Case study writing guide and the list of case study topics

case study topics

What is a Case Study?

There is no universal definition for case study writing that would match all the types of this academic task. It is usually an intensive and detailed study related to a person, a particular event, a case, a situation, or series of cases that are united with the same context or a scientific objective. It must represent a clear, systematic analysis and estimation of both a single person or community to determine similarities and differences or to portray the findings by turning to specific theoretical concepts.

Depending on your course and provided instructions, you may take a comparative, analytical, explanatory, or reflective approach to case study writing. The main purpose is to provide analysis and methodology based on your case study sample by defining the key arguments that help you achieve an outcome.

How long should a case study be?

Learning how to write a case study, most college students keep asking about the length of case study writing. It will depend on your academic approach, discipline, and the case study itself, and whether you are writing or briefing a case study. In the majority of cases, your case study writing should be from 500 to 1,500 words in total.

Although the majority of academic definitions of case study talk about some process or research work related to the development of a particular person, group of people, or events over a period of time, types of case studies also involve specific analysis to identify problems and find the outcomes. Therefore, the majority of case study topics already include some challenge or an assumption that requires additional research.

The case study usually includes a short description of a problem or an idea that must be explored with the data that should be helpful to let you explore and find the best solutions. For example, by turning to a professional case study writing service, you will see that the case studies for nursing students will always differ from those that engineering students use. Keeping all these facts and related challenges in mind, we came up with a list of case study topics divided by category.

Types of Case Studies

Writing a case study as a college student, you will encounter various types of case study. As you learn more about them, it becomes easier to stay focused and determine what kind of tone must be used.

  • Exploratory Approach. It's usually used as the outline for a more in-depth writing task. It should explore the subject and tell why you might require large-scale research. One of the most complex types of case study writing.
  • Explanatory Case Study Writing. The trick here is to explain the case. For example, when you are majoring in nursing, your case study explanatory task may be to explain the causes of disease and the effect some treatment has had. The final part of such writing is not open to interpretation and must be finite.
  • Descriptive Case Studies. The purpose here is to create a pattern between your chosen subject and a certain theory that you have to research. It mainly strives for improvement of the existing theory based on a particular case.
  • Intrinsic Case Studies. Don't let the word frighten you as it only aims for a deeper research of the case in question. Provide case study analysis by addressing only what you have. The purpose here is to focus on the subject and limit yourself by exploring the specific case.
  • Instrumental Case Studies. Here, you have to address the elements of the study by using your materials as the tool or an instrument that leads you to the scientific evidence. It's still necessary to explain your findings.
  • Collective (Series) Case Reporting. These represent an interesting approach since one takes more than one case study and compares, contrasts, or evaluates different cases to mark the start for a new study.

As you learn how to do a case study, remember that you can combine two of these types together to achieve a deeper outcome of your analytical research. Always check with your grading rubric to determine what kind of academic approach you have to take and then adjust your case study materials accordingly. It will save you a great deal of time as you work on your assignment. In case you need assistance, our nursing paper writing service is here to help you get the best grades. Our team of experienced writers guarantees the highest quality of work and timely delivery. 

How to Write a Case Study: Step-by-step Guide

As you learn how to write a case study correctly, it’s necessary to take the following steps to ensure that no important point has been missed:

Step 1: Choose Your Case study Topic. Even when you already have a document to work with, the first step is choosing your case of ideas topic statement, which should reflect your study approach to the problem. Brainstorm various case study topic ideas first! Make sure that you choose something that reflects not only your case study but also your course and relevant ideas.

Step 2: Determine Your Case Study Type. Your assignment may be an illustrative case study or a series of cases. Check your grading rubric twice to stay on track.

Step 3: Create Case Study Outline. This part is the most important as you have to work on your case study introduction. It's essential to provide background information and describe the problem posed in the case study document. As you create an outline, start with the key facts that address your objectives and take notes as you study what you have. These notes may be mentioned in the outline for your case study. Basically, an outline should contain information about the person or an event, the problem and the goals you would like to achieve, your solution, the results of your work, and the call-to-action sentence (if applicable).

