What is a Case Study?

Basically, a case study is an in depth study of a particular situation rather than a sweeping statistical survey. It is a
method used to narrow down a very broad field of research into one easily researchable topic. Whilst it will not answer
a question completely, it will give some indications and allow further elaboration and hypothesis creation on a subject.

The case study research design is also useful for testing whether scientific theories and models actually work in the real
world. You may come out with a great computer model for describing how the ecosystem of a rock pool works but it is
only by trying it out on a real life pool that you can see if it is a realistic simulation.

For psychologists, anthropologists and social scientists they have been regarded as a valid method of research for many
years. Scientists are sometimes guilty of becoming bogged down in the general picture and it is sometimes important to
understand specific cases and ensure a more holistic approach to research.

The Argument for and Against the Case Study Research Design

Some argue that because a case study is such a narrow field that its results cannot be extrapolated to fit an entire
question and that they show only one narrow example. On the other hand, it is argued that a case study provides more
realistic responses than a purely statistical survey. The truth probably lies between the two and it is probably best to try
and synergize the two approaches. It is valid to conduct case studies but they should be tied in with more general
statistical processes. For example, a statistical survey might show how much time people spend talking on mobile
phones, but it is case studies of a narrow group that will determine why this is so.

The other main thing to remember during case studies is their flexibility. Whilst a pure scientist is trying to prove or
disprove a hypothesis, a case study might introduce new and unexpected results during its course, and lead to research
taking new directions. The argument between case study and statistical method also appears to be one of scale. Whilst
many 'physical' scientists avoid case studies, for psychology, anthropology and ecology they are an essential tool. It is
important to ensure that you realize that a case study cannot be generalized to fit a whole population or ecosystem.

Finally, one peripheral point is that, when informing others of your results, case studies make more interesting topics
than purely statistical surveys, something that has been realized by teachers and magazine editors for many years. The
general public has little interest in pages of statistical calculations but some well placed case studies can have a strong
impact.

How to Design and Conduct a Case Study

The advantage of the case study research design is that you can focus on specific and interesting cases. This may be an
attempt to test a theory with a typical case or it can be a specific topic that is of interest. Research should be thorough
and note taking should be meticulous and systematic. The first foundation of the case study is the subject and relevance.
In a case study, you are deliberately trying to isolate a small study group, one individual case or one particular
population. For example, statistical analysis may have shown that birthrates in African countries are increasing. A case
study on one or two specific countries becomes a powerful and focused tool for determining the social and economic
pressures driving this.

In the design of a case study, it is important to plan and design how you are going to address the study and make sure
that all collected data is relevant. Unlike a scientific report, there is no strict set of rules so the most important part is
making sure that the study is focused and concise; otherwise you will end up having to wade through a lot of irrelevant
information.
It is best if you make yourself a short list of 4 or 5 bullet points that you are going to try and address during the study. If
you make sure that all research refers back to these then you will not be far wrong. With a case study, even more than a
questionnaire or survey, it is important to be passive in your research. You are much more of an observer than an
experimenter and you must remember that, even in a multi-subject case, each case must be treated individually and
then cross case conclusions can be drawn.

How to Analyze the Results

Analyzing results for a case study tends to be more opinion based than statistical methods. The usual idea is to try and
collate your data into a manageable form and construct a narrative around it. Use examples in your narrative whilst
keeping things concise and interesting.

It is useful to show some numerical data but remember that you are only trying to judge trends and not analyze every
last piece of data. Constantly refer back to your bullet points so that you do not lose focus.

It is always a good idea to assume that a person reading your research may not possess a lot of knowledge of the subject
so try to write accordingly.

In addition, unlike a scientific study which deals with facts, a case study is based on opinion and is very much designed to
provoke reasoned debate. There really is no right or wrong answer in a case study.

What Is The Case Study Research Method?

As a rule, a paper of this kind uses a research method that relies on a single case more than on a few different samples.
Such projects are quite popular in different educational institutions. Also, case studies are good for beginners and
freshmen, who have never done any serious research in the past. Focusing on only one specific object is a good method
to explore ideas letting researchers prepare materials for future larger projects.

Despite the common belief, the case study research method isn’t popular only in sociology, but can be also applied in
clinical or administrative science, psychology, anthropology, education, social work, political science, etc.

This project is perfect for social sciences! In such sciences, this project can be focused on aspects of a single entity, like a
situation, person, group or organization, thus, allowing a student to dig deeper and disclose the given matter fully. In
performing such assignments, students are able to test the validity of social theories and even create their own theories.
Credit is given to such projects as students learn the basic rules of conducting research, and collecting and analyzing
data.

When did it appear? Pierre Guillaume Frédéric Le Play, a 19th-century French sociologist and economist who studied
family budgets was the first person who used the case study method in social science. Since the 20th century this
method was widely used in anthropology, sociology, and psychology.

Types Of Case Studies

There are several categories of this work and each is different. Some variations of this paper have to be based on the
hypothesis or thesis which has to be proven while others are focused at only providing more information on a specific
subject, while some investigate causal relationships.
There are three main types of such projects:

Key cases are based on the subjects that were chosen because the researcher had an interest or a circumstance related
to them;

Outlier cases are the ones that investigate matters that stand out from the other situations, events or organizations;
social scientists think that we can learn lots of useful information from those things that differ from the norm;

And the last in the list, but not by the interest – the knowledge case study is used when a researcher has enough
information about the particular situation, event or organization, and is ready to conduct an investigation of it.

However, this is not all. Within these 3 types, we can also pick out 4 different forms:

Illustrative

These are primarily descriptive and aim to explain to the reader a particular situation, phenomenon or event, describe
the problem, and provide an existing solution – in other words, provide enough details on a given topic in a common
language.

Exploratory

This form is used to prepare information before the main investigation. If you need some help with writing this type of
paper, use buy case study writing service. Our writers know that the main goal is to help identify the main research
questions and choose types of measurements to start conducting the investigation itself.

Cumulative

This type serves to summarize the information collected from different sources in different periods of time. What is its
goal? The main objective (as well as the main distinctive feature) of this form is that it is used to analyze previously
collected information to generalize past investigations in order to avoid spending time and costs to repeat the
investigation over and over again.

Critical

This method is useful for determining causes and consequences. Its main idea is to investigate one or more sources to
investigate a situation with unique interest and with almost no interest to generalizability. It is also good for questioning
a universal assertion.

Hopefully, you now have a clear understanding of what the main types of this assignment.

Main Goal Of Writing Case Study

To summarize everything that we have mentioned earlier, it is worth noting that unlike most of the statistically based
studies, the main goal of creating a case study is to look for some new variables while you are conducting each new
research task. It is a good educational tool. With its history, rich in amazing breakthroughs, this type of study can be
easily called the most exciting and sometimes (it depends on its topic and the subject that you study) the hardest tasks
that students get in college or university. The case study writing process can take lots of your time and nerves when
collecting information, cooperating with different researchers, analyzing data, and writing the text of your paper.
However, it can be quite interesting! The main advice is – whatever type of case study you have to complete, you need
to identify the purpose and goals and only then start conducting your research.