what is live case study

The Ultimate Guide to Qualitative Research - Part 1: The Basics

• Introduction and overview
• What is qualitative research?
• What is qualitative data?
• Examples of qualitative data
• Qualitative vs. quantitative research
• Mixed methods
• Qualitative research preparation
• Theoretical perspective
• Theoretical framework
• Literature reviews

Research question

• Conceptual framework
• Conceptual vs. theoretical framework

Data collection

• Qualitative research methods
• Focus groups
• Observational research

What is a case study?

Applications for case study research, what is a good case study, process of case study design, benefits and limitations of case studies.

• Ethnographical research
• Ethical considerations
• Confidentiality and privacy
• Power dynamics
• Reflexivity

Case studies

Case studies are essential to qualitative research , offering a lens through which researchers can investigate complex phenomena within their real-life contexts. This chapter explores the concept, purpose, applications, examples, and types of case studies and provides guidance on how to conduct case study research effectively.

Whereas quantitative methods look at phenomena at scale, case study research looks at a concept or phenomenon in considerable detail. While analyzing a single case can help understand one perspective regarding the object of research inquiry, analyzing multiple cases can help obtain a more holistic sense of the topic or issue. Let's provide a basic definition of a case study, then explore its characteristics and role in the qualitative research process.

Definition of a case study

A case study in qualitative research is a strategy of inquiry that involves an in-depth investigation of a phenomenon within its real-world context. It provides researchers with the opportunity to acquire an in-depth understanding of intricate details that might not be as apparent or accessible through other methods of research. The specific case or cases being studied can be a single person, group, or organization – demarcating what constitutes a relevant case worth studying depends on the researcher and their research question .

Among qualitative research methods , a case study relies on multiple sources of evidence, such as documents, artifacts, interviews , or observations , to present a complete and nuanced understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. The objective is to illuminate the readers' understanding of the phenomenon beyond its abstract statistical or theoretical explanations.

Characteristics of case studies

Case studies typically possess a number of distinct characteristics that set them apart from other research methods. These characteristics include a focus on holistic description and explanation, flexibility in the design and data collection methods, reliance on multiple sources of evidence, and emphasis on the context in which the phenomenon occurs.

Furthermore, case studies can often involve a longitudinal examination of the case, meaning they study the case over a period of time. These characteristics allow case studies to yield comprehensive, in-depth, and richly contextualized insights about the phenomenon of interest.

The role of case studies in research

Case studies hold a unique position in the broader landscape of research methods aimed at theory development. They are instrumental when the primary research interest is to gain an intensive, detailed understanding of a phenomenon in its real-life context.

In addition, case studies can serve different purposes within research - they can be used for exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory purposes, depending on the research question and objectives. This flexibility and depth make case studies a valuable tool in the toolkit of qualitative researchers.

Remember, a well-conducted case study can offer a rich, insightful contribution to both academic and practical knowledge through theory development or theory verification, thus enhancing our understanding of complex phenomena in their real-world contexts.

What is the purpose of a case study?

Case study research aims for a more comprehensive understanding of phenomena, requiring various research methods to gather information for qualitative analysis . Ultimately, a case study can allow the researcher to gain insight into a particular object of inquiry and develop a theoretical framework relevant to the research inquiry.

Why use case studies in qualitative research?

Using case studies as a research strategy depends mainly on the nature of the research question and the researcher's access to the data.

Conducting case study research provides a level of detail and contextual richness that other research methods might not offer. They are beneficial when there's a need to understand complex social phenomena within their natural contexts.

The explanatory, exploratory, and descriptive roles of case studies

Case studies can take on various roles depending on the research objectives. They can be exploratory when the research aims to discover new phenomena or define new research questions; they are descriptive when the objective is to depict a phenomenon within its context in a detailed manner; and they can be explanatory if the goal is to understand specific relationships within the studied context. Thus, the versatility of case studies allows researchers to approach their topic from different angles, offering multiple ways to uncover and interpret the data .

The impact of case studies on knowledge development

Case studies play a significant role in knowledge development across various disciplines. Analysis of cases provides an avenue for researchers to explore phenomena within their context based on the collected data.

This can result in the production of rich, practical insights that can be instrumental in both theory-building and practice. Case studies allow researchers to delve into the intricacies and complexities of real-life situations, uncovering insights that might otherwise remain hidden.

Types of case studies

In qualitative research , a case study is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on the nature of the research question and the specific objectives of the study, researchers might choose to use different types of case studies. These types differ in their focus, methodology, and the level of detail they provide about the phenomenon under investigation.

Understanding these types is crucial for selecting the most appropriate approach for your research project and effectively achieving your research goals. Let's briefly look at the main types of case studies.

Exploratory case studies

Exploratory case studies are typically conducted to develop a theory or framework around an understudied phenomenon. They can also serve as a precursor to a larger-scale research project. Exploratory case studies are useful when a researcher wants to identify the key issues or questions which can spur more extensive study or be used to develop propositions for further research. These case studies are characterized by flexibility, allowing researchers to explore various aspects of a phenomenon as they emerge, which can also form the foundation for subsequent studies.

Descriptive case studies

Descriptive case studies aim to provide a complete and accurate representation of a phenomenon or event within its context. These case studies are often based on an established theoretical framework, which guides how data is collected and analyzed. The researcher is concerned with describing the phenomenon in detail, as it occurs naturally, without trying to influence or manipulate it.

Explanatory case studies

Explanatory case studies are focused on explanation - they seek to clarify how or why certain phenomena occur. Often used in complex, real-life situations, they can be particularly valuable in clarifying causal relationships among concepts and understanding the interplay between different factors within a specific context.

Intrinsic, instrumental, and collective case studies

These three categories of case studies focus on the nature and purpose of the study. An intrinsic case study is conducted when a researcher has an inherent interest in the case itself. Instrumental case studies are employed when the case is used to provide insight into a particular issue or phenomenon. A collective case study, on the other hand, involves studying multiple cases simultaneously to investigate some general phenomena.

Each type of case study serves a different purpose and has its own strengths and challenges. The selection of the type should be guided by the research question and objectives, as well as the context and constraints of the research.

The flexibility, depth, and contextual richness offered by case studies make this approach an excellent research method for various fields of study. They enable researchers to investigate real-world phenomena within their specific contexts, capturing nuances that other research methods might miss. Across numerous fields, case studies provide valuable insights into complex issues.

Critical information systems research

Case studies provide a detailed understanding of the role and impact of information systems in different contexts. They offer a platform to explore how information systems are designed, implemented, and used and how they interact with various social, economic, and political factors. Case studies in this field often focus on examining the intricate relationship between technology, organizational processes, and user behavior, helping to uncover insights that can inform better system design and implementation.

Health research

Health research is another field where case studies are highly valuable. They offer a way to explore patient experiences, healthcare delivery processes, and the impact of various interventions in a real-world context.

Case studies can provide a deep understanding of a patient's journey, giving insights into the intricacies of disease progression, treatment effects, and the psychosocial aspects of health and illness.

Asthma research studies

Specifically within medical research, studies on asthma often employ case studies to explore the individual and environmental factors that influence asthma development, management, and outcomes. A case study can provide rich, detailed data about individual patients' experiences, from the triggers and symptoms they experience to the effectiveness of various management strategies. This can be crucial for developing patient-centered asthma care approaches.

Other fields

Apart from the fields mentioned, case studies are also extensively used in business and management research, education research, and political sciences, among many others. They provide an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of real-world situations, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of various phenomena.

Case studies, with their depth and contextual focus, offer unique insights across these varied fields. They allow researchers to illuminate the complexities of real-life situations, contributing to both theory and practice.

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Understanding the key elements of case study design is crucial for conducting rigorous and impactful case study research. A well-structured design guides the researcher through the process, ensuring that the study is methodologically sound and its findings are reliable and valid. The main elements of case study design include the research question , propositions, units of analysis, and the logic linking the data to the propositions.

The research question is the foundation of any research study. A good research question guides the direction of the study and informs the selection of the case, the methods of collecting data, and the analysis techniques. A well-formulated research question in case study research is typically clear, focused, and complex enough to merit further detailed examination of the relevant case(s).

Propositions

Propositions, though not necessary in every case study, provide a direction by stating what we might expect to find in the data collected. They guide how data is collected and analyzed by helping researchers focus on specific aspects of the case. They are particularly important in explanatory case studies, which seek to understand the relationships among concepts within the studied phenomenon.

Units of analysis

The unit of analysis refers to the case, or the main entity or entities that are being analyzed in the study. In case study research, the unit of analysis can be an individual, a group, an organization, a decision, an event, or even a time period. It's crucial to clearly define the unit of analysis, as it shapes the qualitative data analysis process by allowing the researcher to analyze a particular case and synthesize analysis across multiple case studies to draw conclusions.

Argumentation

This refers to the inferential model that allows researchers to draw conclusions from the data. The researcher needs to ensure that there is a clear link between the data, the propositions (if any), and the conclusions drawn. This argumentation is what enables the researcher to make valid and credible inferences about the phenomenon under study.

Understanding and carefully considering these elements in the design phase of a case study can significantly enhance the quality of the research. It can help ensure that the study is methodologically sound and its findings contribute meaningful insights about the case.

