ACROBAT | 6-MINUTE READ
What is a case study?
Learn what a case study is and how to write one step-by-step.
What is a case study?
A case study is a comprehensive investigation of a subject within its real-life setting. These studies typically use a combination of qualitative and quantitative data. Unlike surveys or experiments conducted in controlled environments, case studies put researchers right in the middle of real-world situations to reveal meaningful insights.
Case studies are detailed, in-depth analyses of a specific event, problem, individual, group, or organization in a real-world context. They are a type of report, but unlike generalized reports, a case study focuses on particular details, draws conclusions, and uncovers insights, patterns, or lessons. Understanding the basics of how to write a report can help lay the groundwork for crafting a compelling case study.
Whether you’re a student working on an academic assignment or a professional preparing a business report, case studies are valuable tools for exploring real-world scenarios. They allow readers to break down complex issues, assess outcomes, and learn from successes and challenges. Use an AI Assistant to help you spend less time searching for answers and more time studying and conducting analyses.
You’ll likely encounter case studies in industries like healthcare, education, marketing, and business. AI exam prep tools and a PDF editor can help streamline your research, note-taking, and writing process. In this guide, you’ll answer what is a case study, explore case study formats, learn how to write a case study, and view common questions about them.
Different types of case studies.
Now that you understand what a case study is, let’s take a look at the different types of case studies you might encounter. Case studies can serve various purposes depending on the field of study, professional objective, or research goal.
Whether you’re aiming to explain a phenomenon, explore new ideas, or provide a descriptive account of an event, you’ll find a case study structure designed to meet that need. Here are some of the most common types.
Explanatory case studies help answer both “why” and “how” questions by uncovering the underlying causes and relationships behind a situation. For example, a marketing team might analyze why a product succeeded in one region but failed in another, providing actionable recommendations for future campaigns.
Exploratory case studies are ideal for new fields of study. These are particularly useful when studying new or emerging topics that lack established research frameworks. A software company might use this type to gauge customer response to a new feature, gathering feedback that shapes future updates and product strategy.
Descriptive case studies offer a detailed account of an event or scenario, such as how a company responded to a market shift or how a school implemented a new learning strategy. Descriptive studies focus on creating a thorough, chronological narrative of the subject without necessarily drawing conclusions. They provide readers with a comprehensive view of circumstances and outcomes as they unfolded in real time.
Intrinsic case studies gain a better understanding of a unique or interesting case with no immediate intention of generalizing findings. These studies prioritize the subject itself because it offers exceptional interest or presents a rare phenomenon. A medical journal might detail an unusual patient recovery or a rare disease treatment to enrich clinical understanding or inspire further inquiry.
Instrumental case studies focus on a particular case to gain insight into a broader issue or theory. For example, an educational institution might study one school district’s digital learning strategy to inform nationwide online education policy, using specific outcomes to support broader recommendations.
Choosing the right type of case study depends on your research goals, the audience, and the available data. If you want to explain causes or outcomes, an explanatory case study fits best, while exploratory studies work well when you’re identifying new questions or hypotheses. Descriptive case studies provide detailed accounts of specific situations, while intrinsic case studies focus on understanding unique cases without generalizing. Instrumental case studies use a single case to gain broader insights.
Consider the scope, resources, and time you have, as some types require more extensive data and analysis. By matching your purpose with the appropriate type, you ensure your case study delivers clear and useful insights.
How to write a case study.
Writing a case study involves research, critical analysis, and careful documentation. While case studies involve analysis, they differ from analytical essays in structure and purpose. From choosing your subject to presenting your findings, every step requires attention to detail. Follow these steps to create an effective case study.
Step 1: Identify the subject.
Choose a subject that’s relevant to your goal. It could be a person, an organization, an event, or a situation. If you’re a student assigned a healthcare case study, select a patient case that illustrates a treatment plan or diagnosis issue. For marketers, consider a recent campaign or product launch that yielded interesting data.
Step 2: Conduct research.
Gather comprehensive data using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews, surveys, reports, and analytics are valuable resources. You can chat with PDFs, ask questions, and get key takeaways from documents with AI PDF tools, which can be helpful to organize research and extract important information from dense research papers or lengthy reports by summarizing key points, allowing you to focus more on the analysis portion.
Step 3: Organize the information.
After collecting your data, group it into categories like background, contributing factors, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. A PDF editor allows you to highlight, comment, and rearrange notes efficiently.
Step 4: Write the case study.
Use clear subheadings and keep paragraphs concise in the case study. The introduction should hook the reader by presenting the issue’s significance and context. In the background section, provide details about the subject’s history and circumstances. Explain your research methodology thoroughly so readers understand how you gathered and interpreted your data. Then, present findings logically, using visuals like tables or charts where helpful. Finally, wrap up with actionable conclusions and recommendations.
Step 5: Edit and finalize.
Proofread your case study carefully for clarity, grammar, and accuracy. Review your citations and consider seeking a peer review before publishing or submitting. Finally, use a PDF converter, such as the Word to PDF converter, to ensure a clean, readable format before submitting or presenting your case study.
Once you finalize your case study, consider how you plan to share it. Will it be part of a presentation, published in a report, or distributed digitally? Converting your document to a PDF ensures your formatting remains intact and your content is accessible across devices and platforms. Acrobat tools make it easy to add interactive elements like hyperlinks or embedded visuals that enhance the reader’s experience.
Finally, think about how you can build upon this case study for future projects. Successful case studies often serve as valuable reference points for subsequent research or business strategies. By archiving your methodology, findings, and outcomes, you’ll have a practical resource to inform similar projects, streamline future case study creation, and strengthen your overall research library.
Frequently asked questions.
How long should a case study be?
What is an example of a case study?
Can you include personal opinions in a case study?
Are visual additions like charts and images necessary in a case study?
Keep exploring