A case study is a scenario in a particular professional context which students are expected to analyse and respond to, guided specific questions posed concerning the situation. In many cases, the scenario or case study involves a number of issues or problems that must be dealt with in a professional workplace.
Case study questions usually require students to identify problems and issues in a scenario, to demonstrate their developing knowledge of theories and professional policies and to make decisions and recommendations based on these to either prevent or solve some of the issues in that scenario.
There are several steps to writing an answer to a case study assignment:
STEP 1: Read case study and questions carefully
Read the case and associated questions carefully. Highlight the main points of the case and any issues that you can identify.
Read the questions closely and analyse what they are requiring you to do.
Read the case again, linking the information that is relevant to each question you have been asked.
STEP 2: Identify the issues in the case study
Case studies describe a situation which may arise in a particular profession or social context. They often involve a number of people in a complex situation. They will often describe a situation which is problematic, possibly in how it is dealt with, or in its complexity. An important part of your answer is to analyse the situation and to identify the issues/actions described in the case which may be problematic.
The following questions may help you to do this:
- What actions were taken in the case?
- Were these actions the most appropriate and why?
- Were there any consequences of the taken actions?
- Was anything omitted or not considered?
- Were actions/procedures in line with existing codes of practice, policy or theories?
STEP 3: Link theory to practice
Use your knowledge of existing codes of practice, theories and/or other professional documents and behaviours to decide what was done appropriately and what was not. Make notes on these.e.g. If someone was interviewed in your case study, were proper interviewing techniques used? Find theory on interviews in your professional context in your readings and make links as to what was done well and what was not done well. This can be expanded upon in your answer, with references to your readings.
STEP 4: Plan your answer
It can be useful to use the questions you have been set as headings and to answer each part in turn, reducing the chance of omitting set questions. You can always take out the headings before you submit if you wish. Lecturers usually set questions in a logical order, so answer in the order they are written in your question.
STEP 5: Start writing your case study answer
Like any assignment, you will need an introduction, body sections in which you answer the questions put to you regarding the case study, and a conclusion