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Conducting a case study involves several steps, from defining the research question and selecting the case to collecting and analyzing data . This section outlines these key stages, providing a practical guide on how to conduct case study research.

Defining the research question

The first step in case study research is defining a clear, focused research question. This question should guide the entire research process, from case selection to analysis. It's crucial to ensure that the research question is suitable for a case study approach. Typically, such questions are exploratory or descriptive in nature and focus on understanding a phenomenon within its real-life context.

Selecting and defining the case

The selection of the case should be based on the research question and the objectives of the study. It involves choosing a unique example or a set of examples that provide rich, in-depth data about the phenomenon under investigation. After selecting the case, it's crucial to define it clearly, setting the boundaries of the case, including the time period and the specific context.

Previous research can help guide the case study design. When considering a case study, an example of a case could be taken from previous case study research and used to define cases in a new research inquiry. Considering recently published examples can help understand how to select and define cases effectively.

Developing a detailed case study protocol

A case study protocol outlines the procedures and general rules to be followed during the case study. This includes the data collection methods to be used, the sources of data, and the procedures for analysis. Having a detailed case study protocol ensures consistency and reliability in the study.

The protocol should also consider how to work with the people involved in the research context to grant the research team access to collecting data. As mentioned in previous sections of this guide, establishing rapport is an essential component of qualitative research as it shapes the overall potential for collecting and analyzing data.

Collecting data

Gathering data in case study research often involves multiple sources of evidence, including documents, archival records, interviews, observations, and physical artifacts. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of the case. The process for gathering data should be systematic and carefully documented to ensure the reliability and validity of the study.

Analyzing and interpreting data

The next step is analyzing the data. This involves organizing the data , categorizing it into themes or patterns , and interpreting these patterns to answer the research question. The analysis might also involve comparing the findings with prior research or theoretical propositions.

Writing the case study report

The final step is writing the case study report . This should provide a detailed description of the case, the data, the analysis process, and the findings. The report should be clear, organized, and carefully written to ensure that the reader can understand the case and the conclusions drawn from it.

Each of these steps is crucial in ensuring that the case study research is rigorous, reliable, and provides valuable insights about the case.

The type, depth, and quality of data in your study can significantly influence the validity and utility of the study. In case study research, data is usually collected from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the case. This section will outline the various methods of collecting data used in case study research and discuss considerations for ensuring the quality of the data.

Interviews are a common method of gathering data in case study research. They can provide rich, in-depth data about the perspectives, experiences, and interpretations of the individuals involved in the case. Interviews can be structured , semi-structured , or unstructured , depending on the research question and the degree of flexibility needed.

Observations

Observations involve the researcher observing the case in its natural setting, providing first-hand information about the case and its context. Observations can provide data that might not be revealed in interviews or documents, such as non-verbal cues or contextual information.

Documents and artifacts

Documents and archival records provide a valuable source of data in case study research. They can include reports, letters, memos, meeting minutes, email correspondence, and various public and private documents related to the case.

These records can provide historical context, corroborate evidence from other sources, and offer insights into the case that might not be apparent from interviews or observations.

Physical artifacts refer to any physical evidence related to the case, such as tools, products, or physical environments. These artifacts can provide tangible insights into the case, complementing the data gathered from other sources.

Ensuring the quality of data collection

Determining the quality of data in case study research requires careful planning and execution. It's crucial to ensure that the data is reliable, accurate, and relevant to the research question. This involves selecting appropriate methods of collecting data, properly training interviewers or observers, and systematically recording and storing the data. It also includes considering ethical issues related to collecting and handling data, such as obtaining informed consent and ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of the participants.

Data analysis

Analyzing case study research involves making sense of the rich, detailed data to answer the research question. This process can be challenging due to the volume and complexity of case study data. However, a systematic and rigorous approach to analysis can ensure that the findings are credible and meaningful. This section outlines the main steps and considerations in analyzing data in case study research.

Organizing the data

The first step in the analysis is organizing the data. This involves sorting the data into manageable sections, often according to the data source or the theme. This step can also involve transcribing interviews, digitizing physical artifacts, or organizing observational data.

Categorizing and coding the data

Once the data is organized, the next step is to categorize or code the data. This involves identifying common themes, patterns, or concepts in the data and assigning codes to relevant data segments. Coding can be done manually or with the help of software tools, and in either case, qualitative analysis software can greatly facilitate the entire coding process. Coding helps to reduce the data to a set of themes or categories that can be more easily analyzed.

Identifying patterns and themes

After coding the data, the researcher looks for patterns or themes in the coded data. This involves comparing and contrasting the codes and looking for relationships or patterns among them. The identified patterns and themes should help answer the research question.

Interpreting the data

Once patterns and themes have been identified, the next step is to interpret these findings. This involves explaining what the patterns or themes mean in the context of the research question and the case. This interpretation should be grounded in the data, but it can also involve drawing on theoretical concepts or prior research.

Verification of the data

The last step in the analysis is verification. This involves checking the accuracy and consistency of the analysis process and confirming that the findings are supported by the data. This can involve re-checking the original data, checking the consistency of codes, or seeking feedback from research participants or peers.

Like any research method , case study research has its strengths and limitations. Researchers must be aware of these, as they can influence the design, conduct, and interpretation of the study.

Understanding the strengths and limitations of case study research can also guide researchers in deciding whether this approach is suitable for their research question . This section outlines some of the key strengths and limitations of case study research.

Benefits include the following:

• Rich, detailed data: One of the main strengths of case study research is that it can generate rich, detailed data about the case. This can provide a deep understanding of the case and its context, which can be valuable in exploring complex phenomena.
• Flexibility: Case study research is flexible in terms of design , data collection , and analysis . A sufficient degree of flexibility allows the researcher to adapt the study according to the case and the emerging findings.
• Real-world context: Case study research involves studying the case in its real-world context, which can provide valuable insights into the interplay between the case and its context.
• Multiple sources of evidence: Case study research often involves collecting data from multiple sources , which can enhance the robustness and validity of the findings.

On the other hand, researchers should consider the following limitations:

• Generalizability: A common criticism of case study research is that its findings might not be generalizable to other cases due to the specificity and uniqueness of each case.
• Time and resource intensive: Case study research can be time and resource intensive due to the depth of the investigation and the amount of collected data.
• Complexity of analysis: The rich, detailed data generated in case study research can make analyzing the data challenging.
• Subjectivity: Given the nature of case study research, there may be a higher degree of subjectivity in interpreting the data , so researchers need to reflect on this and transparently convey to audiences how the research was conducted.

Being aware of these strengths and limitations can help researchers design and conduct case study research effectively and interpret and report the findings appropriately.

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• Case Study | Definition, Examples & Methods

Case Study | Definition, Examples & Methods

Published on 5 May 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 30 January 2023.

A case study is a detailed study of a specific subject, such as a person, group, place, event, organisation, or phenomenon. Case studies are commonly used in social, educational, clinical, and business research.

A case study research design usually involves qualitative methods , but quantitative methods are sometimes also used. Case studies are good for describing , comparing, evaluating, and understanding different aspects of a research problem .

Table of contents

When to do a case study, step 1: select a case, step 2: build a theoretical framework, step 3: collect your data, step 4: describe and analyse the case.

A case study is an appropriate research design when you want to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world subject. It allows you to explore the key characteristics, meanings, and implications of the case.

Case studies are often a good choice in a thesis or dissertation . They keep your project focused and manageable when you don’t have the time or resources to do large-scale research.

You might use just one complex case study where you explore a single subject in depth, or conduct multiple case studies to compare and illuminate different aspects of your research problem.

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Once you have developed your problem statement and research questions , you should be ready to choose the specific case that you want to focus on. A good case study should have the potential to:

• Provide new or unexpected insights into the subject
• Challenge or complicate existing assumptions and theories
• Propose practical courses of action to resolve a problem
• Open up new directions for future research

Unlike quantitative or experimental research, a strong case study does not require a random or representative sample. In fact, case studies often deliberately focus on unusual, neglected, or outlying cases which may shed new light on the research problem.

If you find yourself aiming to simultaneously investigate and solve an issue, consider conducting action research . As its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes action at the same time, and is highly iterative and flexible. 

However, you can also choose a more common or representative case to exemplify a particular category, experience, or phenomenon.

While case studies focus more on concrete details than general theories, they should usually have some connection with theory in the field. This way the case study is not just an isolated description, but is integrated into existing knowledge about the topic. It might aim to:

• Exemplify a theory by showing how it explains the case under investigation
• Expand on a theory by uncovering new concepts and ideas that need to be incorporated
• Challenge a theory by exploring an outlier case that doesn’t fit with established assumptions

To ensure that your analysis of the case has a solid academic grounding, you should conduct a literature review of sources related to the topic and develop a theoretical framework . This means identifying key concepts and theories to guide your analysis and interpretation.

There are many different research methods you can use to collect data on your subject. Case studies tend to focus on qualitative data using methods such as interviews, observations, and analysis of primary and secondary sources (e.g., newspaper articles, photographs, official records). Sometimes a case study will also collect quantitative data .

The aim is to gain as thorough an understanding as possible of the case and its context.

In writing up the case study, you need to bring together all the relevant aspects to give as complete a picture as possible of the subject.

How you report your findings depends on the type of research you are doing. Some case studies are structured like a standard scientific paper or thesis, with separate sections or chapters for the methods , results , and discussion .

