Types of Case Study: Explained with Real Examples

Case studies are a research method often used in papers where the author aims to gain a concrete, deep understanding of a specific issue. Case studies are most useful in theses and dissertations. The writer gains an opportunity to explore causes, effects, and implications of a certain case. There are various types of case studies used for different research. Still, as a rule, case studies are thorough, detailed, and require deep analysis.

In this post, we will explain the differences between types of case study with real examples. Without further ado, here are the case study methods, explained.

What’s a Case Study?

Case study is a formal qualitative research method. It involves a detailed account of one or multiple real-world events. It’s a useful method for data collection and building a theory.  If you're new to this method, it's helpful to first understand how to do a case study.

It usually involves one or several subjects, organization or a business. The extensive analysis required for this research ensures deep understanding of a subject’s decision making or the effects of an event in question.

Often, one subject is observed or analyzed over an extended period of time. This allows the researcher to gain enough knowledge to draw conclusions. 

What are the 7 Types of Case Study?

There are different types of case studies with each serving a specific purpose. The general goal of a case study, though, is to explore a situation and analyze that phenomenon within its natural context.

There can be lots of variables in a case study, such as means of data collection, approach to analysis, limitations, etc. They depend on the individual case and the researcher’s preference.

Here are the seven main types of case study papers:

• Illustrative Case Study
• Exploratory Case Study
• Cumulative Case Study
• Critical Instance Case Study
• Descriptive Case Study
• Intrinsic Case Study
• Instrumental Case Study

Below you will find a detailed definition of each type with concrete examples.

Illustrative Case Study

An illustrative case study is often used to explain a complex real-world phenomena using vivid and clear examples. It’s one of the most common types of case studies due to its descriptive nature. It’s often used to explain or clarify a situation using concrete examples. We’ve prepared a few examples to help you understand better.

Example of an Illustrative Case Study

The simplest example of an illustrative case study is an educational video. These types of videos are often shown to workers or students to help them understand extensive algorithms, safety measures, or instructions or completing a certain process.

In policy reports and social work, illustrative case studies serve the valuable purpose of humanizing statistics. Instead of providing dry numbers and charts, a policymaker advocating for housing security may use a real example of a single mother from an impoverished neighborhood having to live in her car.

D. Korre and A. Sherlock from the University of Edinburgh wrote an illustrative case study paper to demonstrate how AR can facilitate learning of human anatomy during distance learning.

Exploratory Case Study

An exploratory case study is best applied to investigate an issue that is not fully clear yet. These types of case studies are often used in preparation for larger-scale research. 

This research method is most commonly used in social sciences, medical fields, business and education.

Example of an Exploratory Case Study

In the University of Michigan, researchers used an exploratory case study to determine which methods young African-American men use to support their mental health. This case study provides an incredible stepping stone for further research into supporting Black adolescent boys’ mental health.

A real-world scenario of such a case study could involve an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to open a store. To see how the store would perform, the entrepreneur opens a pop-up version for several days or weeks. This gives him or her enough time to form a hypothesis and determine whether the store is worth the investment.

Cumulative Case Study

Cumulative case study involves collecting and analyzing data from multiple case studies or other sources. These types of case study are useful for identifying patterns and trends in existing research. It’s most beneficial for a researcher that can aggregate data from previous studies instead of starting afresh. 

Example of a Cumulative Case Study 

The Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) is the most prominent example of a cumulative case study. This is one of the largest consort studies examining how different factors influence nurses’ health. This study involves over 280,000 participants and has been instrumental in determining causes, risk factors and gaining other insight into the development and treatment of multiple diseases.

In education, a cumulative case study may be useful for determining the best approach to teaching a certain population. These studies often involve systematic data collection and meta-analysis to collect, analyze and unify data across multiple disciplines or an extended time period.

Critical Instance Case Study

A critical instance case study usually examines one major event and aims to understand its causes, effects and results.

This case study usually analyzes at a critical event because it’s rare or revealing. It often challenges existing beliefs or stereotypes by providing real example of a flaw in the system.

Example of a Critical Instance Case Study 

The Flint Water Crisis is a striking example of a critical instance case study. A failure to research and investigate the implications of the decision to change the city’s main water source has led to an immense public health crisis. It has exposed a systemic lack of accountability on policymakers’ part and a great failure in public infrastructure. In can and has been used by researchers to explore the specific reasons for this failure, as well as to challenge the notions about the safety of drinking water in the US. 

Descriptive Case Study

This type of study design focuses on a single event and aims to describe it in detail. A lot of the times, this case study does not involve testing a theory or finding causal relationships.

Instead, a descriptive case study answers the question ‘what happened?’ It often involves a fact-based, chronological account of a sequence of events and is used to inform future inquiry.

Examples of a Descriptive Case Study

In a medical or healthcare setting, a descriptive case study can be beneficial when describing the handling of the first patient with a new disease in the region. The researcher is not to theorize on the origins of the disease in this case. Instead, he or she should describe the events chronologically and in detail. This will help future researchers gain great insight into the disease’s mutation and evolution by comparing the current symptoms to those of the first patient. Usually, a descriptive study will involve a small group of participants or a single event rather than multiple.

Intrinsic Case Study

These types of case studies usually look at an individual or event due to its uniqueness rather than as a part of a large study. Intrinsic types of case studies look somewhat similar to critical instance, however, an intrinsic case study usually doesn’t test a theory or form a hypothesis. 

An intrinsic case study is usually based on deep, qualitative research. It examines a specific individual or a group to understand full context, including personal experiences.

Example of an Intrinsic Case Study

An example of an intrinsic case study may involve a school that has remained open through World War II. Another example from psychology would be a depiction of an unconventional method, like MDMA therapy, used to successfully treat a long-standing case of PTSD. 

