Case Study

Many writers, students as well as professionals, dread writing case studies.  A case study is a document that uses one or more real-life or fictional examples of a problem to present a solution to that problem.  For instance, a case study might present the use of technology to solve records storage problems by citing examples of real-life organizations that used technology successfully for this purpose.  Case studies might also be presented in the fields of psychology, medicine, business, finance, and many other industries.  A good case study might also include one or more examples where the problem has not been resolved, and why.

Case studies can be difficult to write because students often find it difficult to focus on just the right aspect of the problem.  Additionally, it's often difficult to find real-world case examples for the document.  A case study is a highly analytical piece which ultimately requires a great deal of research, consistent analysis, and a solid understanding of the theories and concepts behind the study itself.

Before writing a case study, a student should consider some basics such as what the case study is about and the nature of the problem.  Then the student should conduct research into the problem or issue to be studied.  Research can include such sources as journal articles, text books, and even real-life interviews with organizations or individuals who have faced the problem.  Once all of the information has been gathered, the student should organize it into manageable bits.

A case study should be organized into several sections; the introduction, background, body, and conclusion.  Although the background to the problem is technically a part of the body of the document, it helps most students to consider it separately so that they can ensure that they have included an adequate presentation of the background as part of their case study.

The introduction should introduce the focus of the case study and tell the reader why it is important to study the problem.  The body, which includes the background, should be three or more paragraphs which detail the research, interviews, and comparisons that the student has conducted during the course of the case study.  The conclusion of the case study should wrap it all up but should avoid presenting a solid solution to the problem.  The conclusion of a professional case study might include a solution because the case study itself might serve as a sort of advertisement for a particular company or industry.  However, case studies written by students should only study the issue, not present a solution.

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