Others are written in a more narrative style, aiming to explore the case from various angles and analyse its meanings and implications (for example, by using textual analysis or discourse analysis ).

In all cases, though, make sure to give contextual details about the case, connect it back to the literature and theory, and discuss how it fits into wider patterns or debates.

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What Is a Case Study and Why You Should Use Them

Case studies can provide more insights into your business while helping you conduct further research with robust qualitative data analysis to learn more.

If you're in charge of running a company, then you're likely always looking for new ways to run your business more efficiently and increase your customer base while streamlining as many processes as possible.

Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to determine how to go about implementing the proper program in order to be successful. This is why many business owners opt to conduct a case study, which can help significantly. Whether you've been struggling with brand consistency or some other problem, the right case study can identify why your problem exists as well as provide a way to rectify it.

A case study is a great tool that many businesses aren't even aware exists, and there are marketing experts like Mailchimp who can provide you with step-by-step assistance with implementing a plan with a case study. Many companies discover that not only do they need to start a blog in order to improve business, but they also need to create specific and relevant blog titles.

If your company already has a blog, then optimizing your blog posts may be helpful. Regardless of the obstacles that are preventing you from achieving all your professional goals, a case study can work wonders in helping you reverse this issue.

What is a case study?

A case study is a comprehensive report of the results of theory testing or examining emerging themes of a business in real life context. Case studies are also often used in the healthcare industry, conducting health services research with primary research interest around routinely collected healthcare data.

However, for businesses, the purpose of a case study is to help small business owners or company leaders identify the issues and conduct further research into what may be preventing success through information collection, client or customer interviews, and in-depth data analysis.

Knowing the case study definition is crucial for any business owner. By identifying the issues that are hindering a company from achieving all its goals, it's easier to make the necessary corrections to promote success through influenced data collection.

Why are case studies important?

Now that we've answered the questions, "what is a case study?" Why are case studies important? Some of the top reasons why case studies are important include:

• Understand complex issues: Even after you conduct a significant amount of market research , you might have a difficult time understanding exactly what it means. While you might have the basics down, conducting a case study can help you see how that information is applied. Then, when you see how the information can make a difference in business decisions, it could make it easier to understand complex issues.
• Collect data: A case study can also help with data tracking . A case study is a data collection method that can help you describe the information that you have available to you. Then, you can present that information in a way the reader can understand.
• Conduct evaluations: As you learn more about how to write a case study, remember that you can also use a case study to conduct evaluations of a specific situation. A case study is a great way to learn more about complex situations, and you can evaluate how various people responded in that situation. By conducting a case study evaluation, you can learn more about what has worked well, what has not, and what you might want to change in the future.
• Identify potential solutions: A case study can also help you identify solutions to potential problems. If you have an issue in your business that you are trying to solve, you may be able to take a look at a case study where someone has dealt with a similar situation in the past. For example, you may uncover data bias in a specific solution that you would like to address when you tackle the issue on your own. If you need help solving a difficult problem, a case study may be able to help you.

Remember that you can also use case studies to target your audience . If you want to show your audience that you have a significant level of expertise in a field, you may want to publish some case studies that you have handled in the past. Then, when your audience sees that you have had success in a specific area, they may be more likely to provide you with their business. In essence, case studies can be looked at as the original method of social proof, showcasing exactly how you can help someone solve their problems.

What are the benefits of writing a business case study?

Although writing a case study can seem like a tedious task, there are many benefits to conducting one through an in depth qualitative research process.

• Industry understanding: First of all, a case study can give you an in-depth understanding of your industry through a particular conceptual framework and help you identify hidden problems that are preventing you from transcending into the business world.
• Develop theories: If you decide to write a business case study, it provides you with an opportunity to develop new theories. You might have a theory about how to solve a specific problem, but you need to write a business case study to see exactly how that theory has unfolded in the past. Then, you can figure out if you want to apply your theory to a similar issue in the future.
• Evaluate interventions: When you write a business case study that focuses on a specific situation you have been through in the past, you can uncover whether that intervention was truly helpful. This can make it easier to figure out whether you want to use the same intervention in a similar situation in the future.
• Identify best practices: If you want to stay on top of the best practices in your field, conducting case studies can help by allowing you to identify patterns and trends and develop a new list of best practices that you can follow in the future.
• Versatility: Writing a case study also provides you with more versatility. If you want to expand your business applications, you need to figure out how you respond to various problems. When you run a business case study, you open the door to new opportunities, new applications, and new techniques that could help you make a difference in your business down the road.
• Solve problems: Writing a great case study can dramatically improve your chances of reversing your problem and improving your business.
• These are just a few of the biggest benefits you might experience if you decide to publish your case studies. They can be an effective tool for learning, showcasing your talents, and teaching some of your other employees. If you want to grow your audience , you may want to consider publishing some case studies.

What are the limitations of case studies?

Case studies can be a wonderful tool for any business of any size to use to gain an in-depth understanding of their clients, products, customers, or services, but there are limitations.

One limitation of case studies is the fact that, unless there are other recently published examples, there is nothing to compare them to since, most of the time, you are conducting a single, not multiple, case studies.

Another limitation is the fact that most case studies can lack scientific evidence.

Types of case studies

There are specific types of case studies to choose from, and each specific type will yield different results. Some case study types even overlap, which is sometimes more favorable, as they provide even more pertinent data.

Here are overviews of the different types of case studies, each with its own theoretical framework, so you can determine which type would be most effective for helping you meet your goals.

Explanatory case studies

Explanatory case studies are pretty straightforward, as they're not difficult to interpret. This type of case study is best if there aren't many variables involved because explanatory case studies can easily answer questions like "how" and "why" through theory development.

Exploratory case studies

An exploratory case study does exactly what its name implies: it goes into specific detail about the topic at hand in a natural, real-life context with qualitative research.

The benefits of exploratory case studies are limitless, with the main one being that it offers a great deal of flexibility. Having flexibility when writing a case study is important because you can't always predict what obstacles might arise during the qualitative research process.

Collective case studies

Collective case studies require you to study many different individuals in order to obtain usable data.

Case studies that involve an investigation of people will involve many different variables, all of which can't be predicted. Despite this fact, there are many benefits of collective case studies, including the fact that it allows an ongoing analysis of the data collected.

Intrinsic case studies

This type of study differs from the others as it focuses on the inquiry of one specific instance among many possibilities.

Many people prefer these types of case studies because it allows them to learn about the particular instance that they wish to investigate further.

Instrumental case studies

An instrumental case study is similar to an intrinsic one, as it focuses on a particular instance, whether it's a person, organization, or something different.

One thing that differentiates instrumental case studies from intrinsic ones is the fact that instrumental case studies aren't chosen merely because a person is interested in learning about a specific instance.

Tips for writing a case study

If you have decided to write case studies for your company, then you may be unsure of where to start or which type to conduct.

However, it doesn't have to be difficult or confusing to begin conducting a case study that will help you identify ways to improve your business.

Here are some helpful tips for writing your case studies:

1. Your case study must be written in the proper format

When writing a case study, the format that you should be similar to this:

Administrative summary

The executive summary is an overview of what your report will contain, written in a concise manner while providing real-life context.

Despite the fact that the executive summary should appear at the beginning of your case studies, it shouldn't be written until you've completed the entire report because if you write it before you finish the report, this summary may not be completely accurate.

Key problem statement

In this section of your case study, you will briefly describe the problem that you hope to solve by conducting the study. You will have the opportunity to elaborate on the problem that you're focusing on as you get into the breadth of the report.

Problem exploration

This part of the case study isn't as brief as the other two, and it goes into more detail about the problem at hand. Your problem exploration must include why the identified problem needs to be solved as well as the urgency of solving it.

Additionally, it must include justification for conducting the problem-solving, as the benefits must outweigh the efforts and costs.

Proposed resolution

This case study section will also be lengthier than the first two. It must include how you propose going about rectifying the problem. The "recommended solution" section must also include potential obstacles that you might experience, as well as how these will be managed.

Furthermore, you will need to list alternative solutions and explain the reason the chosen solution is best. Charts can enhance your report and make it easier to read, and provide as much proof to substantiate your claim as possible.

Overview of monetary consideration

An overview of monetary consideration is essential for all case studies, as it will be used to convince all involved parties why your project should be funded. You must successfully convince them that the cost is worth the investment it will require. It's important that you stress the necessity for this particular case study and explain the expected outcome.

Execution timeline

In the execution times of case studies, you explain how long you predict it will take to implement your study. The shorter the time it will take to implement your plan, the more apt it is to be approved. However, be sure to provide a reasonable timeline, taking into consideration any additional time that might be needed due to obstacles.

Always include a conclusion in your case study. This is where you will briefly wrap up your entire proposal, stressing the benefits of completing the data collection and data analysis in order to rectify your problem.

2. Make it clear and comprehensive

You want to write your case studies with as much clarity as possible so that every aspect of the report is understood. Be sure to double-check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and more, as you don't want to submit a poorly-written document.

Not only would a poorly-written case study fail to prove that what you are trying to achieve is important, but it would also increase the chances that your report will be tossed aside and not taken seriously.

