A case study is a common research technique in the world of academia. Case studies focus on in-depth analyses of institutions, topics, or initiatives that convey a story in the fields of psychology, social sciences, and social work.
While the research design of a case study mostly involves qualitative techniques, you can also use quantitative methods to describe, compare, and analyze a group, a person, or an event.
Every case study is qualitative in nature, and it examines and explains significant occurrences. Although a case study may contain numbers, it is not a quantitative study.
This guide focuses on the definitions, the different types, benefits, drawbacks, method, and examples of case studies. Help for Assessment also has assistances for you if you’re in need of a case study writer.
What is a Business Case Study?
A case study in business demonstrates the value of a productive collaboration.
Companies use these case studies to promote themselves and to demonstrate the value of their products to consumers.
People are in charge in business, and it’s possible that they’re often on the fence about which brands to work with. Here’s where a business case study comes in handy because it serves as a social proof and a decision-making tool consumers can use to decide which business to work with.
What is a Research Case Study?
A case study in research refers to the analysis of a specific subject likely to produce research. Examples of areas that may produce research include social work, healthcare, and teaching.
Take healthcare, for example. The medical community can’t work without clinical report. Medical experts share the informational contained in clinical reports to analyze rare diseases and their symptoms.
What is a Psychology Case Study?
A psychology case study is a research project that examines human actions in relation to a specific topic, event, person, or group.
A case study in psychology not only helps to suggest new areas of study but it also builds on a treatment for behavioral disorder.
Sigmund Freud and Anna O are examples of the most prominent figures that first popularized case studies in psychology through repeated interviews with test individuals. Over time, their observations became the very foundation of the modern science in psychology.
Different Types of Case Studies
There are six different types of case studies: descriptive, explanatory, exploratory, intrinsic, instrumental, and collective case studies.
1. Descriptive Case Study
A descriptive case study (or descriptive research) is a study focused on describing a population, phenomenon, or situation to answer the how, what, where, and when question.
The first step to plan a descriptive case study is to have a working hypothesis. Then you have to demonstrate how an established theory might apply to the topic.
The findings of a descriptive case study are tangible and they can point towards the expansion of certain ideas with quantitative data that serve as a guideline for more investigations in a descriptive report.
2. Explanatory Case Study
An explanatory case study explains the how and why behind a real-life situation, phenomenon, or event.
In general terms, an explanatory case study explains what happened by examining its possible causes. The study details the reasons behind the phenomenon, provide information on the aftermath of the occurrence, and make predictions about the future based on the available facts.
3. Exploratory Case Study
Exploratory research (pilot case study) falls within a broader scope of a research project. Researchers use exploratory research, which relies on questionnaires and surveys, to narrow their focus, develop specific research questions, and identify variables in a larger study.
A pilot case study can help to propose further research, particularly in a case where an analysis returns vague results.
4. Intrinsic Case Study
An intrinsic case study focuses on individuals rather than on general trends or patter, particularly in psychology, medicine, and social work.
Intrinsic case study, which centers mostly on individual subjects, offers a deeper insight on the topic, as it examines past relationships between people and the natural world.
5. Instrumental Case Study
An instrumental case focuses on uncovering more information about a topic under investigation. Mostly used in biomedical and psychiatric science, instrumental case study lays the groundwork for some other phenomena, meaning there’s no better illustration of the situation than the topic itself.
6. Collective Case Study
A collective case study is important because it identifies patterns among various instrumental reports while distinguishing between situations of a similar nature. The collective case study also gives evidence for new research.
What are the Benefits of Case Studies?
Case study research can get you massive quantities of data. Data from the study provides proof for claims made and helps build brand trust and loyalty.
Furthermore, a case study helps you to build a base for further research based on the data you collect. In respect to business, a case study can help companies engage consumers through stories.
What are the Drawbacks of Case Studies?
The drawbacks of case studies include the risk of generalizing results to a broader population, the possibility of interviews producing subjective responses, and the likelihood that a subject may tailor their responses to the researchers.
Analyzing case studies may be time-consuming and equally expensive in some sectors. In some case, it may be difficult for a researcher to produce a case study.
Case Study Method
According to Science Direct, the case study method is a technique in which a student uses different data sources as methodological tool to examine an issue in a real situation within a defined context.
Historically, the case study method was a technique first established to support hypothesis in clinical medicine. Later, experts and researchers adapted the technique to other sectors because of the benefits uncovered in clinical initiatives.
Currently, case study method allows for the analysis of results through suggested decisions, procedures and outcomes.
The cases study method is a multi-stage process. Finding your research’s focus is just the first step. The next step is to figure out what kind of investigation is necessary and relevant.