Centre for Nursing and Health Studies

A case study is a printed description of a problem situation that contains enough detail to enable the investigator to recommend a solution. It is a technique in which a real or potential situation or series of events is presented for analysis and consideration of possible solutions or problems identified. Part of the case study involves a detailed review of a unique or important issue that captures the background, underlying theory, participants involved, and recommendations for resolution.. The case study may include previous successes or failure at resolutions or both. The case study provides an opportunity to explore a single issue in depth, but places the onus on the investigator to provide clarity, organization and scholarship to the investigation.

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Creating a Case Study

Analysis

1. Keep your audience in mind: Remember that you are writing for readers who may not be familiar with the back- ground, details, and terminology of the situation.
   
2. Keep jargon to a minimum. Use short-story-writing techniques: A case has flesh-and-blood characters who should be intriguing. Each story element should move the narrative forward.
3. Openings: Grab the reader with a character facing his or her biggest problem: set the scene for the confrontations, the frustrations, and the main conflicts.
4. Present situations and scenes with objectivity: Scenes must follow a logical order and should illustrate a point, concept, or issue that relates to the problems that the writer wants to have analyzed. Do not give any signals that one solution might be preferred.
5. Provide relevant details: After an opening that sets up the situation, provide relevant details about goals, strategies, dilemmas, issues, conflicts, roadblocks, appropriate research, relevant financial information, people, and relationships.
   
6. Be stingy with numbers; they must help solve the problems, not confuse readers or send them off on unproductive analytic tangents.
7. Use as much dialogue as possible: Make the characters come alive with dialogue. Straight narrative is boring.
   
8. Endings: Leave the reader with a clear picture of the major problems. The reader should wonder "what is to be done now?

Discussion of Analysis

• Problem statement/Key issues: Start with a statement of the problem/key information issues you have identified through your analysis. Concentrate on the critical issues facing the organization. (e.g. lack of resources, financial restrictions, staff, etc.)
• Supporting argument: Next, you should explain why you have concluded that this is the key issue or issues. To do this, summarize how your situation and the main participants in your situation leads to your finding of what the key information issues are.
• Alternative strategies: You can now lay out the alternative resources available to the organization. Limit yourself to the three or four best options. Using an informatics framework (such as computer mediated communication or telehealth), explain why these options are viable, point out the benefits and costs you expect from each and how the implementation of these resources will affect the situation. (e.g., just in time teaching, up to date resources, etc.)

Be sure to back up your points above with a well thought out rationale based on applying specific concepts or analytical frameworks to the data available to you. Do not waste space summarizing information already found in the case. Assume the reader is already completely familiar with the situation as described. You should, however, refer to specific data or facts when necessary to support your analysis or conclusions. Your report should be clear, concise, and objective. Don't embellish your analysis with flowery language, hyperbole, or unsupported personal opinions.

Differentiate between facts, opinions, and assumptions. Assess all evidence in the case to determine its accuracy, reliability, and relevance. If different facts seem to conflict, try to resolve the disagreements. Deal explicitly with any differences of opinion between characters in the case.

Use only information that was available on the date the case ends. Do not take advantage of information that has become available subsequent to that date.

References

Provide complete citations for any concepts or facts from referenced sources.

Appendices (if any)

Tables, charts, diagrams, financial analyses, etc. to support your report. However, the mere replication of diagrams from the readings or from the case provides little insight. Be sure that any appendices are referenced in the body of your report. If you are not going to reference them in the body of the paper, don't include them.

Grammar, Writing Style, and Editing

Spelling, punctuation, grammar, as well as the overall appearance and readability of the paper, will also significantly influence your grade. Every written product or presentation you turn out, now and in the future, will be judged on both its content and appearance. As such it will reflect directly on you as a professional and will influence the effectiveness of your presentation. Do not submit any paper that you would not be willing to give a client or your manager. Prepare your case study carefully and turn in a quality product.

[Reference: Univeristy of Auckland, New Zealand. (2003). Case studies. UANZ Library.]