How to conduct a case study? Main stages

Case study implies a search for any problem of relevant information, which must necessarily be properly arranged.

The main task is to generalize covered material and write conclusions. Scientific work envisages conducting new research in practice.

Main stages of research work

1. First of all, it is necessary to look through case study topics and select the research topic in order to define the boundaries of the research as strictly as possible.
2. The next step is to define the scope of the study (formulate the main questions, the answers to which a student would like to find).
3. Then the case study problem should be actualized. A student should identify the problem and determine the direction of future research.

4. The fourth stage is the development of a hypothesis (a researcher develop a hypothesis, including unrealistic and provocative ideas).
5. The student should identify and systematize approaches to the solution (choose research methods).
6. It is necessary to determine the sequence of the study.
7. The following stage is the collection and processing of information (to capture the acquired knowledge).
8. The next step is an analysis and generalization of the received materials (to structure the received material, using known logic rules and receptions).
9. The final stage is the preparation of the report (to give definitions to the basic concepts, to prepare a report on the results of the study).

How to Write a Case Study

Conducting a case study begins with a topic choosing. This should be guided by certain rules:The topic should be as interesting as possible for the student. Work on an absolutely uninteresting topic turns into bonded labor and as a result, does not bring any benefit.

Recently, trying to solve the problem of mass “downloading,” scanning or buying term papers, some professors give students topics in their own words or specific problems for research.There must be sufficient literature on this topic. Therefore, it is best to first take a few attractive topics, and then, having got acquainted with the library catalogs or information from the Internet, finally choose one of them.It is recommended not to search for creative ways to present a case study. Just follow the strict requirements.

In accordance with standard requirements, such a paper should include the introduction, the main part, and the conclusion.Writing an introduction is necessary to:

• Show the relevance of the chosen topic and the degree of its scientific development,
• Explain this particular topic was chosen,
• Formulate the goals and objectives of the study,
• List the main literary and information sources and methods of research.

It is important to remember that the formulation of the research objective should coincide with the topic, and the formulation of tasks with the names of the relevant sections and subsections.The main part of the course work is a detailed presentation of answers to case study questions. Usually, it includes 3-4 sections, which, in turn, can be divided into the required number of subsections.If you need a point of sale case study, you will get it in a wink!By tradition, the first section of the work is usually devoted to general theoretical aspects of the chosen topic. Here the essence of the problem is revealed, its place in the theory and practice is shown, the critical review of existing approaches to its research is given.The second section usually discusses the practical side of the issue, including possible difficulties and shortcomings in this area.The third section is made to devote to the formulation of recommendations on the solution of the investigated problem, if possible with reference to the conditions of a particular country (depending on the topic).The conclusion should summarize the main conclusions of the work. They should not contain anything new, which is not mentioned in the work.

It is most convenient to compose the conclusion from the ready conclusions, which were formulated, completing the relevant sections of the work.Having a work plan, it is possible to start collecting materials. Sources on this or that topic can be conditionally divided into primary and secondary (or critical literature). The task of finding the right materials is greatly simplified due to the access to the Internet.  Materials borrowed from the Internet should be indicated in the list of literature. But here it’s not enough just to specify the address of the site; it is needed to point out the full address of which you can find this or that material.

Here are some pieces of advice on using the internet for data searching:

• Avoid “downloading” ready-made articles or abstracts. Case studies available on the Internet are far from being masterpieces, so it is almost impossible to write a good paper on their basis. In addition, many of these materials have become so familiar to teachers that establishing their origin is not a problem. So take some time and try to write something independently.
• Do not link pieces mechanically from different sources: their authors can use different terminology and different approaches, and a  teacher will necessarily ask a student why in one place he is talking, for example, about marginal costs, and in another about ultimate expenses (although this is one and the same).

If the material is collected, it is possible to start writing the text of a case study.

It is about writing, not about mindless copying with the help of all known means of modern technology or simply by mechanical rewriting.When writing the text of any work, it is very important to determine for whom it is intended. This will allow choosing the right style of presentation and avoid unnecessary clarifications and formulations. As for the style of presentation, the following general recommendations are useful:Avoid long and complex sentences. They are incomprehensible in written language.

If the sentences are still too long, try to separate them.Remember that a paragraph longer than a page is allowed only for Leo Tolstoy, and even in this case, it is very easy to lose a thread of reasoning. Do paragraphs more often; however, do not forget that there should be more than one sentence in them.