Case Study Format Guide: How to Write a Case Study Assignment 

A case study is a type of research method to study a specific person, group of individuals, an organization, or an event in the past or present. In a case study we cover every aspect of our subject and answer the related “how” and “why” of a situation. 

A case study usually uses qualitative data, but we can also write a case study using quantitative data to support our findings. 

A case study is one of the important types of college and university assignments, but what is the actual case study format that a student should follow? How to write a case study assignment? What are the parts of a case study format?

This guide answers all of your queries on the case study format. Let’s see how to write the best case study for your University assignment.

Is a case study similar to a research paper?

Both a case study and a research paper are types of academic research, but they are not the same. They have a similar structure, but both of them have different purposes in students’ academic projects. 

 In a case study, we analyse a specific situation, person, or group of people. It is typically descriptive and examines just one or a few cases and often uses qualitative methods like interviews to provide important information to potential customers. It uses theoretical approaches to describe the results, but in a narrative form.

The main purpose of a case study is to explore a problem and its significance and offer possible solutions or recommendations to solve the problem. While writing case studies, we often generate new ideas and theories relevant to the present situation.

However, in real-life case studies cannot be applied to larger populations. A case study may be time-consuming and prone to bias by the subject under investigation.

In contrast, a research paper is a strategic study that covers a broader topic or problem. It aims to answer specific research questions to add new knowledge to existing academia. It is also like any other essay, but it explains key facts related to the case to address the specific needs of the customers.

It uses quantitative methods, qualitative methods, or a mixture of both data sources. The findings from research papers are typically more generalizable to a larger number of prospective customers.

However, research papers do not provide the same depth of detail about a single case as a case study does.

A case study and research papers help the reader understand a problem in real life. Both of them give tips and examples to their audience. 

How the format of a case study and a research paper is different

There are many differences in the format of case study and a research paper.

How to write the introduction in a case study format?

One of the most significant aspects of your project is to write the introduction in the style of a case study. It gives the reader a clear idea of what to expect from the case study structure. Whether you’re writing a business case, nursing case study, or educational research, following a proper case study format is important to write a well-scoring assignment.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a case study assignment introduction.

1. Start with Background Information

Start writing your case study structure with a brief introduction to the situation. This helps readers understand the context of your case.

Example:

“In recent years, patient stress has become a major concern in the healthcare industry.”

This assignment explores how the role of care staff contributes to anxiety levels among patients in the healthcare service centers.

2. Introduce the Specific Case

Start discussing the subject of your case study structure (for example, a person, an organization, or an event). This makes your case study outline more specific to the scenario concerned. For example, if I were introducing my subject in my study analysis, I would be doing it in this way.

“This case study is on the Maryland Health Center, a mid-sized hospital in Michigan, where mental fatigue among patients is a major issue”.

3. Clearly State the Problem

Explain the main issue your case study will define to your readers. For example, we can state the problem statement as “in recent years, the hospital has faced a rise in nurse negligence towards their duties and decreased patient care quality due to exhaustion from longer working hours.”

4. Explain Why the Case is Important

Now, tell the readers why your case study is important for them. How is your case study helping solve issues in the community?

For example, you can state the importance of your case study on low-quality patient care, “as this case study offers solutions to identify performance issues in the care staff and sets out guidelines for their accountability for against negligence in their responsibilities.”

5. Briefly tell the Structure Outline of Your Case Study

At the end of the introduction of your case study outline, write a preview of what the case study will include. This strengthens the case study structure and tells the reader clearly the objective of your analysis.

An example of a well-written case study conclusion paragraph is:

“This case study includes an interview with staff and a review of hospital policies. It concludes with recommendations for improving the well-being of the nurses and the patients in the workplace.”

This is the case study format that a student should follow

The format of a case study is composed of the following eight different headings:

Executive Summary:

In this part of the case study template, a researcher discusses the purpose of the case study, its key findings, and the recommendations for solving the problem. This section provides a concise overview of the reader so that they quickly understand the case presented in the case study.

Background:

In the background section of our case study, we tell the reader about the problem or challenge we have addressed in the case study. We build the context of our case study here. We tell the reader why it is important for them to read the topic and how it is important for them. 

Evaluation of the problem:

After explaining the background of our case study, we then tell the reader the problems, the causes of the problems, and the possible consequences of the situation under study. We explain the strengths and weaknesses of our case study. This part builds the framework of the case by using already present theories related to the situation we are discussing.

Solutions and Recommendations:

 When you’re wrapping up your study, it’s good to share some practical recommendations to implement. These solutions tell what could be done to solve the problems you’ve discussed in the main body. Then, explain why these solutions can help the reader. Walk the reader through how these ideas can be put into action.

