What is a Case?
This Page: Definition and Some Examples | Benefits | Some Case Types
Definition and Some Examples
Common Elements
Cases come in many shapes and sizes from a simple "What would you do in this situation?" question to an elaborate role-playing scenario in which students must resolve a complex questions based on real-world data and documents. How simple or elaborate a case is depends on what you want your students to be able to do in the course.
Whatever the form the case may take, it usually has these common elements.
- Real-Word Scenario - Cases are generally based on real world situations, although some facts may be changed to simplify the scenario or "protect the innocent."
- Supporting Data and Documents - Effective cases assignments typically provide real world artifacts for students to analyze. These can be simple data tables, links to real U R L 's, quoted statements or testimony, supporting documents, images, video, audio, or any appropriate material.
- Open-Ended Problem - Most case assignments require students to answer an open-ended question or develop a solution to an open-ended problem with multiple potential solutions. Requirements can range from a one-paragraph answer to a fully developed group action plan, proposal or decision.
Case assignments can be done in teams or independently. Typically, cases are done in teams so that the students can brainstorm solutions and share the work load.
Finally, it is possible to incorporate real world data into other assignments assignments which are not necessarily open-ended and still realize the benefits of exposing students to realistic situations.
Some Examples by Discipline
Architecture - Madison 2200
A project in which students
Biology - Simulating
the Spread of HIV
Students attempt to determine one or more "Patient Zeroes" based on
data from simulated medical cases.
Business/Chemistry - ChemCases
Cases which examine the legal and scientific issues in developing
some common commercial products such as Gatorade and Nutrasweet.
Scroll down to see cases.
Foreign Language - Che
tempo fa? - The Perfect Italian Climate
Pick the perfect climate in Italy for your dream villa based on Italian language
weather sites.
Geology - Earthquake
Safe Zones
Students research geologic maps and data in order to
provide recommendations for locations and techniques for
building earthquake resistant areas
in Turkey.
History - Lizzie
Borden Murder Case
Students explore authentic
documents, maps and testimony to determine guilt or innocence
of Lizzie Borden. See also the Amistad case about the legal status of the Africans who freed themselves on the Amistad while being transported as slaves.
Political Science / International Relations - ICONS
Simulations
A collection of cases
in which students simulate a foreign policy meeting or negotiation.
Soil Science - Chicago Soil: Tales from the Underground
Cases highlighting connections between urban planning/development
and ecology.
Technology - Information Architectrure for the Web Course
A web development course structured as a case where students pretend to judge other web sites for usability.
Benefits of Case Studies
Many courses use case studies in their curriculum to teach content, involve students with real life data or provide opportunities for students to put themselves in the decision maker's shoes. Some of the primary benefits include:
- Real World Context - Not only do students see how the course material applies to the world outside the classroom, but they get to see how data is often ambiguous or not clearly defined in many situations.
- Explore Multiple Perspectives - Cases in which a decision is required can be used to expose students to viewpoints from multiple sources and see why people may want different outcomes. Students can also see how a decision will impact different participants, both positively and negatively.
- Requires Critical Thinking and Analysis - Cases usually require students to analyze data in order to reach a conclusion. Since many assignments are open-ended, students can practice choosing appropriate analytic techniques as well.
- Students Synthesize Course Content - Many cases require students to pull in different analytic techniques and information from different areas of the course in order to provide an effective solution to the problem. In addition, a case assignment can require an initial statement of the facts and techniques used to reach the conclusion.
Some Case Types
There have been many books and magazine articles written on what is the "best type" of case study. In reality, there is no definite case study that is the best for all situations. The following is a broad list of selected case types along with suggestions help instructors choose case studies based on their teaching objectives.
1. Basic Case Structure
A "basic" case includes the following parts
- scenario
- a statement of the issue
- required assignment (paragraph, formal proposal, etc.),
Listed below are some interesting variations which can be beneficial for students.
2. Role Play
A common type of case assignment in which students are assigned roles to play in a scenario. Some scenarios can include developing a business plan or staging a mock trial; other role play scenarios can involve controversial issues. Role-playing is one way students can express different views in a relatively safe classroom climate.
TECH TIP: Students participating in role-playing scenarios can post their discussion on online message boards such as those in the ANGEL Course Management System so that the interactions can be observed by other class members. Another option is for student to video tape themselves and show it to the class for discussion.
3. Background
A simple type of case assignment or presentation in which students are exposed to a real-world scenario in order to learn basic facts of the topic. This type of presentation can be useful for students who better relate to content "in context."
For instance this case study on determining authorship for scientific articles the criteria of professional scientific authorship.
4. Webquest
A popular type of assignment in which students read and analyze authentic Web sites relating a particular issue or piece of course content and develop a synthesized answer at the end. Some examples of Webquest assignments can be found at San Diego State.
TECH TIP: Web sites can also be used to provide student access to important data, such as official government documents, official data, online images or for other types of case data posted online.
5. Diagnose the Problem and "In Tray Diagnosis"
Also known as a "complex" case, the objective is of this case type is for students to diagnose the underlying problem based on case data. These issues are not easy to distinguish because they are submerged in a mass of data that includes irrelevant material and external issues used as distractions (external and underlying issues are normally interdependent). This can also be an initial step for cases types in which a final decision is required.
A variant of this type of diagnosis case is the in-tray diagnosis in which students are presented of a number of documents that might be found in their in-trays. Some background information is provided, but learners are given a limited amount of time to determine and record their actions on each of the documents provided. This type of case study closely approximates real life job functions, and can be adapted to a number of professions. The in-tray case study is very useful for improving analytical skills, promoting creative thinking, and practicing decision-making.
6. Jigsaw
Students are assigned a subsection of a larger topic or case (either in teams or individually), and then are responsible for researching it and teaching or giving their research results to the rest of the team or class.
7. Live
The material for a live case study comes from events that are occurring at the present time. Usually only a newspaper article is used to provide students with the case study information. The instructor provides questions for thought in order to help begin the discussion. The answers are truly unknown when this case is presented. Only after a few days can the trainee's conclusions be compared with the actual decisions made. This is usually found in a follow-up newspaper article, or industry publication.
Because the information for a live case study is based on current events, it's difficult to plan and write the case study ahead of time (although lesser-known stories can be archived for future use in other types of case studies). When using a live case study, give the students up-to-date factual information from the beginning. A good summary exercise is to compare and evaluate a variety of solutions for the problem analyzed (i.e., comparing hypothetical solutions from the study group that contradict with the actual solutions that have been applied).
8. Pause the Action
This is similar to the "live" case study in that an ongoing scenario (e.g. a role-playing scenario) is paused in mid-action and the class is given an opportunity to predict the outcome or suggest solutions. This is also known as a "sequential" case.
9. Create a Case
Here, learners develop and present a case study to the group. The students can readily identify with this type of case since it is being conveyed (normally) by one of their peers. The advantages of this approach include greater learner involvement and interest, complex and challenging cases. In addition, there is an increased responsibility for students to research and contribute materials for the learning experience and depend less on the instructor who ordinarily "presents it all." This type of case study can be used as a final class exercise by using the information presented during the entire course.