case study help

case study help

How to Write an Effective Case Study

1. Introduction

This post will focus on a few simple pointers on how to produce high-quality case studies. This will be achieved by discussing: the notion of a case study and how it can be applied to different types of studies; the selection features in case study design and reasons why these have been chosen; the methods in which to gather data and conduct research analysis in an attempt to limit construct and internal validity threats.

Last but not least, exploratory case studies aim to trace the category of which the decision would clarify and to determine the extent whether the decision would be operational using a specific type of data. Largely, the decision is a product, policy, program, or legislation. In this light, a causal complexity in an exploratory case study is usually a single few indicators and propositions which are suitable for testing on the data pattern.

Descriptive case studies aim to set down in an accurate way the setting of a decision as it occurred in its natural condition with a view to explain the data and the process of the decision.

Explanatory case studies aim to answer ‘how’ or ‘why’ questions with little control over the research’s environment. It isn’t common for researchers to report on an explanatory case study. These case studies are only considered valid, and no conclusive answers can be given with this type of case study.

Case studies are a popular research method in the business area. Case studies aim to analyze specific issues within the boundaries of a specific environment, situation, or organization. According to its design, case studies in business research can be divided into three categories: explanatory, descriptive, and exploratory.

2. Understanding the Purpose of a Case Study

The next step is to define the outline for the case study. If the case study will be used on a website, it is best to outline what information is to be included on each page. If the case study will be used in a print or email, detail the plan for each different deliverable. The purpose of writing the outline is to focus on the solid and logical sequence of the raw information. An excellent tool to help with the outlining is the project brief. This can be formal or informal. It can be a short paragraph or a page per deliverable. The items to include in the outline are objective, audience, message, and support. With the purpose of the outline in mind, focus on building the outline with enough detail that if the writer had to take a leave of absence, another writer could pick up where the other left off without missing a beat.

3. Conducting Research for a Case Study

Reaching into the depths of his pocket, Dr. Eisenberg pulled out a small electronic organizer, flipped it open, and began to jot down a bulleted list of items he needed to keep in mind as he moves forward with the case and areas to explore in the literature searches. This process, he said, would continue throughout the production of the case report and would keep him focused and remind him to “dig deeper” when answering the pertinent questions. He stressed the importance of staying organized and keeping detailed records of thought processes and research. That way, at later stages, there is recall of where an idea may have come from or different directions to explore with the case. Once a clear understanding of what can potentially be uncovered with the case and what had already been revealed, it is time to begin actually searching the medical literature. It is understood that many recent real-life cases may be very interesting and have the potential to help not only the patient but also other people with similar ailments. But the collection of data or short-term outcomes does not make a published case. Published cases are, in general, ones that have interesting and broader differential diagnoses, unusual presentations of common problems, unique cases that pose a learning point, unique case management, or a new, rare, or well-known disease state of interest that may not have clear literature-guided directions for treating (5-7). This category of case is what the UWHC case report and publication committee is aiming for, and it is important to remember that a poor case selection can result in wasted time and energy.

4. Structuring and Writing a Case Study

The structure of a good case study is much like telling a good story. You would like to have events occur in a chronological order, and do this in a simple and interesting way. By doing this, you can help readers imagine the events and the effects on their own lives. To do this effectively, you need to know your stuff. It might help to take notes, think about and write down the reasons behind certain decisions, and ask people involved to further elaborate on their statements. This will give the story depth and make it more realistic. It’s usually best to write about specific events and their outcomes rather than dealing with a broad and abstract topic. For instance, focusing on how a product launch went wrong could provide the perfect setting for a multi-faceted and easy to understand marketing case study. Try and keep the case study to around three pages, and not more than five. This might seem like a low amount considering the amount of detail you may have to put in, however very long documents can deter people from reading and you would like to keep their interest.

5. Conclusion

The case study must then present the reader with adequate data for the reader to come to their own conclusions. This could involve direct observation with the reader as another witness or it could be insinuated with relevant data. It is at this point where we finally reach the problem in Kyle’s case study. He had lost a year’s worth of academic data. This leads into the final stage of the case study where the researcher makes the data analysis. In Sylvia’s case, the data is the process itself and she is able to use her newly attained knowledge to improve her patient care. This part of the case study may also serve as a method for revisit of the paper’s abstract for a conclusional comparison of findings.

The next part of the case study should be for the researcher to describe the research setting, the research method, and the processes used. This information is vital for the researcher to validate the results of the case study. Consider these two separate examples. Jon Mu, from the IT sector, looked at a protocol that had failed. He went on to take empirical notes on that protocol and studied a new method. The protocol makers found out about his studies and implemented the original protocol to compare the results.

Your case study should be well-structured and have a logical flow the reader can follow. It should begin with a problem or issue at a specific place and time. This can be illustrated in many ways. Kyle’s case study looks at a specific event and the impact it had on one man’s life. It is not until halfway through the case study where the reader discovers there is a problem. Another case study example is Sylvia from the medical sector. Sylvia works as a nurse and her problem was that she didn’t understand the process being used on her patients and she wanted to learn more.