A case study offers deep insights into complex phenomena through the lens of a single subject or group. It zooms into the details of a specific situation, examining context, history, and behavior to reveal certain patterns and highlight practical applications of theories.
A case study in research can be used when:
- atypical or abnormal behavior or development is observed,
- an unexplained outcome to treatment is found, or
- an emerging disease or condition occurs.
Thus, case studies enable researchers and practitioners to analyze specific instances, identify trends, and obtain learnings that can inform broader decision-making and problem-solving. In this post, you will learn all about case studies, including how to conduct a case study, limitations and benefits of a case study, and case study methods.
Case Study Examples
Here are some historically significant case study examples:
The curious case of Phineas Gage: This is arguably the most cited case study in psychology, which sheds light on how different areas of the brain affect personality and cognition. While working as a construction foreman on a railroad, Phineas Gage was involved in an accident in which a rod impaled his brain. Gage survived the physical trauma, but his personality and his ability to learn new skills were altered. This case report was crucial to research on brain function, memory, and personality.
Anna O and the talking cure: Anna O (pseudonym) was a German woman who was one of the first patients to undergo psychoanalysis. Her case inspired many of the theories of Freud and other prominent psychologists of the time to mitigate the symptoms of depression through “talk therapy.” This case study is still cited as a reason psychologists believe that psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can be helpful to many patients.
When to do a Case Study?
The case study design may be chosen by a researcher in the following situations:
- Need for deep understanding: When you require detailed insights about a specific situation, and you want to understand complex relationships and processes.
- Resource constraints: When you have limited time and finances available for research and/or limited access to large sample sizes.
- Research context: Certain real-world phenomena need to be studied in their natural context, especially when you cannot control variables.
Accordingly, the types of research questions best suited for a case study are exploratory (e.g., when investigating a new or poorly understood phenomenon, emerging conditions, adverse reactions to treatments, new methods of treatment) or involve unique situations (e.g., rare or exceptional cases, atypical behavior, breakthrough events). See Table 1 for developing a case study from a research question.
The case study design might be for a single case study, such as for unique cases or when studying a representative or typical case, or multiple case studies (a case series, comparative analysis, or to identify patterns across different contexts). Note that a case study is not recommended if you require statistical generalization or broad population-level insights.
By carefully considering the abovementioned factors, researchers can determine if a case study approach aligns with their research goals and available resources.
How to Write a Case Study in Research
Let’s delve into how to conduct a case study and write one. First, you need to understand how to create a case study.
Before writing
Step 1: On the basis of your research problem and research question, select the case that you want to study. Here’s how to go from research question to case study with fictional examples.
Table 1. From research question to case study: Some fictional examples
| Research Question | Case Study |
| How does strength training benefit premenstrual syndrome? | Case study of a strength training regimen in mitigating premenstrual syndrome effects |
| How can teachers encourage parental involvement in the classroom? | Case study of a successful parent mentorship module at TAS International School |
| How does urban gardening improve local ecology? | Miyawaki forest balconies: A case study on improving lepidopteran ecology |
| Why did patient X demonstrate unusual symptoms? | Real-life Cyclops: Unique case presentation of cyclopia in a newborn |
Step 2: Perform an in-depth literature review to develop a relevant theoretical framework, wherein you aim to demonstrate, expand upon, or challenge an existing theory in your field.
Step 3: Collect the data, which will typically be qualitative in nature. Data collection, therefore, will be collected by direct observations, interview or analysis of primary and secondary sources of information. Be as thorough as you can at this step.
Step 4: Analyze the case, highlighting key facts and problems, identify key problems and their causes and impacts, and explore potential solutions.
Drafting and writing your case study
The structure of the case report may vary—some follow the format of scientific papers, while others adopt a narrative style for a deeper exploration.
Step 1: State the key problem and present a concise thesis under an “Introduction” or “Background” section. Provide background, facts, and evidence of research.
Step 2: Describe the specific case, group, or event.
Step 3: Provide specific solutions, suggest strategies for implementing the solution and, if needed, additional
Step 4: Discuss the case, including the strengths and limitations of the study. Summarize the outcome of your analysis and highlight specific strategies for implementing the proposed solution.
