Online Class: How to Write Case Studies

In this course you will learn how to develop a case study from inception of the idea to the writing and completion of the final study. You will also learn about using the case study in the workplace and classroom, as well as other fields that successfully use case studies.

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  • 12
    Lessons
  • 27
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 532
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 12
    Hours
    average time
  • 1.2
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

What is a Case Study?


A case study is an in-depth study of a singular situation, person or event.

What does this mean?

In most disciplines, studies are required to prove a hypothesis. These studies are usually very large in nature, with the goal of proving a hypothesis. With a case study, a narrow topic is chosen that can prove (or disprove) an idea, question or hypothesis. Often, case studies are used alongside a larger formal study, or are used on their own.

Key Term! 

Hypothesis 

An idea or theory that hasn't been proven but has scientific merit and is worthy of a study to prove whether it is true or false.

Case studies are used in most disciplines that use or require statistical or informational data. For example, a well-known case study in the field of psychology is the case of "Genie", a feral child.

Obviously, researchers cannot lock up a child for a decade, and do research on the results. So, when a child was discovered locked up for 13 years, it was a perfect opportunity to do research and try to discover what the effects were of a child being isolated their entire life.

 Think! 

What information could be garnered from the "Genie" case study? How could the case study be used to help children (or adults) under care today?

Case studies are also commonly used in the business world. For example, one of the most well-known business case studies is the Tylenol cyanide crisis. A quick refresher, in 1982 seven people died after ingesting Tylenol tablets laced with cyanide.

Almost immediately Tylenol's market share dropped from 37% to 7%. Johnson & Johnson, the parent company had to work quickly to save the product. They reintroduced the product with tamper resistant packaging and a large media campaign.

Johnson & Johnson was successful. The Tylenol brand recovered and regained customer trust.

The Tylenol crisis case study details everything that happened from beginning to end. It also details each step J&J took when turning the scandal around…both positive and negative steps.

This case study is now used in business, marketing, crisis management and other disciplines to help them solve their own problems. They can look at what J&J did to solve their problems, and use that information to fix their own issues.

Who Uses Case Studies?

What makes a case study so valuable is that is it is real-life situation or problem. Dealing with hypothetical issues can be helpful, but using actual historical information and data is often a much better way to learn and fix an organization's problems.

Case studies are used in most disciplines, as well as education, where they are becoming more prevalent. In fact, some of the best universities, such as Harvard Business School, use the case method to educate their students.

Think about it, what better way to learn about a subject than to study real-life examples of similar situations?

Case studies are used in just about every discipline. For this course, case studies will belong to one of the following five groups.

  1. Arts, Design, Media and Humanities  
  2. Business, Hospitality, Law, Sport and Tourism 
  3. Interdisciplinary
  4. Education, Social and Environmental Sciences
  5. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Case studies are understandably useful for others to learn from, and an effective case study can help people, businesses, and organizations for years to come. However, what exactly goes into a case study, and how is one developed?

Why Develop A Case Study?

People have several reasons for wanting to develop a case study. For example, a technology company might want to learn why certain members of the population buy certain products. Or a psychologist might want to understand what is the best type of therapy for veterans with PTSD. To accomplish this, both would want to develop a case study.

Let's use our psychologist as an example.

A psychologist wants to begin offering specialized treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD. She currently has many veterans as patients, and she has determined that some therapeutic methods are more effective than others. She wants to use the information she is gaining to develop a track record for which methods are most effective. To do this, she will develop a case study.


The psychologist will use data and information from her current patients (using strict privacy rules), as well as professional resources, to develop her case study. This case study could accomplish many things.

1. Pilot Research – If the psychologist wants to do large-scale research, starting with a few case studies is a great way to go. If the case studies show any patterns or trends, that information can be used to determine the best way to do advanced research.

2. Develop New Theories or Ideas – The psychologist may have her own ideas going into the study. Perhaps she believes that a combination of talk and group therapy is the best treatment for veterans with PTSD. Or maybe through her case study, she realizes that group therapy is often effective alone. If she develops a new theory, she can test it with additional research.

3. Change Existing Theories or Ideas – In psychology, ideas and treatments often change with time or new information or research. While conducting the case study, the psychologist might discover that older ideas are not as effective as newer treatments. If the psychologist feels current professional protocol is not as effective as newer treatments, a case study could be developed to challenge those ideas.

Key Terms! 

Intrinsic Case Study

A study on a topic that is unique in itself. An example of this would be the study of Genie, the feral child.

Instrumental Case Study

A study on a more general phenomenon or similarity. An example of this would be a study to determine what therapies are most effective for war veterans with PTSD.

Types of Case Studies

There are generally five different types of case studies, and the subjects that they address. These are:

Person – This type of study focuses on one particular individual. This case study would use several types of research to determine an outcome.

