There are many different types of case studies. There is also a wide variety of uses for writing case studies, from academic research purposes to the provision of corporate evidence points. There are approximately 3 types of case studies: illustrative (descriptive of events), investigative (investigative), cumulative (comparative collection of information) and critical (examines a particular problem with the results of cause and effect). Once you're familiar with the different types and styles of case study instruction and the way each one applies to your goals, there are steps that make writing smooth and ensure the development and delivery of an orderly case study that can be used to prove a point or illustrative achievement.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Getting Started
Step 1. Determine the type, design or style of the case study best suited to the intended audience
Corporations may choose the illustrative case study method to show what has been done for a client; schools, educators and students can choose the cumulative or critical case study method and the legal team can point to the investigative case study method as a way to provide concrete evidence.
Whichever case study method you use, your goal is to thoroughly analyze a situation (or “case”) that may state factors or information or otherwise that are ignored or unknown. This writing can relate to companies, entire countries, or even individuals. In addition, this writing can be in the form of abstract things, such as programs and training. In fact, if you can dream it up, you can write a case study about it
Step 2. Determine the topic of your case study
Once you have chosen your angle, you need to determine what your research is about and where it is located (cases). What have you talked about in class? Did you question it as you read it?
Begin your research in the library and/or on the Internet to begin investigating a specific problem. Once you have narrowed your search to a specific issue, seek as much as possible from different sources. Look for information in books, journals, DVDs, websites, magazines, newspapers and more. As you investigate each one, jot down enough so you can find the information later
Step 3. Look for case studies that have been published on the same or similar subject matter
Talk to your professor, go to the library, surf the web until you fall asleep. You don't want to replicate research that's already been done.
- Find out what has been written previously and read important articles about your case situation. As you do so, you may come across an existing problem that requires a solution, or you may find you have to come up with an interesting idea that may or may not be in your case.
- Review case study examples that are similar in style and scope to get an idea of composition and format as well.
Method 2 of 4: Preparing for the Interview
Step 1. Select the participants you will interview to include in your case study
An expert in a particular field of study or a customer who has implemented a tool or service in the form of a problem from the study will provide the best information.
- Find knowledgeable people to interview. They don't necessarily have to be in your location, but they must be directly or actively involved in the past.
- Decide whether you will be interviewing individuals or groups of individuals to serve as examples in your case study. It may be more advantageous for participants to gather in a group and share their knowledge. If the study focuses on personal matters or medical issues, it may be better to conduct individual interviews.
- Gather as much information as possible about your issue to ensure you can develop interviews and activities that result in the most beneficial information for your study.
Step 2. Write a list of interview questions and determine how you will conduct your study
This can be through interviews and activities, personal interviews or in-person group telephone interviews. Sometimes, email is an option.
When you interview people, ask questions that can help understand their opinions. For example, “How do you feel about the situation? What can you say about how the place (or situation) developed? What do you think should be different, if anything?” You also need to ask questions that provide you with facts that might not be available from an article – making your work distinct and purposeful
Step 3. Arrange interviews with subject matter experts (report managers in corporations, clients and customers using tools and services and others that can be used)
Make sure all your informants know what you are doing. They need to be fully informed (and sign a waiver in certain cases) and your questions need to be precise and non-controversial
Method 3 of 4: Getting Data
Step 1. Conduct the interview
Ask the same or similar questions on all the issues involved to ensure you get a different perspective on a similar issue or service.
- Keep your questions open-ended. When you ask a question that doesn't trigger a “yes” or “no” answer, you usually get more information. What you're trying to do is get the person to say whatever he or she knows and thinks – even though you don't always know what's going to happen until you ask the question.
- Request data and material from the problem that can be used to add credibility to the findings and future presentation of your case studies. Clients can provide statistics on the use of new tools or products and participants can provide photos and quotes showing evidence of findings that might support the case.
Step 2. Collect and analyze all usable data, including documents, archival records, observations and artifacts
Organize all the data in the same place to ensure easy access to the information and materials when writing a case study.
You can't cover everything. So you need to think about how to structure it, remove the excess and arrange it so that the situation on the case site can be understood by the reader. Before you can do this, you need to put all the information together where you can see it and analyze what's going on
Step 3. Formulate the problem in one or two sentences
As you investigate the data, think about how you can incorporate what you have encountered into a statement such as a thesis. What pattern has your problem brought about?
This allows you to concentrate on what material is most important. You are surrounded with information from participants that should be covered, but simply out of bounds. Arrange your material to reflect it
Method 4 of 4: Writing Your Article
Step 1. Develop and write a case study using the data collected during the research, interview and analysis process
Include at least 4 sections in your case study: an introduction, background information explaining why this case study was created, a presentation of the findings and a conclusion that clearly presents all data and references.
- The introduction should be prepared very clearly. In a detective story, the crime occurs right at the beginning and the detective must combine all the information to solve it in the rest of the story. In one case, you can start by asking a question. You can quote someone you interviewed.
- Make sure you include background information on your study, why the interviewee was a good example and what caused the problem to emphasize giving the audience a broad view of the issue. Once you clearly state the problem of course. Include photos or a video if it would benefit your work to be persuasive and personalized.
- Once the reader has all the knowledge necessary to understand the problem, present your data. Involve citations and customer data (percentages, awards and discoveries) whenever possible to add a personal touch and more credibility to the brought case. Explain to the reader what you have learned from the interview about the problem at this site, how it was developed, what solutions have been proposed and/or tried, and the feelings and thoughts of those who worked or visited there. You may have to do extra calculations or research to substantiate the claim.
- At the end of your analysis, you should offer possible solutions, but don't worry about solving the case itself. You may find to some interviewees' statements will do the alluding for you. Let the reader leave with a full grasp of the problem, but trying to come up with their own desire to change it. At the end of your analysis, you should offer a possible solution, but don't worry about solving the case yourself. You may get direction from the interviewee's statements. Don't hesitate to ask the reader a question, forcing them to think for themselves. If you have written a good case, they will have enough information to understand the situation and have a lively class discussion.
Step 2. Add references and attachments (if any)
As in other writings, reference your sources. That's the reason why you get a credible one in the first place. And if you have study-related information that will still disrupt the flow of the core, enter it now.
You may have terms that are difficult for other cultures to understand. If so, include it in an appendix or in a “Notes to Instructors”
Step 3. Perform additions or deletions
Once your work has taken shape, you'll notice that there are changes to other objects that you wouldn't have expected. If so, make additions and deletions as necessary. You'll find information that you once thought related was not. Or vice versa.
Reread your study part by part but also in its entirety. Each data point needs to fit into its place as well as the rest of the work. If you can't find a suitable place for something, put it in the attachment
Step 4. Refine and correct the test print of your work
Now that your paper has been formulated, look for revisions. As always, correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, but also pay attention to flow and transitions. Is everything placed and said as efficiently as possible?
Ask someone to correct it too. Your mind has become oblivious to the mistakes it has seen 100 times. Other eyes may notice content left indefinitely or otherwise confusing
Tips
- If you are developing multiple case studies for the same purpose using a generic problem, use a regular template and/or design.
- Be sure to ask unlimited questions during the insight run to help develop the discussion.
- Ask permission to contact case study participants while you are developing case study writing. You may find additional information necessary when analyzing all data.
- Ask case study participants for permission to use their names and information as a source and protect anonymity if they choose not to disclose their participation.