Case Study Conclusion:

At the end of the case study format, the conclusion is where we bring everything together. Start by quickly explaining the main findings, what is the importance of the case study, and what you recommend to solve the problem. Then, clearly state the solutions you think should be taken to resolve the problems pointed out in the case study. 

It also helps to point out any valuable lessons that came from the case. And don’t forget to include all the sources you used in your study. This not only shows your research is reliable but also helps build trust with your reader.

How to write a case study assignment?

Writing a case study assignment is like nightmare for students. A case study is a structured document that analyzes a real-life problem and proposes well-supported solutions.

Whether you’re working on a business, healthcare, education, or psychology-related case, understanding the proper case study format and how to cite sources in a case study correctly is important.

Before you start writing your case study, understand the goal of your research first. This is because a case isn’t just a story; it’s an in-depth investigation of a problem in real life.

It’s meant to show how theories or ideas apply to resolve the practical problems. A good case study will highlight the problem, analyze the pitfalls and flaws in the situation, and suggest solutions.

Below is a detailed explanation to help you complete your case study assignment professionally and accurately. Here’s how to structure your case study outline:

1. Introduction

Begin by telling the story of the problem and relevant background or historical information to the reader. Introduce the case study subject and explain the reason why the problem existed in the first place. Introduce the case topic and explain the context in which the issue occurs. Briefly mention the event or individual under study, and make sure to define the problem or question your case study will explore.

Case Description

Present detailed information about the case. Include relevant facts such as who is involved, what happened, when and where it occurred, and any contributing circumstances. This part helps the reader understand the setting and scope of the issue.

Problem Identification

Next in the format of the case study is problem identification. Tell the reader that your case study is addressing the problems or challenges relevant to the subject.

The problems can be related to reasons of operational inefficiency, human resource management, organizational policy failures, or customer dissatisfaction.

In this section, make it clear what the case study involves and why the readers should pay attention to it.

Analysis

In the analysis part of the case study outline, you apply theories and frameworks to analyze the case. You can also use evidence from available research to support your reasoning. Explain the causes of the problem and its impact on the real-world scenario from multiple angles.

Recommendations

After analysing the problem, offer actionable solutions to resolve the issues. Explain why each recommendation is necessary and how it addresses the root causes of the problem.

Implementation Plan

After discussing the solution, help them by giving them a step-by-step action plan to practically implement those solutions. Tell the reader what type of resources they will be needing and what potential timeline is required to implement them.

Conclusion

The conclusion is written at the end of the main body of the case study format. Don’t forget to remind the reader about the thesis statement of your research, then summarize the key findings tell the reader about the value of your case study. 

References

In the last part of the case study assignment, list all the resources you have used to write your assignment. Add references to different academic documents, podcasts, news, and relevant information in an accurate referencing style. 

How to cite a case study in a specific referencing style?

After writing your case study, the next important step is referencing the resources in academic citation style. Common referencing styles include MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and APA.

APA Style (7th Edition)

This citation style is used for citing references for submitting journal articles and academic assignments. 

In-text citation:
(Author, Year)

Bibliographic style:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of case study. Publisher. https://URL (if available online)

Example to cite the reference:
Johnson, L. (2020). Employee turnover rates at urban hospitals: A case study. Health Management Press. https://healthpress.org/turnover-case2020

MLA Style (9th Edition)

In-text citation:
(Author’s Last Name Page Number)

Bibliographic entry:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Case Study. Publisher, Year. URL (if applicable).

Example:
Johnson, Laura. Employee turnover rates at Urban Hospitals: A Case Study. Health Management Press, 2020. https://healthpress.org/burnout-case2020

Chicago Style

You can cite notes and bibliography format for disciplines like the humanities.

Footnote format of citation :

Laura Johnson, Employee turnover rates at Urban Hospitals: A Case Study (New York: Health Management Press, 2020), 22.

Bibliography entry in case study outline:
Johnson, Laura. Employee turnover at urban hospitals: A Case Study. New York: Health Management Press, 2020.

Format Author-Date:
(Johnson 2020, 22)

Reference List Citation:
Johnson, Laura. 2020. Employee turnover at urban hospitals: A Case Study. New York: Health Management Press.

Harvard Style

Citation in-text:
(Author, Year)

Reference list entry:
Author Last Name, First Name. (Year) Title of case study. City of publication: Publisher.

Example:
Johnson, L. (2020). Employee turnover rates at urban hospitals: A case study. New York: Health Management Press.

How to Know Which Style to Use in a Case Study Assignment?

• Check your university guidelines and consult your professor or subject mentor.
• If writing for an academic journal or blog site, follow the referencing style given by their editor.