How to Write a Case Study
Writing Guide
A lot of social and financial studies involve completing a case study. Though this academic work might seem pretty easy at first sight, there are a lot of specifics that one should consider before starting. For example, one should be acquainted with the design of a case study and its general formatting rules in order to create a high-quality piece.
Definition and Types
A case study is a written assignment that is centered around a problem, its analysis, and the suggestion of solutions. Commonly such cases are based on real subjects and events but can vary in circumstances and terms depending on the needs of the discipline or topic. In order to create an excellent case study, one should pay attention to detail and suggest the best options on how to solve the problem based on related works and studies on the topic.
So, you can see that a person who starts writing a case study must analyze the problem and conduct in-depth research to find the necessary supportive base for their suggestions.
There are a few different types of such a project that students may face.
Illustrative
Such studies are aimed to describe the case and make it understandable for a reader who might not be familiar with the topic of the research.
Pilot (Exploratory)
This type of study is more like a preparation step for in-depth research or investigation. Such studies come in handy when one needs to identify what questions to explore, what subjects to focus on, and what data collection methods to pick.
Critical Instance
Such cases are great for cause and effect studies as they are exploring a few situations or phenomena with the purpose of criticizing generalized assumptions.
Cumulative
Unlike the previous type, a cumulative study collects information from various sources in order to generalize the situation or phenomena.
Steps of Writing
The writing process of such a study is similar to any other type of assignment as it consists of steps like preparation, research, writing, and editing. However, it also has specifics that might cause difficulties, especially if you are writing such a piece for the first time. Let’s find out what one should pay attention to and what the best tips on writing a case study are.
Step 1. Preparation and Research
There are a lot of things that you should do before you start writing your paper. Here are a few steps to take before diving into the writing process:
- Choose a case (a situation, problem, phenomena) to study if you are not assigned one by your teacher or professor.
- Choose the methods and instruments of data collection and analysis.
- Find existing works on the topic of your research. Search for related case studies, articles, and reports. There might be a lot of material to work with or there might be not enough. Choose wisely and make sure you have enough information to explore different points of view and avoid being biased.
An expert tip: Case studies can be set around people, organizations, programs, practices, services, and even whole systems or regimes. Make sure to choose the case that is able to provide essential insights and perspectives as well as enough material to build a counterpoint.
In order to create a great piece, you will need to collect and analyze information on the topic as well as to conduct qualitative research. The best sources of information for your case study are:
- Documents: archives, articles, records, reports.
- First-hand evidence: interviews, tests, observations.
- Additional theoretical data: other case studies, books, journals, etc.
When researching theoretical or supporting information for your work, pay attention not only to the source of it but also its relevance (be sure to use the latest data to avoid using outdated information).
Step 2. Drafting
Once all the data that you need for your work is collected and organized, it’s time to start writing the first draft of your case study. As any other academic paper, this type of work consists of an introduction, the main body, and the conclusion. A case study has the main body divided into a few blocks; thus, the structure of it looks something like the following:
Abstract
The abstract is a brief summary of the work, research, and the results as well as its importance and purpose. It’s essential to put the most important points into your abstract such as what question was posed, what methods and instruments were used, and what results you have achieved.
Make your abstract short and informative, keep it less than a page, and make sure to check what type of abstract is required by your learning institution – narrative or structured one – as they have their specifics. A structured abstract is not composed as a narrative one (which is basically a summary of your work) but answers particular questions instead. For example, you might be asked to explain what the significance of your study is or what your goal was.
Introduction
This is the part that most students know how to write as they face it in every assignment. The introduction’s purpose is to provide background information on the field of study and introduce it to the reader.
This is where you can put some theoretical material that you have collected through your research – similar cases, historical background, or other related material.
Tip: Be sure to check the recommendations of your learning institution as some require including a separate chapter named Background to present necessary background information.
Presentation
Describe the case and provide primary data that you have collected in the Presentation chapter. Here you can put your raw data and describe the study in detail.
Outcomes (Solution and Recommendation)
This part is dedicated to the results of your case study as well as suggestions on how to solve the problem or recommendations for further research.
Conclusion
The summary of the work and final words on the topic.
References
Put all the works and sources that you are using through your work. Use only credible sources. Remember that Wikipedia is not a credible source, but it has a lot of references that you might check out and find useful.
Step 3. Editing
The final step of your writing is, of course, proofreading and editing. There are probably a lot of blank spaces that you need to fill in. So, make sure you leave enough time before your deadline. If you are searching for a professional service that can proofread and edit for you, you should definitely turn to our team as we can make your case study sound very professional and polished.
When proofreading, pay attention to the evidence that you use and if there is enough information to make a proper conclusion and suggestions. Use as many real-life examples and first-hand data as possible. If you can, perform interviews and surveys in order to get unbiased results.
Be sure to polish the grammar (check for the typos if there are any) and punctuation as well as the style and formatting of your work. They should match the requirements of your learning institution, especially the word count and the structure of the paragraph.
Topic Examples for a Case Study
Here are a few topic examples for you.
- How the appearance of the teacher influences the education process.
- The correlation between the development of social media and mental disorders.
- Managing religion education and evolution studies in schools.
- Schools meals and students’ health.
- The role of office eating culture in obesity problem.
- The influence of video games on violence prevention.
- The influence of online chats on buyer’s behavior.
Make sure to choose the topic that resonates with you as they are the best and the most interesting to work with.
