of Deliveroo and Uber drivers in London |
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Once you have developed your problem statement and research questions , you should be ready to choose the specific case that you want to focus on. A good case study should have the potential to:
- Provide new or unexpected insights into the subject
- Challenge or complicate existing assumptions and theories
- Propose practical courses of action to resolve a problem
- Open up new directions for future research
TipIf your research is more practical in nature and aims to simultaneously investigate an issue as you solve it, consider conducting action research instead.
Unlike quantitative or experimental research , a strong case study does not require a random or representative sample. In fact, case studies often deliberately focus on unusual, neglected, or outlying cases which may shed new light on the research problem.
Example of an outlying case studyIn the 1960s the town of Roseto, Pennsylvania was discovered to have extremely low rates of heart disease compared to the US average. It became an important case study for understanding previously neglected causes of heart disease.
However, you can also choose a more common or representative case to exemplify a particular category, experience or phenomenon.
Example of a representative case studyIn the 1920s, two sociologists used Muncie, Indiana as a case study of a typical American city that supposedly exemplified the changing culture of the US at the time.
While case studies focus more on concrete details than general theories, they should usually have some connection with theory in the field. This way the case study is not just an isolated description, but is integrated into existing knowledge about the topic. It might aim to:
- Exemplify a theory by showing how it explains the case under investigation
- Expand on a theory by uncovering new concepts and ideas that need to be incorporated
- Challenge a theory by exploring an outlier case that doesn’t fit with established assumptions
To ensure that your analysis of the case has a solid academic grounding, you should conduct a literature review of sources related to the topic and develop a theoretical framework . This means identifying key concepts and theories to guide your analysis and interpretation.
There are many different research methods you can use to collect data on your subject. Case studies tend to focus on qualitative data using methods such as interviews , observations , and analysis of primary and secondary sources (e.g., newspaper articles, photographs, official records). Sometimes a case study will also collect quantitative data.
Example of a mixed methods case studyFor a case study of a wind farm development in a rural area, you could collect quantitative data on employment rates and business revenue, collect qualitative data on local people’s perceptions and experiences, and analyze local and national media coverage of the development.
The aim is to gain as thorough an understanding as possible of the case and its context.
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In writing up the case study, you need to bring together all the relevant aspects to give as complete a picture as possible of the subject.
How you report your findings depends on the type of research you are doing. Some case studies are structured like a standard scientific paper or thesis , with separate sections or chapters for the methods , results and discussion .
Others are written in a more narrative style, aiming to explore the case from various angles and analyze its meanings and implications (for example, by using textual analysis or discourse analysis ).
In all cases, though, make sure to give contextual details about the case, connect it back to the literature and theory, and discuss how it fits into wider patterns or debates.
If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
- Normal distribution
- Degrees of freedom
- Null hypothesis
- Discourse analysis
- Control groups
- Mixed methods research
- Non-probability sampling
- Quantitative research
- Ecological validity
Research bias
- Rosenthal effect
- Implicit bias
- Cognitive bias
- Selection bias
- Negativity bias
- Status quo bias
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McCombes, S. (2023, November 20). What Is a Case Study? | Definition, Examples & Methods. Scribbr. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/case-study/
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How To Answer A Case Study
We totally understand the dire need of students to find credible help with their case studies. Whether they are the students of a college or a university, time and again, you will be asked to make your case studies effectively. This brings to the question as to who will answer a case study impressively? Students can find several online companies that guarantee some great tips for answering your case studies nicely, but not all of them are to rely on.
We bet we have the best step to step guide with us that can easily get you to the end of your case study solutions . The following tips will promise to help you efficiently with your case, irrespective of how difficult they are. Precisely, when it comes to the question of how to answer a case study, it’s all about words. So, do not hesitate in using the correct and researched words to leave a lasting impact.