Group – This type of study focuses on a group of people. This could be a family, a group or friends, or even coworkers.

Location – This type of study focuses on a place, and how and why people use the place.

Organization/Company – This type of study focuses on a business or an organization. This could include the people who work for the company, or an event that occurred at the organization.

Event – This type of study focuses on an event, whether cultural or societal, and how it affects those that are affected by it.

Think! 

What kind of case study is the "Genie" study? 

What kind of case study is the "Tylenol Scandal" study?

What Is The Process For Developing A Case Study?

While case studies are smaller than larger research-based studies, their development still requires a strict and detailed systematic plan. There are several steps required to complete a full study. We will get into better detail of each step further in the course, but the basic plan is as follows:

1. Define The Task, Question or Topic

What is the topic of the case study? What question is the case study supposed to answer?

The first step is to determine what the case study will be about. This is when a researcher will develop their hypothesis.

This is also when research should be done to determine whether any case studies have been written on this topic in the past. This research can be difficult, since many small case studies exist. However, with the advent of the Internet, finding older studies is easier than it was in the past.


2. Do Research, Interviews, Collect Data

The research stage is the longest and most detailed of the case study process.

One of the primary methods used in case studies is an interview. Whether it is one person or several, the interview process is extremely important. Not only must the subject have several interviews, but also other experts in the subject should be interviewed. Their contribution can be invaluable.

When interviewing subjects, questioned should be open-ended so the subject is forced to answer with more than just a "yes" or "no". For example, when interviewing the first responders of "Genie", the researcher shouldn't say:

"When you found Genie, was she afraid of you?"

This question could easily lead to a "yes" or "no" answer. One could easily assume Genie was frightened when found since she had no socialization skills whatsoever. Instead, the researcher should ask questions like:

"When you first found Genie, what was her disposition?"

"When you removed Genie from her home, how did she react to the sunlight and outdoors"?

"When you gave Genie a cookie in the ambulance, how did she react?"

3. Make Recommendations and Form Conclusions

What did the study prove? After gathering all of the data, what conclusions can be made?

Once the researcher has compiled all of the research, it is time to formulate the data and form a thesis. A thesis is a statement that will tell the reader what to expect from the case study. It is a single sentence that usually is within the first paragraph of the report. The thesis must make a claim that can be disputed by others.

The thesis differs from the hypothesis in that the thesis is the statement that is proven true with the case study. The hypothesis is the question or idea that the researcher had going into the study. It is possible the hypothesis and thesis are the same. However, it is also possible that once all the research has been completed, the thesis changes from the initial hypothesis.

4. Write The Report

Writing the report is the final step, but it includes several steps. A case study is a research study that requires a cover page, references, and all of the acquired data and information compiled in a readable and cohesive report.

While a case study might use scientific facts and information, a case study should not read as a scientific research journal or report. It should be easy to read and understand, and should follow the narrative determined in the first step.

Remember, the case study must analyze a case or situation in a clear and concise way, but should also be readable by people not familiar with scientific methods. The study should have four main sections, the introduction, the background of the study and why it was developed, the presentation of findings, and theconclusion.

The introduction should set the stage for the case study, and state the thesis for the report. The intro must clearly articulate what the study's intention is, as well as how you plan on explaining and answering the thesis. Again, remember that a case study is not a formal scientific research report that will only be read by scientists. The case study must be able to be read and understood by the layperson, and should read almost as a story, with a clear narrative.

The background should detail what information brought the researcher to pose his hypothesis. It should clearly explain the subject or subjects, as well as their background information. And lastly, the background must give the reader a full understanding of the issue at hand, and what process will be taken with the study. Photos and videos are always helpful when applicable.

The presentation of findings should clearly explain how the topic was researched, and summarize what the results are. Data should be summarized as simply as possible so that it is understandable by people without a scientific background. The researcher should describe what was learned from the interviews, and how the results answered the questions asked in the introduction.

The final section of the study is the conclusion. The purpose of the study isn't necessarily to solve the problem, only to offer possible solutions. The final summary should be an end to the story. Remember, the case study is about asking and answering questions. The conclusion should answer the question posed by the researcher, but also leave the reader with questions of his own. The researcher wants the reader to think about the questions posed in the study, and be free to come to their own conclusions as well.

In this course you will learn how to develop a case study from inception of the idea to the writing and completion of the final study. You will also learn about using the case study in the workplace and classroom, as well as other fields that successfully use case studies.

