Guide to Case Study Types

Before delving into the types of case study, you are highly recommended to understand what a case study is, why it is conducted, and the difference between this and other scientific papers. 

Different types of case study are a subcategory of scientific research that aims to study a person, group, or even an in-depth study, analyzing almost all aspects of the topic. This kind of research can be used in various disciplines such as psychology, medicine, social work, education, etc. The main objective of a case study is to learn as much information as possible about the subject matter so the findings can be generalized.

However, case studies tend to be subjective, making it difficult to generalize more events or groups of people. In contrast to other scientific papers, case studies aim to draw readers’ attention to the subtle details that may profoundly impact the final findings.

Thanks to case studies, research may find a gap in the field and explore the topic in experimental research. For example, you may conduct a case study in a classroom where a child does not behave appropriately and falls behind the others. During the process, you may find some important details that allow you to understand why this or that happens.

Going back to our example, let’s discuss what can be found. That specific child has family problems, and the parents do not pay enough attention to the child and his studies. Because of this, the kid behaves badly, trying to solicit attention from others and needing more scaffolding and support from home, resulting in poorer academic achievement. 

Now, it is time to move on to the case study paper format. By the way, if you feel unmotivated to write a case study, check our tips

The format of case studies is similar to other research papers: clear and accurate title, abstract with all objectives, literature review if there is any, introduction, methodology, findings, discussions, references, and appendices.

However, you should remember that the format may vary depending on the institution you are conducting that study for or the journal you are applying to for publication. Thus, checking all the details and requirements before doing the case study is recommended to ensure you understand what you should do. If you want to learn about the essence of case study, you are recommended to read the article. 

Types of Case Study and Where Each is Used

Here are the following types of case study research.

1. Descriptive case studies
2. Explanatory case studies 
3. Exploratory case studies
4. Intrinsic case studies
5. Instrumental case studies 
6. Collective case reports 

Now, let’s discuss each of them separately and learn how each is conducted and its objective. 

Breathe Easy! We’re Handling Your Paper

• Polished Papers: Styled right, glitch-free
• Ask Away: Direct chat with your writer
• Free Goodies: Revisions, title page, and bib
• Fair Prices: Plus a money-back guarantee
• All Human: No AI, just real experts
• Private & Secure: Your details, our secret

Bye-Bye, Burnout!

Slash 15% OFF using the coupon code: BLG15WM

Order Now

Descriptive case studies 

If you have a preliminary hypothesis, you can conduct a descriptive case study to find the link between the subject studies and your theory. Once your hypothesis is proven, you can start making judgments and offer further study areas related to the topic. For example, you hypothesize that a child may have poor academic achievement because of insufficient parental scaffolding and support.

You take a sample of children having difficulties with their learning and try to prove your theory. If you succeed, you can generalize the findings and conclude that children not supported by their parents may have poor academic performance in contrast to others who have ongoing support. 

A descriptive case study is supposed to have concrete results based on quantitative data. It should serve as a base to study the subject more thoroughly. For more information about collecting academic resources, you can read trustworthy articles. 

Explanatory case study 

As the name suggests, an explanatory case study explains the incident. Unlike other types of case studies in research,  the study should also include details about the further impact of the event. Those details help others to make reasonable guesses about future developments.

The results of such a study are always definitive, and there is no need to interpret the data since everything is evident. For example, if your company is engaged in producing cars and one of them fails the test, the study will aim to find the cause. It may be a particular part that may cause the malfunction of a car. Thus, you may make further suggestions based on your findings. 

Exploratory case study

 An explanatory report serves as a starting point for further investigation. An exploratory case study is used to find the market problems and as a base for further research. This case study’s objective is to find evidence of whether there is a need for further research. Moreover, it can be used to offer research methods for any further investigation. For example, you have researched a particular topic, but your findings could be clearer. In this case, you may do some exploratory study to find out why the results were inconclusive and whether you need in-depth research. If you do an exploratory case study, you may save time and energy in vain. 

Intrinsic case study   

  Intrinsic case study is more commonly used in psychology, social work, or healthcare. The subject of this case study is a patient close to the researcher. The aim is to learn more about the subject and the patient’s history. The researcher also focuses on how the subject interacts with the environment. For example, Jean Piaget, one of the most famous psychologists who developed a theory about cognitive development, used his children to conduct intrinsic studies. He observed his children’s developmental stages throughout some years and made specific conclusions about children’s cognitive development.  

Instrumental case study 

An instrumental case study, like an intrinsic one, is used in psychology and medical fields. Unlike other case study types, the objective of the study is to study more than the primary subject. The sample is a bright illustration of a larger group, so it is particularly taken. Let’s take an example of this topic.

You want to learn how technology affects teenagers’ academic performance. You take a specific class and observe different aspects of education, such as student engagement, teacher-student interaction when using technology, etc. Data is collected through observations, interviews, and other tools, and the findings may be generalized to a larger group of students. 

Collective case study 

This type of case study involves the study of various subjects in a single research. A researcher studies different participants to gain a broader understanding of a phenomenon or a problem. Each case is investigated separately, and differences and similarities are examined later to make judgments. Unlike other types of case studies, where the focus is on a single subject, for example, a collective case study allows the exploration of various cases.

For example, a new teaching method is offered, and the researcher is asked to check the outcome of the former. The researcher starts observing some schools that have employed that teaching method and collecting the data. After collecting all the necessary data, the researcher makes conclusions about the effectiveness of the new teaching method. 

If you want to learn more about different types of case study, you can visit the following website. 

What Are Possible Difficulties of Writing A Case Study Paper?

After exploring case study types, it is high time to learn how to write about the issues you may encounter when writing a paper for a case study. 

1. Time-constraints. Conducting a case study may take a lot of time and effort. You have to gather, analyze, and write pages about data. It may take weeks or months, depending on the topic studied. 
2. Formatting. Case study papers should also follow strict guidelines and have accurate formatting. If you are a beginner in an academic field, you may have a lot of difficulties and be stuck in the middle. 
3. Objectivity. Making objective conclusions may be challenging since the essence of the case study itself is objective. Some beginner researchers make incorrect generalizations based on your findings. 
4. Data collection. Using concise methodology and seeking the desired outcome is essential to make correct conclusions. However, because of its subjective nature, novice researchers may fail to do that. 
5. Following ethical considerations. Like other research studies, it is important to follow guidelines to ensure your paper is not unethical. The confidentiality of the participant’s personal information should not be revealed without their permission; otherwise, your paper will be disqualified. 
6. Scope. Your case study should address the issue in a field, and the procedure should follow the former’s objective. You need to employ the methodology that will help to gather the required information. 

Conclusion

After learning the types of case study researchand what difficulties you may encounter, you are recommended to check case study our services. If you juggle between various tasks and need more time to gather data or analyze for your case study, you are advised to apply for professional help.

Our top-tier experts at Writing Metier guarantee your high-quality paper. We ensure that your essay will be delivered on time without any issues related to the content and accuracy. So, if you need professional help, applying to us to write different case studies may be a good option.