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The term case study is a term that we often interact with in most of our day-to-day activities. So, what is a case study? A case study is defined as an in-depth study of either an individual, a group, or an event. During a case study analysis, the element being analyzed is scrutinized to the core in terms of its life, behavior, and history. Through this in-depth scrutiny, we can identify the aspects such as patterns that might be generalized by others which might be useful in other elements related to the intended case study. It is important to note that case studies can vary from a vast majority of fields including medicine, anthropology, social work, psychology, and politics but mostly it is used in the healthcare industry. It is also important to note that even though a case study analysis intends to learn as much as possible about a subject, most tend to be very subjective which should not be the case.

In this article, we are going to deep dive into the world of case studies to try and identify all the details on how to write a persuasive case study in addition to a summary of some of the pros and cons, types, and examples.

The pros and cons of a case study

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Each case study comes with its benefits and limitations that are widely used by researchers to identify if the intended case study is worth undertaking or analyzing and appropriate to their individual needs. The gained insights from a selected case study can be useful to other researchers to develop additional ideas in addition to questions to be explored in the future.

So, let us identify some of the pros and cons that might come with a case study. Remember, these pros and cons do not fit into every case study.

Pros

• Researchers can establish a hypothesis that can later be used in experimental research

• Enables the researcher to collect as much information regarding a case that can be used for investigation

• It turns client observation into meaningful data in addition to turning opinions into facts

• It uses several different research methodologies

• Enables a researcher to have an opportunity to investigate an unusual or rare case study

Cons

• Analysis of a case study can take quite a long to complete(Gaille, 2018)

• The analysis can be influenced by biases from the researcher as one uses his or her own words

• It cannot necessarily be generalized to the larger population

• Aspects such as cause and effect cannot be demonstrated well

• It requires a small sample size to be effective

• The case study draft may not tell the entire story

Note: During the process of choosing a case study, a researcher might be interested to explore a recent phenomenon or a unique case study to try and tell a story such as compelling story such as a customer story. Additionally, it is vital to note that gathered insights from a case study cannot be used to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between variables.

Types of case studies

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There are various subgroups within the broader category of case study, each of which is specifically selected for usage based on the investigator's aims and/or objectives. The following are examples of case studies:

Illustrative case studies

This is a case study that uses one or two scenarios of an event to establish how a situation might be and it is usually descriptive.

Collective case studies

This type of case involves conducting a study of a group of individuals in a community or a certain setting.

Descriptive case studies

This case study involves initiating a descriptive theory that follows up with an observation of the subjects which is later compared to another existing theory.

Exploratory case studies

Before undertaking a large investigation, researchers are usually advised to conduct an exploratory case study. This case study assists to identify queries and selection types of measurements that can be used before the main investigation(Clearinghouse, 2022).

Explanatory case studies

These are frequently employed in causal analysis. In other words, scientists are interested in examining elements that could be to blame for specific events.

Intrinsic case studies

This case study evolves around a researcher who has a personal interest in a case such as observation and analysis of siblings or a family.

Instrumental case studies

These happen when a person or group makes it possible for researchers to comprehend more than what is initially clear to onlookers.

NOTE: From the list above only three are commonly widely used by researchers. These are instrumental, collective, and intrinsic.

Steps to writing a persuasive case study

The process involved in writing a persuasive case study varies from one level to another. With this in mind, it is good to acknowledge that there are several moving parts to it. Below are six steps that will guide you in writing a persuasive case study:

1.       Establish the key subject

A case study involves investigating a subject or group further than the normal generalization that a normal person would. During your decision making process or before diving into the focus subject, ensure that the subject is vetted thoroughly to establish if the subject has in-depth information about the product or service you want to investigate. Some of the questions that you can factor in include:

• ·         Are there positive results that would bring forth customer success stories?

• ·         What data is relevant?

• ·         Is the information available relevant to the case?

2.       Find data

Data is a vital element in writing a case study as it indicates the depth of your research in the selected case. Numerous ways and methods can be used by a researcher to gather information about a subject. Some of the major sources available that can be used to gather information include archival records, direct observation, documents, interviews, and physical artifacts.

3.       Write the case study

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Now that the initial stages of establishing the main subject and data related to the subject have been done, it is time for you to document your findings. Documentation of the case study is supposed to be concise and with a hyper-engaging format.

A good research case study ought to be long in terms of writing. However, it is important to break down the information into readable and user-friendly bits that portray a clear flow of information to the reader. To achieve this, it is advised that you use headers, bulleted lists, and multimedia elements such as videos, images, and infographics.

Here is an example of compelling points or key points that you can use while writing to ensure that your case study is persuasive:

·         Start your document with an attention-grabbing title that when read provides a summary of your achieved results.

·         Discuss your customer's history or the "before" situation. What triggered their decision to seek your assistance?

·         Illustrate how you achieved your outcome using facts and figures from your research findings. Additionally, emphasize how your chosen methods differ from the usual approach.

·         Ensure you add a strong testimonial to provide texture and credibility to your case study.

·         Nurture your relationship with the reader through call-to-action sections.

Use a detailed structure to write your case study. There are numerous formats one can use depending on the case study and also the provided guidelines to write a well written case study or a powerful case study. Below is a good example of a simple though detailed structure;

Introduction

This is where you establish key issues and problems identified in the case study. Additionally, formulate and include a well-structured thesis statement that will give a summary of your outcome.

Background

Create a scene that reveals the background information of the case study, the relevant facts, and the most noticed issues. This will be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your eloquence and research depth into the case study(Arizona, 2022).

Case Evaluation

This is where you outline and discuss the various parts of the case that you have chosen to focus on which are working in addition to mentioning the ones that are not working. It is vital to note down the reasons why some of the parts are working while others are not.

Proposed solution or changes

This section seeks to notify the reader of the specific solutions or changes that are required not forgetting that they ought to be realistic. Secondly, explain in depth why you selected the proposed solutions and support them using solid evidence.

Recommendations

This section is for the researcher to determine and discuss on the specific strategies that can be implemented to achieve the proposed solution. It is in this section where you list some of the actions to be undertaken and who should do them.

In conclusion, it is important to note that writing a good case study can be done in various ways and formats. However, it is important that you get to have adequate knowledge and information on the case study subject before starting undertaking an analysis.

References

References

Arizona, U. o. (2022). Writing a Case Study Analysis. The University of Arizona Global Campus. https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/writing-case-study-analysis

Clearinghouse, W. (2022). Case Studies. https://wac.colostate.edu/. https://wac.colostate.edu/

Gaille, B. (2018). 12 Case Study Method Advantages and Disadvantages. BrandonGaille. https://brandongaille.com/12-case-study-method-advantages-and-disadvantages/

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