How To Answer A Consulting Case Study On Three Major Types
Case studies are not an easy task to fulfill in your academic life. If students dare to take it lightly, chances are you will not be able to impress your teachers. However, case studies do not come as easy as they sound. There are three significant types of case studies that are popular among students.
- Legal Case Study
- Nursing Case Study
- Management Case Study
These are the common subjects that will lead to stress in your college or university life. With so much other stuff to do, students don’t feel happy about the pressure of finding a fruitful answer to the case study. There is no doubt it’s quite a challenging situation for any student who has to make a flawless case study. That’s why we usually advise our students to get online help for their case study writing. Because of it, they can have fewer chances of flunking in these exams.
The Helpful 15 Tips On How To Answer A Case Study
When students have no option but to write a persuasive case study, it is preferable to set out on a journey to get external help for it. You can get easy help online. You will be pleased to know that our writing help has some best case study assignment writers who can distress you in a matter of a few hours. But, the most vital thing to know is that a student should know the basic formulas to find good answers to your case studies on their own.
We have collected some fabulous notable tips for our students can help them for years with their case studies:
- Use Conventional Tone: The foremost thing while writing case studies is to use a professional tone to have a lasting impact on your papers.
- Use Your Words Only: It is equally important for a student to use simple and their wording while writing case studies.
- Don’t Be Too Precise: Sometimes, providing proper sentences gives an understandable image to your case studies. Hence, soon use shorter or confusing sentences.
- Use Examples: The students should support their case studies with relevant examples. The examples can be given through a video, statements which should prove your opinions as well.
- Accurate Grammar: Your writing is the crucial thing, Don’t engage in poorly written content. Use proper English without any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.
- No Acronyms: Students should avoid using acronyms while writing their case studies.
- Use Life Experiences: Your practical life experiences are important to make a compelling case study. Try to use live examples to give a more impactful expression to your case studies.
- Justified Statements Are Necessary: The best way to answer a case study is to agree or disagree with the justified statements.
- Make Complete Sentences: It is also an important point to make a flawless case study paper. While writing, try to make complete sentences.
- No Spelling Flaws: Bad grammar or wrong spellings are not tolerable. Hence, students should do keen writing with no spelling mistakes.
- Proper Answers: Try to give proper answers to the questions.
- Adequate Justifications: Justifications are crucial. Make adequate justifications to avoid any confusion.
- Sufficient Reasoning: The reasoning should be enough while writing a case study.
- No indefinite Answers: Indefinite answers cause a hell of a lot of confusion and complexity in a case study. That’s why the students should avoid making indefinite answers.
- Provide Proper Conversations: It is also vital to contribute as much as possible in conversations.
Related: How To Buy A Case Study
How To Properly Answer A Case Study
Precisely, a good case study is a scenario that students will analyze out of a professional concept. However, it is blended with useful questions that demand definite answers. There can be a sample case study assignment online that can always help a student while writing one but, it is equally important to know the proper way of answering a case study.
- Reading a case study is the foremost important thing. Later analyze the question carefully too.
- It is mandatory to identify the issue of the case study thoroughly
- A bridge is vital to link the theory to practice
- Planning of the answers comes next.
- Start making your case study answers
- Proofread and edit it carefully to avoid mistakes
- Submit the case studies to your tutors.
How To Answer A Case Study Interview
This aspect is a bit tricky. In a case study interview, you will be given a case and will be asked to analyze the situation with possible solutions.
Here are some common and most useful tips about answering the interview questions:
- Listening carefully to the questions is the key
- Asl the proper questions
- Highlight your approach
- do brainstorming
- Don’t lose focus
- Be attentive to feedback
- Prove your quantitative skills
- Summarize in detail
To write a productive case study is hard, but if you choose online help for it, this task becomes really easy. Be a smarter version of yourself and find great ways of handling the answers to your case study problems. We have a proficient team that can make this hectic task to answer your case study a piece of cake. Don’t be late to avail of our quality help.
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