Step 4: Research Your Case. Research the problem first before you develop a thesis. Look into similar case studies and identify similarities that are worth examining.

Step 5: Develop Your Thesis Statement. Your thesis statement should be specific and set the direction for your readers. You can also use external sources to support your main idea. Provide at least one piece of evidence.

Step 6: Address Important Arguments in Body Paragraphs. Each body paragraph must start with a topic sentence where you place several references to an important element mentioned in the original case study.

Step 7: Work On Your Conclusion. In your final paragraph, you should summarize the information and suggest recommendations for further research.

Remember that the majority of challenges you encounter with a case study paper can be addressed by checking your grading rubric. The original instructions may help you determine what kind of work must be done before you start writing, starting with the titles to choose from and the summary that you may have to include in the sample of your work. 

How to Compose a Case Study Draft

Let us assume that we need to create an assignment where business case study examples can be useful. While you can take a look online and see templates for this and that, specialists at EduBirdie recommend checking the writing template below for an easier way to get things done:

  • Introduction.

a) identify the purpose of your study (it can be the company’s failure or a successful innovation by a particular person).

b) define the type of the case study research (an illustrative type would fit best here).

  • Background.

a) describe basic background information (talk about the company or a person, a group of people or an event). 

b) Explain the pros and cons of the problem (describe its importance and why it is relevant to you and the community). 

c) discuss your methods and objectives (set your research method).

  • Case Evaluation.

a) segregate major and minor points (start with the most important elements and continue with what’s less significant). 

b) address strengths and weaknesses of your approach (discuss why your approach might not cover all ranges of the business problem). 

c) discuss limitations (explain what barriers you have faced and what the case study failed to provide).

  • Proposed Solutions.

a) explain your school of thought (offer information based on a particular method or a scientific concept). 

b) pros of your approach (discuss the positive sides of your solution). 

c) set your hypothesis (feel free to make assumptions and create an analytical strategy).

  • Analytical Findings.

a) provide a summary of your findings (you can use bullet points to discuss your findings). 

b) connect your thesis with an outcome (remind your readers about your thesis and the most important argument).

  • Recommendations.

a) Provide possible helpful recommendations (you can recommend alternative solutions or suggest how the limitations can be addressed).

b) Recommend further literature (you can mention further reading).

Case Study Ideas

Coming up with good and reliable case study ideas is essential for college students regardless of their course, existing skills, and academic objectives. Since case study writing explores a plethora of different research methodologies, choosing your topic correctly will help you to avoid such scenarios when your ideas become scattered all over your paper. Look at our list of case study ideas based on the subject and use them as a starting point for future case study assignments. Need help with homework? Hire a professional essay writer.

Case Study Ideas For Psychology

The field of Psychology is quite challenging, so it is vital to choose your topic accordingly, regardless of whether you already know the basics or want to overcome writer's block. Here are some interesting ideas to consider based on what is currently popular in various American universities:

  1. Military operations and the PTSD recovery process.
  2. The most common misconceptions about children with Autism.
  3. The workplace leadership and the complex of Emperor.
  4. The perception of danger in different cultures.
  5. The origins of bipolar disorder through the prism of domestic violence.
  6. Covid-19 and related anxiety cases among college students.
  7. The dangers of advertisements on children's TV networks.
  8. The negative influence of Instagram and distorted body image.
  9. Mental recovery of child abuse victims.
  10. Asthenic syndrome among teenage children.

Case Study Topics In Education

As you are dealing with Education, you should start by exploring the latest changes as the technology is constantly advancing. Compare old and new study methods used in schools or American universities to get the basic idea of competitive case study topics. 

Here are some of them to explore:

  1. The challenges of remote education in rural locations in the USA.
  2. The teaching methods of Montessori schools.
  3. How to motivate children with learning disabilities?
  4. Pros and Cons of AI-based systems in education.
  5. The degree of freedom in Scandinavian schools.
  6. The role of self-motivation in European middle schools.
  7. Is Summer Camp education worth it?
  8. The consequences of improper examination methods.;
  9. The educative methodologies are commonly used by male teachers.
  10. The changes that have taken place in education during the Covid-19 period.

