Master the 6 Essential Types of Case Studies for Students

Ever stared at a case study assignment and wondered where to even start? But you know, picking the right type of case studies is not always apparent to all and can be a game-changer for your work.

This blog aims to break down the six main types of case studies in an easy and engaging way. Whether you are trying to explore new ideas or analyze unique situation, understanding these types will make your work sharper and smarter. Let's begin!

What is a case study?

Let’s begin by understanding: what is a case study? Well, a case study is an in-depth analysis of a real or made-up scenario. It presents a problem that is supported by relevant background information and data.

You can think of them as a magnifying glass that zooms in on a particular event, providing you with a closer look at issues. They are an integral part of the research world, as they offer data analysis to discover insights and solve problems.

The purpose of different kinds of case studies is to learn about a group to generalize information for others, or seek a possible solution if a similar thing happens. However, they tend to be highly subjective and often gets difficult to generalize outcomes to a larger group of population. The following section explores types along with case study examples so you can understand the subjectivity and confidently pick one for your research assignment.

What are the Different Types of Case Studies?

The primary categories of case studies fall into six parts with each one focusing on problems within specific settings, contexts or organizations. Case studies serve as versatile tools across many fields such as arts, psychology, economics, and political science. However, they can be challenging if you are a beginner so that you can seek a case study assignment helper for assistance.

Exploratory Case Studies

An exploratory case study is a type of qualitative investigation that aims to gain an understanding of a phenomenon with little prior research. They focus on a specific real-life context to uncover key insights and explore different dynamics of the situation.

An exploratory case study does not provide a definitive conclusion but serves as a basis for detailed and focused research later. They are useful in providing clarity to researchers and identifying essential variables before an in-depth analysis. There are many case study examples of exploratory, we have also detailed one below.

Example

A Nonprofit organization wanted to uncover insights on how teenagers in rural areas use social media to stay connected after school. So, they launched an exploratory case study and conducted formal interviews.

Descriptive Case Studies

A descriptive case study details a real event and does not test a theory or find relationships. It seeks the answer to 'what happened' and provides a fact-based chronological account of a series of events. It can answer your question, such as what is a case study in psychology.

Its primary purpose is to present a complete and accurate picture of the subject. Unlike the explanatory case studies, the descriptive approach focuses on what is happening in present ( rather than why it happens).

When going with this method, researchers collect factual data from various sources such as interviews, observations and archives to build a well-rounded and fact-based comprehension of a case.

Example

A group of educators studied a public library in Atlanta to look at how it supports children after school. They observed the staff's interaction with students, the resources of the library and the space used by children. Also, they collected stories from parents and librarians. The aim here was not to judge success or prove objective results but to explore what happens every day. This descriptive study offered a full view of the role of the library in the community.

Explanatory (Causal) Case Studies

An explanatory case study is a research method that seeks to explain the cause behind a certain event pattern or outcome. It aims to understand the relationship between two factors, how one thing affects another. It often works best when you already have a background knowledge about a specific event. Exploratory and explanatory are often confused due to similar spelling; however, they differ in their approach. The exploratory asks 'what' while the explanatory case studies answer 'why' or 'how'.

Example

A university in the US wanted to discover why one of its campuses had a drop in student attendance after shifting to online classes. Researchers studied student feedback, class schedules and internet access data.

Also, they found many students lacked quiet study spaces and a reliable internet connection at home. This helped them study and understand how minute things affected their participation in the learning process.

Intrinsic Case Studies

Intrinsic case studies focus on a single cause because it holds unique value or interest on its own. The goal is to grasp an in-depth knowledge of a specific case without any aim to generalize the findings.

In this method, the case is of immense interest because it has unique qualities which are not common. For instance, a person with a rare disability or condition. The insights help researchers to understand its importance instead of explaining its broader phenomena.

Example

A school with an innovative arts program attracted attention for its success with students. Researchers studied it closely and explored how it influenced students, their engagement and creativity. It only aimed to focus on the model to understand its success without applying it to other schools.

Instrumental Case Studies

Instrumental case studies use a particular case to understand a broader issue or develop general insights. It acts as a tool through which researchers explore larger questions. The final objective is to gain insights into a larger topic beyond the particular situation of the case.

Example

A small tech startup introduces flexible work hours to boost the productivity of its employees. Researchers tried to study the company to understand the impact of a flexible schedule on employee output. This study is centred on this startup, but the findings offered relevant lessons for many other startups which are considering similar policies.

Collective (Multiple) Case Studies

Collective case studies, also called as multiple case study studies, involve two or more cases at the same time to understand a broader phenomenon and identify variations or patterns across situations.

Researchers compare several examples simultaneously to strengthen conclusions and identify trends that are not visible in a single case. It is valuable when you want to test ideas in different settings and groups.

Example

Researchers studied five colleges that introduced mental health programs for students. They compared the promotion of services in each campus and student participation rates. It exposed common success factors, including peer support and easy access to counselling. However, it had difficulties such as stigma related to mental health and limited funds.

The study revealed the differences between urban and rural colleges. It gave a clear picture of things that worked well and offered valuable insights for other colleges planning similar programs.

The study revealed the differences between urban and rural colleges. It gave a clear picture of things that worked well and offered valuable insights for other colleges planning similar programs.Be it this or any other case study help, you can always rely on our expert writers online.

How to Choose the Right Type of Case Study

The selection of the right type of case study for your assignment is crucial for a clear and focused research. Also, it depends on several factors, such as the purpose of the study and the questions to be answered. You can use the following pointers to choose a proper method for your work.

Now, you can pick the proper case studies approach with ease and confidence. With the proper method, you can make sure that the findings align with the goal. Also, you can utilize the above given recommendations to make informed decisions about your work.

Final Thoughts

So, we have explored the different types of case studies along with their examples. Case studies act as a tool to understand an event in-depth and deal with its challenges. They are used extensively in colleges to help students comprehend a hypothetical event and how it can influence groups, people or organizations in real life.

However, many students face problems while analyzing an event and think if there is someone who can do my assignment with a proper case study. Yes, our experts can provide you with a personalized guidance. Let us handle your tasks while you focus on what matters the most.