The lessons in this course are as follows:

1. What Is A Case Study

2. Different Types Of Case Studies

3. Planning A Case Study

4. Researching A Case Study

5. Strengths and Weaknesses of Case Studies

6. Writing A Case Study

7. Case Studies in Marketing

8. Using Case Studies in Medicine and other Fields

9. Case Studies In The Workplace

10. Case Studies In Education

11. Case Studies in Psychology and Social Sciences

12. Summarizing Case Studies

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Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
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Lesson 1: What Is a Case Study

A case study is an in-depth study of a singular situation, person, or event. Additional lesson topics: Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 3rd Edition Applied Social Research Methods, Vol. 5 ; DIY Case Studies: A Drop-Dead Simple Guide to Writing Killer Marketing Case Studies 41 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: An Introduction
  • Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment A
  • Complete: Choose a Cast Study Topic - Lesson 1 Assignment B
  • Assessment: Exam 1

Lesson 2: Types of Case Studies

There are several different types of case studies, as well as several types of subjects of case studies. We will investigate each type in this lesson. 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
  • Assessment: Exam 2

Lesson 3: Planning a Case Study

In this lesson, you will learn how to plan and organize a research case study. Additional lesson topics: A Case Study: Real-Life Business Planning; Basics of Developing Case Studies 25 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment A
  • Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment B
  • Assessment: Exam 3

Lesson 4: Researching a Case Study

It is time to start researching for your case study. This research can include many different things, but usually focuses on interviews and observations. Additional lesson topics: Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research; Recommendations for Using the Case Study Method in International Business Research; Case Study Research Design 20 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Complete: Researching Your Case Study - Lesson 4 Assignment
  • Assessment: Exam 4

Lesson 5: Strengths and Weaknesses of Case Studies

There is no doubt that case studies are a valuable and important form of research for all of the industries and fields that use them. However, along with all their advantages, they also have some disadvantages. Additional lesson topics: The Advantages and Limitations of Single Case Study Analysis; Case Studies; Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Studies 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Assessment: Exam 5

Lesson 6: Writing a Case Study

The case study can require both quantitative and qualitative research, as well as interviews with subjects. Once that is all done, it is time to write the case study. Additional lesson topics: How to Write a Case Study; Rethinking the Case Study 20 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment A
  • Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment B
  • Assessment: Exam 6

Lesson 7: Case Studies in Marketing

While case studies are almost all the same, marketing case studies are usually more dependent on interviews and observations. Additional lesson topics: Marketing Case Study Examples; Several Creative Social Media Marketing Mini Case Studies; 200+ Case Studies: Social Media and Content Marketing Examples 34 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
  • Assessment: Exam 7

Lesson 8: Using Case Studies in Other Fields

Case studies are used in almost every field, and are incredibly valuable in all of them. Outside of psychology, sociology, and business, here are the next five fields that utilize case studies. Additional lesson topics: Case Study Examples in the Medical Field; Great Examples Of Case Studies in the Field of Law 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
  • Assessment: Exam 8

Lesson 9: Case Studies in The Workplace

While case studies are most prevalent in the sciences, they are also heavily used in the business world. Additional lesson topics: Case Study Example of Technical Work 60 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
  • Assessment: Exam 9

Lesson 10: Case Studies in Education

Case studies can be used in education as a teaching tool. Many students learn better using real-life examples, and case studies can be an effective way to learn in the classroom. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Assessment: Exam 10

Lesson 11: Case Studies in Psychology and Social Sciences

Case studies are most prevalent in psychology and the social sciences, where case studies form a strong basis for all other clinical and non-clinical research. Additional lesson topics: How to Write a Psychology Case Study 34 Total Points
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
  • Assessment: Exam 11

Lesson 12: Summarizing Case Studies

In this lesson, we will also review everything you have learned in this course. 169 Total Points
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Final Course Poll - Your Opinion; Course Comments; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
  • Complete: Your Case Study - Lesson 12 - Final Assignment
  • Assessment: Exam 12
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
493
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Define what case study is.
  • Define types of case studies.
  • Describe planning a case study.
  • Describe researching a case study.
  • Recognize strengths and weaknesses of case studies.
  • Describe case studies in marketing.
  • Describe using case studies in other fields.
  • Describe case studies in the workplace.
  • Describe case studies in education.
  • Describe case studies in psychology and social sciences.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
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Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: How to Write Case Studies
Course Number: 9770567
Lessons Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars (438 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.
Last Updated: June 2022
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 1.2 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: Dana Kristan
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $95.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "Personally, I enjoyed this course. It challenged my abstract thinking skills. This course will work well for me when I go into the nursing field." -- Christina O.
  • "The course was extremely helpful. I thought it was really good." -- Edward B.
  • "The instructor was very quick in responding to questions and grading, which helped a great deal. I did have a few issues with the Internet on the final exam, however, I was able to complete it. The overall course was very helpful in learning how to present various case studies. " -- Kathleen B.
  • "All of it was good." -- Kyle B.

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