3. Don't rush through the process

Writing the perfect case study takes time and patience. Rushing could result in your forgetting to include information that is crucial to your entire study. Don't waste your time creating a study that simply isn't ready. Take the necessary time to perform all the research necessary to write the best case study possible.

Depending on the case study, conducting case study research could mean using qualitative methods, quantitative methods, or both. Qualitative research questions focus on non-numerical data, such as how people feel, their beliefs, their experiences, and so on.

Meanwhile, quantitative research questions focus on numerical or statistical data collection to explain causal links or get an in-depth picture.

It is also important to collect insightful and constructive feedback. This will help you better understand the outcome as well as any changes you need to make to future case studies. Consider using formal and informal ways to collect feedback to ensure that you get a range of opinions and perspectives.

4. Be confident in your theory development

While writing your case study or conducting your formal experimental investigation, you should have confidence in yourself and what you're proposing in your report. If you took the time to gather all the pertinent data collected to complete the report, don't second-guess yourself or doubt your abilities. If you believe your report will be amazing, then it likely will be.

5. Case studies and all qualitative research are long

It's expected that multiple case studies are going to be incredibly boring, and there is no way around this. However, it doesn't mean you can choose your language carefully in order to keep your audience as engaged as possible.

If your audience loses interest in your case study at the beginning, for whatever reason, then this increases the likelihood that your case study will not be funded.

Case study examples

If you want to learn more about how to write a case study, it might be beneficial to take a look at a few case study examples. Below are a few interesting case study examples you may want to take a closer look at.

• Phineas Gage by John Martin Marlow : One of the most famous case studies comes from the medical field, and it is about the story of Phineas Gage, a man who had a railroad spike driven through his head in 1848. As he was working on a railroad, an explosive charge went off prematurely, sending a railroad rod through his head. Even though he survived this incident, he lost his left eye. However, Phineas Gage was studied extensively over the years because his experiences had a significant, lasting impact on his personality. This served as a case study because his injury showed different parts of the brain have different functions.
• Kitty Genovese and the bystander effect : This is a tragic case study that discusses the murder of Kitty Genovese, a woman attacked and murdered in Queens, New York City. Shockingly, while numerous neighbors watched the scene, nobody called for help because they assumed someone else would. This case study helped to define the bystander effect, which is when a person fails to intervene during an emergency because other people are around.
• Henry Molaison and the study of memory : Henry Molaison lost his memory and suffered from debilitating amnesia. He suffered from childhood epilepsy, and medical professionals attempted to remove the part of his brain that was causing his seizures. He had a portion of his brain removed, but it completely took away his ability to hold memories. Even though he went on to live until the age of 82, he was always forced to live in the present moment, as he was completely unable to form new memories.

Case study FAQs

When should you do a case study.

There are several scenarios when conducting a case study can be beneficial. Case studies are often used when there's a "why" or "how" question that needs to be answered. Case studies are also beneficial when trying to understand a complex phenomenon, there's limited research on a topic, or when you're looking for practical solutions to a problem.

How can case study results be used to make business decisions?

You can use the results from a case study to make future business decisions if you find yourself in a similar situation. As you assess the results of a case study, you can identify best practices, evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention, generate new and creative ideas, or get a better understanding of customer needs.

How are case studies different from other research methodologies?

When compared to other research methodologies, such as experimental or qualitative research methodology, a case study does not require a representative sample. For example, if you are performing quantitative research, you have a lot of subjects that expand your sample size. If you are performing experimental research, you may have a random sample in front of you. A case study is usually designed to deliberately focus on unusual situations, which allows it to shed new light on a specific business research problem.

Writing multiple case studies for your business

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the idea of writing a case study and it seems completely foreign, then you aren't alone. Writing a case study for a business is a very big deal, but fortunately, there is help available because an example of a case study doesn't always help.

Mailchimp, a well-known marketing company that provides comprehensive marketing support for all sorts of businesses, can assist you with your case study, or you can review one of their own recently published examples.

Mailchimp can assist you with developing the most effective content strategy to increase your chances of being as successful as possible. Mailchimp's content studio is a great tool that can help your business immensely.

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What the Case Study Method Really Teaches

• Nitin Nohria

Seven meta-skills that stick even if the cases fade from memory.

It’s been 100 years since Harvard Business School began using the case study method. Beyond teaching specific subject matter, the case study method excels in instilling meta-skills in students. This article explains the importance of seven such skills: preparation, discernment, bias recognition, judgement, collaboration, curiosity, and self-confidence.

During my decade as dean of Harvard Business School, I spent hundreds of hours talking with our alumni. To enliven these conversations, I relied on a favorite question: “What was the most important thing you learned from your time in our MBA program?”

• Nitin Nohria is the George F. Baker Jr. and Distinguished Service University Professor. He served as the 10th dean of Harvard Business School, from 2010 to 2020.

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What Works Best When Teaching with Live Cases

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• Case Teaching
• Classroom Management
• Experiential Learning

B ringing live case experiences into the classroom—in which a corporate leader or team visits class and presents a business challenge that students then develop solutions for—provides immense value to both students and their professors. Through meaningful interaction with company leadership, students gain real-world experience, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and relevant content for their resumes and job interviews. We have both used live cases in our classes and have found them to be rewarding teaching experiences. Our students often indicate in their qualitative evaluations that the live case activity was their favorite portion of the course.

But despite these valuable benefits, many educators hesitate to include live cases in their classes because of drawbacks such as increased time spent preparing and teaching (which often means decreased research time), ambiguity for students in how to complete the assignment, and potential dissatisfaction from participating companies. Plus, it’s not always easy to find guidance on how best to implement live cases. Having been through this ourselves, that’s what we’re here to provide.

Educators often want to know how best to structure live cases, yet most implementation insights come from small samples or involve unique cases, leaving educators to question whether these suggestions will work in their own courses. To address this issue, we collected insights from a sample of 169 professors who teach with live cases to learn the best ways to design and implement them in any classroom.

Here we’ll share these professors’ guidance on common live case questions, such as how to get students into groups, how to assign those groups to companies, whether to have student groups compete, and when within the course’s structure the case should be introduced. Let’s dig in.

THE PROFESSORS WE SURVEYED

The 169 professors we surveyed were well experienced, with an average of 21 years of teaching, and were from various ranks within academia, including the following:

39.1 percent associate tenured professors

34.3 percent full tenured professors

9.5 percent assistant tenure-track professors

8.3 percent non–tenure-track professors

These professors hailed from institutions ranging from highly research intensive schools to highly teaching intensive schools with low research expectations. Of participants who disclosed their gender, 44.6 percent were women and 55.4 percent were men.

Lastly, these professors were dispersed globally:

71.6 percent from North America

9.5 percent from Europe

8.3 percent from Oceania

1.8 percent from Asia

0.6 percent from Africa

8.2 percent undisclosed

How Should Professors Assign Student Groups?

For live case projects, professors can assign students into groups in two ways:

Allow students to select and form their own groups

Randomly assign students to groups

Our surveyed professors were ambivalent here, with neither approach emerging as a clear winner. This points to the pros and cons of each approach. While self-selection may seem preferable, giving students agency to determine their own groups can cause anxiety for some students—those who are shy or may not feel comfortable with their peers in the class. Additionally, while teaming up with one’s own friends in the class may seem advantageous, it can decrease social pressure for project performance and thus reduce outcome quality. Random selection avoids these drawbacks but also takes the control away from students or the professor. This could result in unhappy groups or a lack of diversity among the groupings.

Figuring out the perfect number of students to have in each group can also be a challenge. Too few members may result in an overwhelming workload for each student, while too many members may result in an unbalanced workload, communication issues, and disengagement.

We asked professors what they felt was the optimal group size when using live cases. The results indicated that group sizes of four or five students may be optimal to assure that there is sufficient capacity to successfully complete the live case while avoiding uneven distribution of the work.

What’s the Best Way to Assign Student Groups to Companies?

Professors typically assign student groups to companies in three ways:

The whole class works with the same company and all groups tackle the same challenge.

The whole class works with the same company but each team tackles a different aspect of the company’s challenge.

Each student group works with a different company to tackle a challenge.

In our survey, all three approaches were considered viable, but there were significant differences in preference. The least preferred method was option two, working with a single company but dividing the project among groups. This may be because doing so prevents students from getting a comprehensive view of the case or because students find this approach less equitable (they may think one part of the case is more difficult than another, for example).

The mid-favorable option was option three, each group working with a different company. While this approach allows students to see the big picture of a case, it can be quite cumbersome for the professor, who would be required to interface with multiple companies each term.

The most favorable approach was option one, all student groups working on the same challenge for the same company. This approach helps minimize the professor’s preparation and coordination time and is more equitable to all students, as they all work on the same case.

Should Student Groups Compete?

Professors also grapple with whether to include a competitive component to live cases. Including competition—in which either the participating company or the professor selects a winning group—can spark constructive rivalry and increase student effort. On the other hand, educators may prefer to avoid competition and evaluate case projects on an absolute basis.

The professors we surveyed indicated that including competition was moderately important. Respondents see productive outcomes when student groups compete: Students value being named the winners, and school accolades are often important to them as they look to build their resume.

“Through meaningful interaction with company leadership, students gain real-world experience, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and relevant content for their resumes and job interviews.”