Information Technology

Students majoring in data science or information technology sciences also have to face case study writing, which is usually based on various data analysis methods or the impact that technology has on certain fields of life. Still, you can always explore a little bit further and choose different topics for case studies like the ones below:

  1. Does technology advancement have an end?
  2. The limitations of the Python programming language.
  3. The differences between modern programming methods and the "old-school" approaches.
  4. The analysis of ethical hackers.
  5. Should one learn to become a hacker to prevent the majority of cyberattacks?
  6. Is user simplicity always good: WordPress case study?
  7. The challenges of software development in modern times.
  8. The safety of data analysis for medical purposes.
  9. The use of drones in police operations.
  10. Semantic methods in debugging.

Environmental Science

It is only natural to examine various case studies as you are learning all the complex aspects of environmental science. Since the majority of tasks in this field will include either reflective writing or cause-and-effect essays, the use of case study writing cannot be underestimated. We're the best law essay writing service that you can trust: we get A grades from our customers.

Here are some ideas to use as the starting points:

  1. The mobile vessel pump systems reduce ocean pollution.
  2. Is saving endangered species possible in our times?
  3. The cons and pros of ecological tourism.
  4. The use of politics in the Global Warming campaigns.
  5. The Earthquake prevention systems in the United States.
  6. The clarity of Carbon Dioxide Emission reports.
  7. The reasons why the Kyoto Protocol has double standards.
  8. The correct method of planting trees in an urban environment.
  9. How can college students help promote environmental protection?
  10. The use of Green Technologies during pandemic times.

Marketing Case Study Ideas

As a rule, marketing specialists always have enough to deal with, yet choosing a successful case study topic is not always easy! Do your best to narrow your ideas down to meet the main argument of your thesis statement and the educational objectives. You can browse through a wide range of subjects, including:

  1. The differences between female and male target marketing methods.
  2. The unique strategies and popularity of Apple Inc.
  3. Brand development methods: the most common mistakes.
  4. German Automotive Industry in the American market.
  5. Online (digital) versus physical marketing.
  6. The factors that create customer loyalty in the field of beverages.
  7. The negativity commonly associated with McDonald's.
  8. The controversy between Samsung and Apple.
  9. Is marketing to children morally acceptable?
  10. The future of marketing methods in the post-Covid-19 world.

Management Case Study Topics

Management is always complex because it involves a plethora of different subjects that must be combined and analyzed. The role of case studies here is vital because it is the best way to learn both old and new methods of management. Consider this list of case study topics on Management:

  1. Corporate planning and strategic management by Nike Corporation.
  2. The activity-based cost systems in the Asian markets.
  3. Is child entrepreneurship taking away the aspect of childhood?
  4. Should financial management be taught at schools?
  5. Human Resources Management bias and ethnicity aspects.
  6. The challenges of global management in modern times.
  7. The management and social media.
  8. Does immediate innovation have a place in marketing?
  9. Sustainable development and globalization.
  10. Civil rights and the responsibilities of corporate management specialists.

Applied Physics

As you may think that Applied Physics is all about theory or lab experiments, you are quite far from the truth because it also involves case study writing to determine the engineering mistakes or provide college professors with a piece of evidence that you understand the subject correctly.

  1. Condensed Matter and Mechanical Engineering studies.
  2. The most common misconceptions about Nanoscience.
  3. The Green Energy systems in the domestic environment.
  4. Why is the study of Microfluidics often considered dangerous?
  5. Quantum Information Science and Data Transfer Methods.
  6. The benefits of Astrophysics lessons for school children.
  7. The application of synchrotron radiation and relevant dangers.
  8. The engineering mindset is specific to Applied Physics.
  9. Radiation therapy and related mental aspects.
  10. The role of female scientists in Applied Physics.

SMM Case Study Topics

It is hard to imagine our lives without social media these days. It is only natural that SMM or Social Media Marketing case study titles and topics are becoming even more popular.