When describing and analyzing a case, be sure to include contextual details, link findings to existing literature and theory, and discuss broader implications. For medical case reports, follow the CARE guidelines (EQUATOR) to ensure completeness and transparency. Please also refer to the CARE Checklist of information to include when writing a case report. Finally, check the target journal requirements for word count and formatting guidelines. See Figure 1 for a case study template.
What are the benefits of a case study?
Let’s look at some more benefits of a case study:
- They can be published quickly.
- They are suitable under situations of time and budget crunches.
- They are appropriate to study phenomena in their natural context
- They allow detailed investigation into situations that would otherwise be impractical to perform using another study design.
- They are sometimes used in therapy to guide the best course of treatment.
What are the limitations of a case study?
Case studies provide critical information and galvanize further research; however, there are some caveats. The following are the limitations of a case study:
- A case study is not definitive proof of a theory and cannot demonstrate cause and effect.
- Case studies with insufficient or incorrect information or based on a flawed premise can harm future research.
- Ethical issues may arise if the reported patients have not provided consent for publication of their case or are not treated with dignity and respect.
- If a patient declines to provide consent, the case report cannot be written or published.
- A case study cannot necessarily be generalized to the larger population.
- A case study might be impossible or difficult to replicate.
- Case reports can lead to bias.
Key Takeaways
- A case study in research is an in-depth or intensive study of a person, group, or event using qualitative data. It is used to examine complex phenomena through detailed analysis of specific instances. Case studies are particularly valuable in psychology, medicine, and other fields for drawing broader conclusions
- Case study methods involve data collection through direct observations, interviews, and analyses of primary and secondary sources.
- Case reports are typically 500–1,500 words long. You may develop single case studies (for unique cases) or multiple case studies (case series, for comparative analysis). Where applicable, be sure to follow specific guidelines (e.g., CARE guidelines for medical cases).
- A case study design is best used when deep understanding is needed, time and resources are limited, and the natural context must be preserved. It is suited to studying exploratory research questions, unique situations, emerging conditions, and atypical behavior.
- Writing case studies involves the following steps:
- Pre-writing phase:
- Select appropriate case based on research problem
- Conduct literature review
- Collect through qualitative data
- Analyze case to identify key problems
- Writing phase
- State key problem and thesis in introduction
- Describe specific case/event
- Provide solutions and implementation strategies
- Discuss strengths and limitations
- Link findings to existing literature
- Pre-writing phase:
- The advantages of case studies are that they permit quick writing and publication, are cost-effective, are suitable for natural context study, and are extremely valuable for rare or unusual cases. The limitations of case studies, however, are that they cannot prove cause and effect, may not be generalizable, are difficult to replicate, are prone to bias, and require patient consent in medical cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
A case study is an in-depth or intensive study of a person, group, or event. Case studies involve deep analyses of an individual or group to identify patterns and are used across fields such as psychology and medicine to draw broad conclusions.
Case studies provide insights into complex phenomena by allowing detailed examination of specific situations in their natural context. They bridge the gap between theory and practice, often serving as teaching tools that demonstrate practical applications.
Their importance in medical and clinical research is evident in their ability to document rare conditions, change the current understanding of disorders, and influence treatment protocols. Case studies contribute to knowledge development by generating new research questions, inspiring further investigation.
Case studies are structured very differently from research articles. However, as a general guideline, note that case studies might range from 500 to 1,500 words. The word count would depend on factors such as the target journal’s specifications, case type, and study discipline. Case reports also have a limit on the number of references to be cited. Remember, you must always check the target journal for word and reference limits before submission.
The key components of case studies are a representative title, introduction/background section, case description, outcomes, discussion, conclusion/summary, and references. Use figures and tables as needed.
Case studies deal with a single individual, event, or situation, whereas a case series is a grouping of similar case studies/case reports together. A case series is a collection of multiple similar cases, where researchers observe and describe patterns across a group of patients with shared characteristics (such as similar diagnosis or treatment, without necessarily comparing them to a control group).
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