We have used competitive components when teaching live cases, and we similarly found that this approach stimulates student interest. Additionally, in our experience, splitting the grading portion and the competitive portion of the live case is the most effective approach. As the educators, we maintain control over the primary grade—which reduces student anxiety and avoids issues in grading equity—and the participating company selects the winners, who receive extra credit and prizes. This approach allows for a competitive spirit in our class while preserving grading control and consistency.

When Should We Introduce the Live Case?

Professors can integrate live cases into their classes in two different ways:

Successively. Here, the traditional class is taught in the first part of the course and the live case happens in the second part of the course. With this approach, students have the full breadth of course knowledge to apply to the case.

Concurrently. Here, the professor intermixes traditional class sessions with live case sessions throughout the semester. This approach allows for lock-step integration of case and course content for student application. Furthermore, this approach may allow more time in the semester for students to work on the case.

In our survey, professors indicated they were much more in favor of the concurrent approach than they were of the successive approach. They felt that the concurrent approach offers more immediate application of course concepts to the live case, thus improving outcomes.

Our Findings, In Brief

Our research suggests the following:

The best way to assign students to groups (by student self-selection or random assignment) is unclear. We recommend experimenting with both approaches to evaluate which works best in your specific context.

Group sizes of four or five students may yield optimal outcomes.

A live case structure in which all student groups work on the same project for one company is preferable.

Having teams compete against each other is advisable.

Concurrent (versus successive) live case inclusion in the course is a superior approach.

Once we uncovered these findings, we changed the way we approach live case delivery. For example, one of us had been consistently randomly assigning student groups but will now experiment with self-selection to find out which works better. We had also been using larger group sizes (six or more students) but will now try smaller groups (four or five students) to see if results improve. And while we’d been leaning away from group competitions during the pandemic to minimize stress for our students, we’re now more confident in the idea of having student groups compete against each other.

Realizing the Value of Live Cases

Overall, the professors we surveyed believe there is value to using live cases in their curriculum—and we agree. Live cases increase student engagement, provide real-world application, facilitate community service, give students valuable resume content, and yield satisfaction for professors. Including live cases makes us proud of our classes and secure in knowing that our curriculum is relevant to today’s businesses because we are dealing directly with them.

While live cases can be challenging for professors and students alike, they are worthwhile, and we highly recommend using them to bring home course concepts and further develop students’ knowledge and skills. They also provide a meaningful way of connecting classrooms with the business community.

We hope these insights boost the success of your live cases, help you better engage your students and ease their anxieties, keep featured companies happy, and reduce your workload. We’ve found that once the mechanics are optimized, there’s really no limit to the types of courses live cases can be used in.

Dr. Jeff Johnson (PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln) is an associate professor of marketing at UMKC’s Henry W. Bloch School of Management. Prior to academia, Dr. Johnson worked in inside sales, field sales, product management, and division management at Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, Nebraska and Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Shannon Cummins (PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln) is an associate professor of marketing and entrepreneurship at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she founded UNO’s Center for Professional Sales. Active in the pedagogy and sales communities, Dr. Cummins has published more than 20 journal articles. She has been honored with college-wide awards at two prior institutions for her teaching and service.

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What is the Case Study Method?

Overview Dropdown up

Overview dropdown down, celebrating 100 years of the case method at hbs.

The 2021-2022 academic year marks the 100-year anniversary of the introduction of the case method at Harvard Business School. Today, the HBS case method is employed in the HBS MBA program, in Executive Education programs, and in dozens of other business schools around the world. As Dean Srikant Datar's says, the case method has withstood the test of time.

Case Discussion Preparation Details Expand All Collapse All

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How Cases Unfold In the Classroom

How cases unfold in the classroom dropdown up, how cases unfold in the classroom dropdown down, preparation guidelines expand all collapse all, read the professor's assignment or discussion questions read the professor's assignment or discussion questions dropdown down, read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case dropdown down, reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes dropdown down, note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again dropdown down, how to prepare for case discussions dropdown up, how to prepare for case discussions dropdown down, read the professor's assignment or discussion questions, read the first few paragraphs and then skim the case, reread the case, underline text, and make margin notes, note the key problems on a pad of paper and go through the case again, case study best practices expand all collapse all, prepare prepare dropdown down, discuss discuss dropdown down, participate participate dropdown down, relate relate dropdown down, apply apply dropdown down, note note dropdown down, understand understand dropdown down, case study best practices dropdown up, case study best practices dropdown down, participate, what can i expect on the first day dropdown down.

Most programs begin with registration, followed by an opening session and a dinner. If your travel plans necessitate late arrival, please be sure to notify us so that alternate registration arrangements can be made for you. Please note the following about registration:

HBS campus programs – Registration takes place in the Chao Center.

India programs – Registration takes place outside the classroom.

Other off-campus programs – Registration takes place in the designated facility.

What happens in class if nobody talks? Dropdown down

Professors are here to push everyone to learn, but not to embarrass anyone. If the class is quiet, they'll often ask a participant with experience in the industry in which the case is set to speak first. This is done well in advance so that person can come to class prepared to share. Trust the process. The more open you are, the more willing you’ll be to engage, and the more alive the classroom will become.

Does everyone take part in "role-playing"? Dropdown down

Professors often encourage participants to take opposing sides and then debate the issues, often taking the perspective of the case protagonists or key decision makers in the case.

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What Is a Case Study?

Weighing the pros and cons of this method of research

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Cara Lustik is a fact-checker and copywriter.

Verywell / Colleen Tighe

• Pros and Cons

What Types of Case Studies Are Out There?

Where do you find data for a case study, how do i write a psychology case study.

A case study is an in-depth study of one person, group, or event. In a case study, nearly every aspect of the subject's life and history is analyzed to seek patterns and causes of behavior. Case studies can be used in many different fields, including psychology, medicine, education, anthropology, political science, and social work.

The point of a case study is to learn as much as possible about an individual or group so that the information can be generalized to many others. Unfortunately, case studies tend to be highly subjective, and it is sometimes difficult to generalize results to a larger population.

While case studies focus on a single individual or group, they follow a format similar to other types of psychology writing. If you are writing a case study, we got you—here are some rules of APA format to reference.  

At a Glance

A case study, or an in-depth study of a person, group, or event, can be a useful research tool when used wisely. In many cases, case studies are best used in situations where it would be difficult or impossible for you to conduct an experiment. They are helpful for looking at unique situations and allow researchers to gather a lot of˜ information about a specific individual or group of people. However, it's important to be cautious of any bias we draw from them as they are highly subjective.

What Are the Benefits and Limitations of Case Studies?

A case study can have its strengths and weaknesses. Researchers must consider these pros and cons before deciding if this type of study is appropriate for their needs.

One of the greatest advantages of a case study is that it allows researchers to investigate things that are often difficult or impossible to replicate in a lab. Some other benefits of a case study:

• Allows researchers to capture information on the 'how,' 'what,' and 'why,' of something that's implemented
• Gives researchers the chance to collect information on why one strategy might be chosen over another
• Permits researchers to develop hypotheses that can be explored in experimental research

On the other hand, a case study can have some drawbacks:

• It cannot necessarily be generalized to the larger population
• Cannot demonstrate cause and effect
• It may not be scientifically rigorous
• It can lead to bias

Researchers may choose to perform a case study if they want to explore a unique or recently discovered phenomenon. Through their insights, researchers develop additional ideas and study questions that might be explored in future studies.

It's important to remember that the insights from case studies cannot be used to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables. However, case studies may be used to develop hypotheses that can then be addressed in experimental research.

Case Study Examples

There have been a number of notable case studies in the history of psychology. Much of  Freud's work and theories were developed through individual case studies. Some great examples of case studies in psychology include:

• Anna O : Anna O. was a pseudonym of a woman named Bertha Pappenheim, a patient of a physician named Josef Breuer. While she was never a patient of Freud's, Freud and Breuer discussed her case extensively. The woman was experiencing symptoms of a condition that was then known as hysteria and found that talking about her problems helped relieve her symptoms. Her case played an important part in the development of talk therapy as an approach to mental health treatment.
• Phineas Gage : Phineas Gage was a railroad employee who experienced a terrible accident in which an explosion sent a metal rod through his skull, damaging important portions of his brain. Gage recovered from his accident but was left with serious changes in both personality and behavior.
• Genie : Genie was a young girl subjected to horrific abuse and isolation. The case study of Genie allowed researchers to study whether language learning was possible, even after missing critical periods for language development. Her case also served as an example of how scientific research may interfere with treatment and lead to further abuse of vulnerable individuals.

Such cases demonstrate how case research can be used to study things that researchers could not replicate in experimental settings. In Genie's case, her horrific abuse denied her the opportunity to learn a language at critical points in her development.

This is clearly not something researchers could ethically replicate, but conducting a case study on Genie allowed researchers to study phenomena that are otherwise impossible to reproduce.