Here are some of them you must definitely check:

  1. The use of children in SMM strategies.
  2. The challenges of influencers on social media.
  3. Why the majority of SMM trends are dangerous?
  4. The reasons why TikTok became popular.
  5. The importance of impromptu dancing on social media.
  6. Is SMM Marketing the next best thing for modern sales?
  7. Online marketing dangers.
  8. The differences between globalization and mass trend following.
  9. Social media dangers for children.
  10. The age gap differences in social media groups.

MBA Case Study Topic Ideas

MBA studies still remain one of the most popular subjects for those who want to start their personal business or promote something innovative. Once you have your MBA degree, you can get employed at some of the world's best companies. Still, as you only study, it is crucial to do all these writing tasks, including reflective journals and case study papers. Have no fear as we have some MBA case study ideas for you:

  1. Operations management styles at Intel Inc.
  2. Why the majority of human resource management methods used are outdated today.
  3. The specifics of marketing research in Japan.
  4. Customer relationship management and religion.
  5. Strategic Thinking VS Leadership training.
  6. MBA marketing specifics.
  7. The attitude and professional success: Bill Gates personality.
  8. Steve Jobs' marketing style.
  9. Financial responsibility of CEOs in the United States.
  10. IT marketing through the prism of staff training in marketing.

Human Rights Case Studies

Even though we all have heard about human rights and related challenges these days, it is often uneasy to choose the right case study topic. If you are unsure what to choose, consider these case study examples for students below:

  1. The challenges of the Palestinian community.
  2. Misconceptions about the Black Lives Matter Movement.
  3. Should children be allowed to vote and participate in politics?
  4. The gender injustice in the scientific community of American Universities.
  5. The abuse of female personnel in the workforce.
  6. The Anti-Discrimination Act controversies.
  7. The human rights controversies in the United States versus cases in Canada.
  8. How can minor children stand for their basic human rights?
  9. The moral aspect of freedom of speech.
  10. The human rights activists and their moral principles: South Africa.

Nursing Case Study Subjects

  1. The privacy of the nurse and patient communications.
  2. The importance of ER nursing stress reduction methods.
  3. Should nurses be taught self-defense tactics?
  4. The presence of ethnic bias in the nursing community.
  5. The emotional bonds established by the nurses in a team.
  6. How does team solidarity affect nursing responsibilities?
  7. The healthcare system in Norway: Bergen hospitals case study analysis.
  8. Should nurses be granted additional payments for the emotional turbulence that they endure?
  9. Patients with Alzheimer’s and the modern nursing methods.
  10. How can nurses help children to communicate more efficiently?

Business Case Study Topics

Regardless of what business field you may encounter for your college studies in the United States, the chances are high that you will need some inspiration for your next case study assignment. Consider taking a look at these topic ideas:

  1. The quality production differences between Gibson and Fender.
  2. The CEOs implement the link between production quality and strategic thinking.
  3. The image of the modern business individual today.
  4. Pricing optimization at Apple Inc.
  5. The reasons why start-ups became so popular in 2022.
  6. Market expansion in the Asian markets.
  7. Industry Landscape in Australia for investment purposes.
  8. Profitability and moral limitations in business in China.
  9. Personnel management issues at Amazon business outlets.
  10. The problems of consumerism in the United States.

Of course, these are only the starting points or the basic ideas you can use as you think about choosing a good case study topic for your next project! When in doubt, always consult your academic advisor or hire a professional case study writer to pick the best subject and methodology!

How To Choose Good Case Study Topics?

Starting with your case study topic hunting, follow these simple rules:

  • Choose something that inspires you.
  • Narrow things down to reflect your main idea in the best way possible.
  • Explore similar research ideas on the topic.
  • Identify the problem(s) and opinions related to your chosen subject.
  • Choose a relevant methodology that will make it possible to research this or that case study topic.
  • Find alternate wording for your case study assignment.
  • Brainstorm available case study topics for college students.

Remember that if you are unsure about something, always ask your college advisor and check your grading rubric twice to ensure that you are on the right track!

Case Study Format Rules

Learning how to format your writing is essential because it is one of the elements that helps the grader determine whether you understand the task correctly.