A study by Foeh and Foehr done at Saint Louis University used an intrinsic case study method to report on a patient with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). This case study describes the genetic basis, symptoms, approaches to diagnosis and strategies for treating this rare disease. The goal is to document an uncommon illness and to help future research.

Instrumental Case Study

An instrumental case study is used when the researcher aims to propose a theory or solve a research question that goes beyond the case’s subject.

It serves as a tool for gaining broader knowledge on a problem. In other words, the implications of effects of the case are more important than the case itself. If you're struggling with such an assignment, you might consider seeking help and asking someone to write my case study for me to ensure a high-quality outcome.

Example of an Instrumental Case Study

A theoretical example from the education sector could involve observing a middle school that’s adopted project-based learning (PBL) techniques in a chemistry class. The goal of the research is not to observe the school, but to determine the effect of PBL on critical thinking, collaboration and independence among children. Here, the results of the case are more important than the case itself. 

A study by Li has used a small group of four students from Macau University to explore the importance of online presence and its effect on involvement during online classes. Although this study looks at a specific group of people, the results are important for a vast population.

Types of Subjects Used for Case Studies

Every case study uses some sort of subject to base the research on. These subjects often fall into these five categories.

• Person: this type of case study focuses on a single individual. It may involve different methodologies or research methods, and can be used across various fields.
• Group: a small, mid-size or a large group is examined to explore group dynamics, different perspectives on the same situation, communication, etc. 
• Location: a population of a certain geographical area can be explored to determine environmental, social, political or economic factors.
• Organization: in business, a case study research method can be applied to a business organization to determine avenues for growth, risk factors, challenges and the way they are handled. 
• Event: an inquiry into the effect of a certain event on the parties involved can help the researcher gain insight into effects and implications of that event.

Types of Case Study Designs

There are five main case study designs that are used in research. The choice between them depends on the researcher, the goals of the study and the methods applied. 

Here are the main types of case study designs:

• Single-Case Design: Here, the researcher focuses on one case and studies that person or event in depth.
• Multiple-Case Design: Mostly used for comparative studies, this case study design uses two or more subjects to find similarities and differences, generalize findings or test a specific theory.
• Longitudinal Case Design: This case study is performed over an extended period of time to track the change in subjects.
• Retrospective Case Design: In retrospective research, the author looks at an event that has already passed. It’s instrumental in determining causes and effects of an event.
• Embedded Case Design: This is the most complicated study design that involves multiple interconnected cases.

Types of Case Study Interviews

Interviews are one of the most common methods of data collection for case studies. They allow the researcher to form a personal connection with the subjects which facilitates even deeper research. However, the nature of interviews can vary.

Types of interviews:

• Structured Interviews: each participant is asked a set of predetermined questions to collect uniform data from multiple people.
• Semi-Structured Interviews: here, a set of questions is prepared, but a researcher is free to ask clarifying questions and maintain the conversation flow.
• Unstructured Interviews: this freeform conversation allows for complete freedom in the researcher’s questions as well as the participant’s responses.
• Focus Group Interviews: an interview is done with a group of people, allowing to collect insights on people’s opinions, differences and similarities. 
• In-depth interviews: these interviews are detailed, focused on open-ended questions and aimed at gaining a deep understanding of the participant’s answers.

Types of Case Study Research Designs

A research design is an outline or a blueprint that will inform the direction of your research. The choice of a particular design depends on the researcher. 

Below are the main research design types:

• Exploratory Research Design: Used for case studies where a subject is not entirely understood. The researcher will investigate, uncover patterns, and form questions for further inquiry.
• Descriptive Research Design: The author’s main goal is to describe an event in detail operating with facts rather than assumptions or theories. 
• Explanatory Research Design: Often used to discover cause and effect relationships and the reasons behind a certain phenomena,
• Comparative Research Design: This design uses two or more cases to find similarities, differences, or patterns.
• Embedded Research Design: This research design closely looks at one or more cases, exploring multiple layers behind each action or phenomena.

Why Write Case Study Papers

Writing academic papers, and especially case studies is greatly beneficial for students, and here’s why.

Practical Application 

Case studies are more than theories and vague assumptions. These types of academic papers focus on real-world scenarios, hence, can help solve pressing issues and improve people’s lives.

Critical Analysis 

Critical thinking is a vital skill for students to develop. Most academic papers require some sort of analysis to be performed. However, case studies require even deeper analysis and critical thinking. Writing these papers is an opportunity for you to improve those paramount skills.

Decision-Making Skills 

Case studies usually involve a problem that requires a unique and complex solution. The more papers like that you write, the more you will develop your creativity and problem-solving skills which will serve your greatly both at school and later in life.

Comprehensive Approach 

To write a case study, one must view the problem from all perspectives, and take all the possible consequences and effects into account. That requires a deep understanding of the problem, as well as a holistic approach to solving it. 

Improved Emotional Intelligence

Case studies most often involve people as the main subject of inquiry. Observing, interviewing, and analysing different people will inevitably expose you to new perspectives. Learning to accept others as they are is an incredibly valuable skill in life.

Wrapping Up

There are many different types of case studies, but today we discussed the main seven of them. Each one serves a different purpose and is used in a specific instance. Refer to the examples after each type of case study to get a better grasp on the differences between them. 

We’ve also discussed types of case study designs, research designs, as well as looked at types of interviews and subjects. This should give you a comprehensive idea about the definition, types and peculiarities of a case study paper. 

A case study is a complex assignment that requires a lot of time, focus, and dedication. If you feel like you can’t handle the writing part, you can always outsource the task to one of our paper writers for hire. A professional writer will complete a paper according to your instructions and you’ll end up with a perfect sample case study that you can learn from!

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