There are a few different types of case studies that psychologists and other researchers might use:

• Collective case studies : These involve studying a group of individuals. Researchers might study a group of people in a certain setting or look at an entire community. For example, psychologists might explore how access to resources in a community has affected the collective mental well-being of those who live there.
• Descriptive case studies : These involve starting with a descriptive theory. The subjects are then observed, and the information gathered is compared to the pre-existing theory.
• Explanatory case studies : These   are often used to do causal investigations. In other words, researchers are interested in looking at factors that may have caused certain things to occur.
• Exploratory case studies : These are sometimes used as a prelude to further, more in-depth research. This allows researchers to gather more information before developing their research questions and hypotheses .
• Instrumental case studies : These occur when the individual or group allows researchers to understand more than what is initially obvious to observers.
• Intrinsic case studies : This type of case study is when the researcher has a personal interest in the case. Jean Piaget's observations of his own children are good examples of how an intrinsic case study can contribute to the development of a psychological theory.

The three main case study types often used are intrinsic, instrumental, and collective. Intrinsic case studies are useful for learning about unique cases. Instrumental case studies help look at an individual to learn more about a broader issue. A collective case study can be useful for looking at several cases simultaneously.

The type of case study that psychology researchers use depends on the unique characteristics of the situation and the case itself.

There are a number of different sources and methods that researchers can use to gather information about an individual or group. Six major sources that have been identified by researchers are:

• Archival records : Census records, survey records, and name lists are examples of archival records.
• Direct observation : This strategy involves observing the subject, often in a natural setting . While an individual observer is sometimes used, it is more common to utilize a group of observers.
• Documents : Letters, newspaper articles, administrative records, etc., are the types of documents often used as sources.
• Interviews : Interviews are one of the most important methods for gathering information in case studies. An interview can involve structured survey questions or more open-ended questions.
• Participant observation : When the researcher serves as a participant in events and observes the actions and outcomes, it is called participant observation.
• Physical artifacts : Tools, objects, instruments, and other artifacts are often observed during a direct observation of the subject.

If you have been directed to write a case study for a psychology course, be sure to check with your instructor for any specific guidelines you need to follow. If you are writing your case study for a professional publication, check with the publisher for their specific guidelines for submitting a case study.

Here is a general outline of what should be included in a case study.

Section 1: A Case History

This section will have the following structure and content:

Background information : The first section of your paper will present your client's background. Include factors such as age, gender, work, health status, family mental health history, family and social relationships, drug and alcohol history, life difficulties, goals, and coping skills and weaknesses.

Description of the presenting problem : In the next section of your case study, you will describe the problem or symptoms that the client presented with.

Describe any physical, emotional, or sensory symptoms reported by the client. Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions related to the symptoms should also be noted. Any screening or diagnostic assessments that are used should also be described in detail and all scores reported.

Your diagnosis : Provide your diagnosis and give the appropriate Diagnostic and Statistical Manual code. Explain how you reached your diagnosis, how the client's symptoms fit the diagnostic criteria for the disorder(s), or any possible difficulties in reaching a diagnosis.

Section 2: Treatment Plan

This portion of the paper will address the chosen treatment for the condition. This might also include the theoretical basis for the chosen treatment or any other evidence that might exist to support why this approach was chosen.

• Cognitive behavioral approach : Explain how a cognitive behavioral therapist would approach treatment. Offer background information on cognitive behavioral therapy and describe the treatment sessions, client response, and outcome of this type of treatment. Make note of any difficulties or successes encountered by your client during treatment.
• Humanistic approach : Describe a humanistic approach that could be used to treat your client, such as client-centered therapy . Provide information on the type of treatment you chose, the client's reaction to the treatment, and the end result of this approach. Explain why the treatment was successful or unsuccessful.
• Psychoanalytic approach : Describe how a psychoanalytic therapist would view the client's problem. Provide some background on the psychoanalytic approach and cite relevant references. Explain how psychoanalytic therapy would be used to treat the client, how the client would respond to therapy, and the effectiveness of this treatment approach.
• Pharmacological approach : If treatment primarily involves the use of medications, explain which medications were used and why. Provide background on the effectiveness of these medications and how monotherapy may compare with an approach that combines medications with therapy or other treatments.

This section of a case study should also include information about the treatment goals, process, and outcomes.

When you are writing a case study, you should also include a section where you discuss the case study itself, including the strengths and limitiations of the study. You should note how the findings of your case study might support previous research. 

In your discussion section, you should also describe some of the implications of your case study. What ideas or findings might require further exploration? How might researchers go about exploring some of these questions in additional studies?

Need More Tips?

Here are a few additional pointers to keep in mind when formatting your case study:

• Never refer to the subject of your case study as "the client." Instead, use their name or a pseudonym.
• Read examples of case studies to gain an idea about the style and format.
• Remember to use APA format when citing references .

Crowe S, Cresswell K, Robertson A, Huby G, Avery A, Sheikh A. The case study approach .  BMC Med Res Methodol . 2011;11:100.

Crowe S, Cresswell K, Robertson A, Huby G, Avery A, Sheikh A. The case study approach . BMC Med Res Methodol . 2011 Jun 27;11:100. doi:10.1186/1471-2288-11-100

Gagnon, Yves-Chantal.  The Case Study as Research Method: A Practical Handbook . Canada, Chicago Review Press Incorporated DBA Independent Pub Group, 2010.

Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods . United States, SAGE Publications, 2017.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Home » Case Study – Methods, Examples and Guide

Case Study – Methods, Examples and Guide

Table of Contents

A case study is a research method that involves an in-depth examination and analysis of a particular phenomenon or case, such as an individual, organization, community, event, or situation.

It is a qualitative research approach that aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the case being studied. Case studies typically involve multiple sources of data, including interviews, observations, documents, and artifacts, which are analyzed using various techniques, such as content analysis, thematic analysis, and grounded theory. The findings of a case study are often used to develop theories, inform policy or practice, or generate new research questions.

Types of Case Study

Types and Methods of Case Study are as follows:

Single-Case Study

A single-case study is an in-depth analysis of a single case. This type of case study is useful when the researcher wants to understand a specific phenomenon in detail.

For Example , A researcher might conduct a single-case study on a particular individual to understand their experiences with a particular health condition or a specific organization to explore their management practices. The researcher collects data from multiple sources, such as interviews, observations, and documents, and uses various techniques to analyze the data, such as content analysis or thematic analysis. The findings of a single-case study are often used to generate new research questions, develop theories, or inform policy or practice.

Multiple-Case Study

A multiple-case study involves the analysis of several cases that are similar in nature. This type of case study is useful when the researcher wants to identify similarities and differences between the cases.

For Example, a researcher might conduct a multiple-case study on several companies to explore the factors that contribute to their success or failure. The researcher collects data from each case, compares and contrasts the findings, and uses various techniques to analyze the data, such as comparative analysis or pattern-matching. The findings of a multiple-case study can be used to develop theories, inform policy or practice, or generate new research questions.

Exploratory Case Study

An exploratory case study is used to explore a new or understudied phenomenon. This type of case study is useful when the researcher wants to generate hypotheses or theories about the phenomenon.

For Example, a researcher might conduct an exploratory case study on a new technology to understand its potential impact on society. The researcher collects data from multiple sources, such as interviews, observations, and documents, and uses various techniques to analyze the data, such as grounded theory or content analysis. The findings of an exploratory case study can be used to generate new research questions, develop theories, or inform policy or practice.

Descriptive Case Study

A descriptive case study is used to describe a particular phenomenon in detail. This type of case study is useful when the researcher wants to provide a comprehensive account of the phenomenon.

For Example, a researcher might conduct a descriptive case study on a particular community to understand its social and economic characteristics. The researcher collects data from multiple sources, such as interviews, observations, and documents, and uses various techniques to analyze the data, such as content analysis or thematic analysis. The findings of a descriptive case study can be used to inform policy or practice or generate new research questions.

Instrumental Case Study

An instrumental case study is used to understand a particular phenomenon that is instrumental in achieving a particular goal. This type of case study is useful when the researcher wants to understand the role of the phenomenon in achieving the goal.

For Example, a researcher might conduct an instrumental case study on a particular policy to understand its impact on achieving a particular goal, such as reducing poverty. The researcher collects data from multiple sources, such as interviews, observations, and documents, and uses various techniques to analyze the data, such as content analysis or thematic analysis. The findings of an instrumental case study can be used to inform policy or practice or generate new research questions.

Case Study Data Collection Methods

Here are some common data collection methods for case studies:

Interviews involve asking questions to individuals who have knowledge or experience relevant to the case study. Interviews can be structured (where the same questions are asked to all participants) or unstructured (where the interviewer follows up on the responses with further questions). Interviews can be conducted in person, over the phone, or through video conferencing.

Observations

Observations involve watching and recording the behavior and activities of individuals or groups relevant to the case study. Observations can be participant (where the researcher actively participates in the activities) or non-participant (where the researcher observes from a distance). Observations can be recorded using notes, audio or video recordings, or photographs.

Documents can be used as a source of information for case studies. Documents can include reports, memos, emails, letters, and other written materials related to the case study. Documents can be collected from the case study participants or from public sources.

Surveys involve asking a set of questions to a sample of individuals relevant to the case study. Surveys can be administered in person, over the phone, through mail or email, or online. Surveys can be used to gather information on attitudes, opinions, or behaviors related to the case study.

Artifacts are physical objects relevant to the case study. Artifacts can include tools, equipment, products, or other objects that provide insights into the case study phenomenon.