Here are the main rules to remember:

  1. Each case study paper should start with a headline that should provide your readers with sufficient information regarding the problem. It should speak of the background information in a brief way. 
  2. As you describe the case study, you should include basic details that talk about a person or an event that you explore to offer your audience all the initial information necessary to determine the objectives and complexity.
  3. As you create your outline, remember that you should describe at least one key argument that makes your work interesting and valuable. 
  4. State what problems and obstacles have been mentioned in initial instructions or in the case study document that you have. See various psychology case study topics to get a basic idea of what may be explored as an example. Talk about what you would like to explore. Quotes and citations are recommended. 
  5. Offer at least one solution. Talk about how the problem in the case study can be addressed and what methods you choose to address the problem.
  6. Describe the results. Talk about the benefits and the outcomes that you have achieved as a result of your writing. It's also possible to include quotes and combine them with your analysis, depending on the case study.
  7. Conclusion. Talk about various recommendations and sum up the facts that you have discovered.

What we have in result usually ends up in four major sections of a case study that are: an introduction, body paragraphs where you talk about the problem, an explanation and presentation of your findings section, and the final conclusion where you state the results. The writing mechanics will depend on the formatting style like MLA or APA.

MLA Rules Template:

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Your Case Study (in italics). Location of the Publisher.

APA Format for Case Study:

The important difference with APA formatting style is that it should include the cover page and the table of contents where your readers can see each part of the report and the executive summary part. The citation template for the references page is as follows:

Author(s). (Year). Title of your case study. Number of case study.

Harvard Style Case Study Reference: 

Author or Editor's Last Name, Initials. (Year) "Title of your case study" [Case Study], Journal Title, Volume (Issue), pp. page numbers.

How to Create a Title Page and Cite a Case Study

Speaking of case study structure in APA format, as an example, you may have to create a title.

Here are the rules to follow:

- Running head should include running title with a page number flushed to the right top corner. The running head itself should have a one inch margin and be typed in CAPS. 

- The title of the case study must be in title case, centered, and in the bold font. 

- Your name must be centered. 

- Provide your department and the university name. 

- Course code and name follow next and remain centered.

- Your professor's name must be provided in "Dr. John Gerahty" format. 

- Date should be: Month, Day, Year (June 3, 2021).

All these entries must use Times New Roman font, size 12.

For example:

Effects of Transwave Synthesis: An Engineering Audio Therapy Case Study 

Carrie Wood

Department of Audio Engineering, Berkeley School of Music

ENGN 223: Synthesis and Audio Therapty

Dr. Andrew Johnson

May 4, 2019 

Case Study Citation Templates & Examples

Let us assume that we need to cite a case study by David Lee that has been published at the Hardvard Business Publishing website in 2022. We need to obtain the date of publication, name of the case study, and the special reference number that can help us obtain the case study. Here is our citation in APA style:

Lee, D. (2022). What Does Diversity Mean in a Global Organization? (HBR Case Study). HBR No. R2203X-PDF-ENG. https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/R2203X-PDF-ENG?Ntt=&itemFindingMethod=search

Now a textbook-based case study will look this way: 

Author(s) or Editor(s) of the case study. (Year of publishing). Title of chapter or case study. In First initial. Last Name, and First initial. Last name (Eds.), Title of book (pp.) Publisher's Name. 

For example: 

Patterson, J. (2009) The Apple's Take On Luxury. In J. Walden, Cases of Marketing Success (pp. 34-39). Bailey Publishing House. 

  • MLA case format will follow this simple template for case study citations

Author's Last Name, First Name. Case Study Title (in italics). Location of the Publisher, Journal, or Organization.

Chandler, Nigel. "Disney and Disability Cases on Screen." American Journal of Cinemetography, vol 14, no. 2, 2004, pp. 281-99. 

Analysis Comes First

It must be reminded again that every assignment that you approach must include a preliminary analysis of the topic because you must be aware of various research aspects related to your case study ideas. Take your time to consider different wording patterns and always narrow things down if possible to let your case study writing reflect your thesis and the main ideas. Always provide good evidence and analyze all the available information that you have in the case study instructions. It will help you to provide enough evidence of your research based upon a specific case study. Therefore, brainstorm our case study topics and let your education struggles become easier with our help! And remember that you can always ask us to write my case study!

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