A case study is a systematic analysis of a problem, aimed at providing a solution to the problem. Writing a case study requires the researcher to provide enough information necessary for the reader to understand the problem under investigation and come up or propose a solution.
Although writing a case study is aimed at describing a problem/challenge as it is experienced in its natural setting/habitat, the study should give the reader room to think critically in order to provide practical solutions to the problem in question. It should be written in such a way that the reader will ‘experience’ challenges that the writer experienced while conducting the research in the field.
Writing a case study successfully involves three crucial steps: research, analysis, and writing. Stipulated below are steps of how you can do effective research.
1) Conduct a literature review
A literature review helps in informing the reader on your awareness on the problem you are addressing. The research can be done at the library or the internet with the main objective being to find out what previous researches have accomplished.
Through conducting research at this level, you will understand better the question you are addressing or better still, you might get more ideas that will help you formulate a more comprehensive and informed research question. Literature review should be conducted from reliable sources.
2) Conduct research at the field
The most suitable method of collecting necessary data for writing a case study in the field is through interviews and observation. Interviewing helps a researcher have a one-on-one interaction with the research subjects. They not only help the researcher understand the problem, they are also actively involved in coming up with solutions. Interviews work effectively if you ask open-ended questions.
Observation on the other hand helps the researcher note behavioral changes that research subjects may not say verbally.