How to conduct Case Study Research

Conducting a case study research involves several steps that need to be followed to ensure the quality and rigor of the study. Here are the steps to conduct case study research:

• Define the research questions: The first step in conducting a case study research is to define the research questions. The research questions should be specific, measurable, and relevant to the case study phenomenon under investigation.
• Select the case: The next step is to select the case or cases to be studied. The case should be relevant to the research questions and should provide rich and diverse data that can be used to answer the research questions.
• Collect data: Data can be collected using various methods, such as interviews, observations, documents, surveys, and artifacts. The data collection method should be selected based on the research questions and the nature of the case study phenomenon.
• Analyze the data: The data collected from the case study should be analyzed using various techniques, such as content analysis, thematic analysis, or grounded theory. The analysis should be guided by the research questions and should aim to provide insights and conclusions relevant to the research questions.
• Draw conclusions: The conclusions drawn from the case study should be based on the data analysis and should be relevant to the research questions. The conclusions should be supported by evidence and should be clearly stated.
• Validate the findings: The findings of the case study should be validated by reviewing the data and the analysis with participants or other experts in the field. This helps to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings.
• Write the report: The final step is to write the report of the case study research. The report should provide a clear description of the case study phenomenon, the research questions, the data collection methods, the data analysis, the findings, and the conclusions. The report should be written in a clear and concise manner and should follow the guidelines for academic writing.

Examples of Case Study

Here are some examples of case study research:

• The Hawthorne Studies : Conducted between 1924 and 1932, the Hawthorne Studies were a series of case studies conducted by Elton Mayo and his colleagues to examine the impact of work environment on employee productivity. The studies were conducted at the Hawthorne Works plant of the Western Electric Company in Chicago and included interviews, observations, and experiments.
• The Stanford Prison Experiment: Conducted in 1971, the Stanford Prison Experiment was a case study conducted by Philip Zimbardo to examine the psychological effects of power and authority. The study involved simulating a prison environment and assigning participants to the role of guards or prisoners. The study was controversial due to the ethical issues it raised.
• The Challenger Disaster: The Challenger Disaster was a case study conducted to examine the causes of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. The study included interviews, observations, and analysis of data to identify the technical, organizational, and cultural factors that contributed to the disaster.
• The Enron Scandal: The Enron Scandal was a case study conducted to examine the causes of the Enron Corporation’s bankruptcy in 2001. The study included interviews, analysis of financial data, and review of documents to identify the accounting practices, corporate culture, and ethical issues that led to the company’s downfall.
• The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster : The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster was a case study conducted to examine the causes of the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan in 2011. The study included interviews, analysis of data, and review of documents to identify the technical, organizational, and cultural factors that contributed to the disaster.

Application of Case Study

Case studies have a wide range of applications across various fields and industries. Here are some examples:

Business and Management

Case studies are widely used in business and management to examine real-life situations and develop problem-solving skills. Case studies can help students and professionals to develop a deep understanding of business concepts, theories, and best practices.

Case studies are used in healthcare to examine patient care, treatment options, and outcomes. Case studies can help healthcare professionals to develop critical thinking skills, diagnose complex medical conditions, and develop effective treatment plans.

Case studies are used in education to examine teaching and learning practices. Case studies can help educators to develop effective teaching strategies, evaluate student progress, and identify areas for improvement.

Social Sciences

Case studies are widely used in social sciences to examine human behavior, social phenomena, and cultural practices. Case studies can help researchers to develop theories, test hypotheses, and gain insights into complex social issues.

Law and Ethics

Case studies are used in law and ethics to examine legal and ethical dilemmas. Case studies can help lawyers, policymakers, and ethical professionals to develop critical thinking skills, analyze complex cases, and make informed decisions.

Purpose of Case Study

The purpose of a case study is to provide a detailed analysis of a specific phenomenon, issue, or problem in its real-life context. A case study is a qualitative research method that involves the in-depth exploration and analysis of a particular case, which can be an individual, group, organization, event, or community.

The primary purpose of a case study is to generate a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the case, including its history, context, and dynamics. Case studies can help researchers to identify and examine the underlying factors, processes, and mechanisms that contribute to the case and its outcomes. This can help to develop a more accurate and detailed understanding of the case, which can inform future research, practice, or policy.

Case studies can also serve other purposes, including:

• Illustrating a theory or concept: Case studies can be used to illustrate and explain theoretical concepts and frameworks, providing concrete examples of how they can be applied in real-life situations.
• Developing hypotheses: Case studies can help to generate hypotheses about the causal relationships between different factors and outcomes, which can be tested through further research.
• Providing insight into complex issues: Case studies can provide insights into complex and multifaceted issues, which may be difficult to understand through other research methods.
• Informing practice or policy: Case studies can be used to inform practice or policy by identifying best practices, lessons learned, or areas for improvement.

Advantages of Case Study Research

There are several advantages of case study research, including:

• In-depth exploration: Case study research allows for a detailed exploration and analysis of a specific phenomenon, issue, or problem in its real-life context. This can provide a comprehensive understanding of the case and its dynamics, which may not be possible through other research methods.
• Rich data: Case study research can generate rich and detailed data, including qualitative data such as interviews, observations, and documents. This can provide a nuanced understanding of the case and its complexity.
• Holistic perspective: Case study research allows for a holistic perspective of the case, taking into account the various factors, processes, and mechanisms that contribute to the case and its outcomes. This can help to develop a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the case.
• Theory development: Case study research can help to develop and refine theories and concepts by providing empirical evidence and concrete examples of how they can be applied in real-life situations.
• Practical application: Case study research can inform practice or policy by identifying best practices, lessons learned, or areas for improvement.
• Contextualization: Case study research takes into account the specific context in which the case is situated, which can help to understand how the case is influenced by the social, cultural, and historical factors of its environment.

Limitations of Case Study Research

There are several limitations of case study research, including:

• Limited generalizability : Case studies are typically focused on a single case or a small number of cases, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The unique characteristics of the case may not be applicable to other contexts or populations, which may limit the external validity of the research.
• Biased sampling: Case studies may rely on purposive or convenience sampling, which can introduce bias into the sample selection process. This may limit the representativeness of the sample and the generalizability of the findings.
• Subjectivity: Case studies rely on the interpretation of the researcher, which can introduce subjectivity into the analysis. The researcher’s own biases, assumptions, and perspectives may influence the findings, which may limit the objectivity of the research.
• Limited control: Case studies are typically conducted in naturalistic settings, which limits the control that the researcher has over the environment and the variables being studied. This may limit the ability to establish causal relationships between variables.
• Time-consuming: Case studies can be time-consuming to conduct, as they typically involve a detailed exploration and analysis of a specific case. This may limit the feasibility of conducting multiple case studies or conducting case studies in a timely manner.
• Resource-intensive: Case studies may require significant resources, including time, funding, and expertise. This may limit the ability of researchers to conduct case studies in resource-constrained settings.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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What Is a Case Study & Customer Success Story?

Learn the definition of a business case study, its meaning, benefits & use in marketing. Get best methods to research, write & design business case studies.

Dominika Krukowska

10 minute read

Short answer

What is a business case study.

A case study, also called customer success story, is a product marketing document used to show how your clients solved a business problem with the aid of your product or service. Case studies include statistics, quotes, and concrete examples with the goal of credibly demonstrating your capability to deliver results.

Bad case studies are not just ineffective - they lead to lost sales

A poorly done business case study can be a real bottleneck in your marketing funnel.

Sure, you have to have them; they're a non-negotiable part of the buying process. But if they're not compelling, you might as well not waste your time on it.

It’s bad enough that it’s hard to make a case study that gets results. But making a weak case study can actually cause you to look less attractive than the competition and cost you leads and sales.

Sometimes more is less.

This post is your roadmap to transforming your case studies from forgettable fillers to customer magnets. And ultimately, turning more prospects into customers.

Let's jump in!

What are the benefits of case studies in business and marketing?

Case studies are an essential part of any well-oiled marketing engine. They demonstrate real-life applications, showcase your unique value, build trust, address concerns, and connect with your audience.

Let’s get a bit into detail.

Demonstrating real-life applications: Business case studies show your product or service in action, offering a peek into how it can be used in real-world situations. It's like offering a test drive before asking customers to commit.

Showing your unique value: Customer success stories let your product or service shine. They illustrate exactly what you bring to the table and why customers should choose you over anyone else.

Building trust: Think of business case studies as your brand's personal advocate. They show how you've helped others succeed, which makes potential customers more likely to trust you with their business.

Easing concerns and objections: Got customers sitting on the fence? Business case studies can gently nudge them towards you by addressing common doubts or worries. It's about showing potential customers that you can deliver what they need.

Connecting with your audience: A good business case study is like a mirror—your potential customers should be able to see themselves in it. It's all about tapping into their hopes, their worries, and their needs.

What to include in a case study?

A successful business case study is the product of a strategic blend of essential components. Each one carries its weight, shaping a narrative that is both engaging and impactful.

Introduction: Set the stage with a one-liner summarizing your unique value proposition. Tailor it to grab your readers' attention and pique their curiosity.

Company overview: Give your audience a snapshot of your customer's business, helping them understand who they are and what they do.

The problem/challenge: Dive into the nitty-gritty of the issue your customer was facing (from their perspective), making it relatable to your audience.

Your solution: Detail how your product or service swooped in as the game-changing solution, addressing the customer's problem.

Results: Showcase the impressive outcome of your solution, demonstrating tangible success that can't be ignored. Back it up with relevant data and metrics.

Customer quotes/testimonials: Add authenticity and credibility to your case study with direct quotes from the customer who experienced the transformation first-hand.

Next steps: Conclude with a call to action, guiding the reader on what to do next, whether it's contacting your company or booking a product demo.

Here's an example of a case study designed according to this structure:

UX Case study

This template for case studies in UX and UI comes with tons of space for text and many visual elements such as charts, timelines, or graphs. This one is perfect for those case studies in which you need to explain the process in greater detail.

What makes a good case study?

A good case study follows a story format of problem-solution-impact. It includes key details of the client’s problem, how they solved it with the help of your product, and the impact it brought them.

8 critical components of a successful case study:

• Talking from the client’s perspective
• Addressing well-defined business problem
• Telling the WHY, not just the WHAT and the HOW
• Giving concrete example
• Backing the story with statistics and facts
• Weaving quotes and testimonials into the story
• Making the content interactive
• Including a call to action

In principle, a top-tier business case study is more than a testimonial.

Think of it as a blockbuster movie, where your customer is the hero Luke Skywalker, the problem is the looming death star, and your solution is the trusted guide Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This gives readers an engaging narrative that not only captures interest but also propels action.

Now let's take a look behind-the-scenes. at the key elements that make a good business case study.

1. Story from the client’s perspective

The key to a captivating case study lies in whose story you're telling. Let your customer be the hero, not your product or service. By focusing on their journey, you'll create a narrative that resonates with your audience, making them more invested in the outcome.

A great example is Adobe’s case study with Under Armour :

In this case study, Adobe tells the story of how Under Armour used Adobe Experience Manager Assets to streamline and enhance their creative asset management. The case study is presented from Under Armour's point of view, providing a customer-centric perspective.

2. Common but well-defined business problem

The best case studies revolve around relatable, well-articulated problems. The issue should be common enough for your audience to identify with, yet specific enough to avoid being generic.

Shoot for the sweet spot that makes a specific segment of your prospective clients say, "That sounds like us!"

A great example is Slack’s case study with HubSpot :

HubSpot, a well-known inbound marketing , sales, and service software provider, grappled with the challenge of maintaining internal communication and collaboration across a rapidly expanding global team.

This case study by Slack outlines how they addressed HubSpot's problem - a common issue faced by many growing businesses.

3. Tell the WHY, not just the WHAT and the HOW

The magic of a compelling case study lies in the mystery of 'why' your solution works. It's crucial to share what happened and how, but digging into the reasons behind the decisions and outcomes adds mystery to your story and keeps your audience intrigued.

An example of this is Marketo’s case study with Panasonic :

In this business case study, Marketo digs into why Panasonic decided to implement a new marketing automation solution.

The case study doesn't just focus on the solutions Marketo provided, but also highlights the reasons behind Panasonic's decision, adding depth to the narrative.

4. Concrete examples

Details make your case study relatable and tangible. Incorporate specifics - who did what , when , where , and how . These concrete examples help your audience visualize the scenario, making your narrative more compelling and memorable.

Zendesk's case study with LendingClub presents concrete examples:

It follows how LendingClub used Zendesk's customer service software to improve their customer support operations.

The case study offers a clear narrative about the problems LendingClub faced, the solutions provided by Zendesk features , and the impact these solutions had on LendingClub's business.

Numbers lend authority and credibility that words often cannot. They provide concrete evidence of your solution's impact, creating a stronger case for your product or service.

But remember, these stats should be significant, reliable, and, most importantly, show real impact on your customer’s bottom line.

Here's an example of a great animated numbers slide:

6. Quotes and testimonials

There's nothing like a testimonial from a happy customer to boost your credibility. Direct quotes add a personal touch and authenticity to your case study, making it more believable and trustworthy.

Here’s a great testimonial example from Hotjar:

7. Interactive design

Incorporating interactive design elements will make your case studies stand out, but more importantly, drive high-engagement.

Use eye-catching graphics, use clickable elements like tabs, videos, and menus, include live graphs, animated flipbooks , and so on. Use these elements tactically in order to break up your text into digestible chunks and make your content easier to read and to navigate.

Here’s an example of an interactive business case study:

Marketing case study

White glove delivery with a focus on process optimization explained by a compelling story.

8. Call to action

A good case study doesn't just end; it leads your reader to the next step. Be it trying your product, booking a demo, getting in touch with your team, or reading another case study - your call to action should be clear, compelling, and easy to follow.

Here’s what a clear, singular call to action should look like:

If you want to learn more practical tips, check out our post on how to create a business case study that converts .

How to use a case study in business and marketing?

Often underestimated and underused , business case studies have the power to leverage real-life narratives to shape opinions, influence decision-making, and ultimately, drive conversions.

Let me show you how you can use that power to your advantage.

1. Used as sales collateral

In the world of sales, your case study can be the difference between a polite “we’ll consider it” and a bought-in “show me how it works!”

Picture this: you're reaching out to potential clients, and you slip in a case study showcasing how you've helped a similar business overcome a common hurdle. It's not just a pitch, it's proof you can do it.

But the magic doesn't stop there. Weave these real-life success stories into your sales presentations , and watch as they accelerate your pipeline.

They provide tangible evidence of your value proposition, helping you remove objections, demonstrate value, and differentiate yourself in a crowded market.

2. Used as marketing collateral

I) Use on your website:

On the marketing front, case studies can significantly boost your self-serve conversion rate . By featuring them on your website, you're offering visitors a peek into your track record of success - letting them feel like they're missing out.

II) Add to brochures and product catalogs:

Just sprinkle in a few case studies, and you've just added an extra layer of credibility.

III) Leverage social media:

Share your case studies on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, to promote your business; and start a conversation around your brand.

IV) Include in PPC campaigns on Google AdWords:

Add case studies as site links to give potential customers another reason to click. It's like saying, "Don't just take our word for it, see how we've helped businesses like yours."

Here’s an example of what it looks like:

Obstacles for creating business case studies & how to overcome them

Creating captivating business case studies is essential, but let's be real: it's not a walk in the park.

So let's buckle up and navigate the most common roadblocks and learn how to steer around them.

Hurdle 1: Spotting the right stories feels like finding a needle in a haystack.

Hold on there! Locating customers ready to share their success tales might seem daunting, but it's not mission impossible. Here's the deal: people love to share success.

How to get clients to share their success stories

Collaborate with your customer success team to identify delighted or triumphant clients

Seek out customers who are scoring high with a good NPS score

Team up with sales to single out recent renewals or upsells

Engage with super active customers on social media

Ask your team during meetings about any standout customers

Reach out to customers who have spoken at your events

Connect with Customer Advisory Board members

Do this and you're bound to uncover some star storytellers.

Hurdle 2: Customers might not want to get involved.

Let's flip the script! Instead of begging for a favor, portray this as an opportunity for customers to amplify their industry status.

Make it a hassle-free and rewarding experience for them. Provide data, draft points for discussion, and be their cheerleader throughout the journey.

Remember, appreciation is infectious. A heartfelt thank you can turn a one-time participant into a long-term advocate.

Hurdle 3: It’s a mammoth task.

Creating business case studies can feel like a marathon, particularly when you're juggling multiple roles.

Delegating the task to an experienced industry writer can save your team a ton of time and energy. You might find the right person within your network, or you might need to explore industry-specific job boards.

Creating a structured timeline and using a shared tool can help keep everyone on track and in the loop.

Here's how to streamline the process of creating a case study:

Extend an invitation to the potential customer

Connect them with the lead writer

Conduct an internal review of the first draft before sending it to the customer

Incorporate their feedback into the second draft

Get final approval for the final draft

Publish and promote your case study!

How to design a business case study?

Your case study design supports the text like your body language supports what you’re saying when you talk. It adds that extra layer of emotional meaning you can't quite put into words.

Luckily, even if you're not a design expert, there are tools to help you add that extra emotional depth to your content. Let’s review a few tools that help you design your case study.

Design using a website builder

If you’d prefer to get hands-on with your design, website builders like Wix or Squarespace offer a versatile platform for creating a business case study from scratch.

They provide a blank canvas and a wealth of design elements, giving you the liberty to choose each piece and place it just where you want it.

It takes time and a keen eye for design to make all the elements come together seamlessly, but the end result can be rewarding.

Design using a case study maker

A case study maker gives you pre-set elements ready for use. All you need to do is drop in your content, and the tool takes care of the aesthetics and user experience.

It's a much more efficient way to create a case study with all its unique building blocks than using a website builder.

We know, since we see how fast our users create astounding case studies using our own case study creator. Try for yourself .

Don’t design - use a template

Templates provide an immediate and easy to work with structure for your design and content.

But beyond that, our gallery of interactive case study templates gives you time-tested designs we know have high-engagement and killer conversion (based on more than 100K reading sessions we’ve analyzed).

Grab a template - and you can skip the long design process, save time, money and frustration, and simply start creating.

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

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Live Case Study: The Project

• evaluate the business of the firm, and its strengths or weaknesses.
• conduct an in-depth study of a deal that the bank or FI has been involved in.
• examine the competitive context: who were competing players, and how did your institution stack up against them?
• evaluate how well the deal has survived, after the fact..
• This is a group project. Each group must have about five individuals in it.
• Each person in the group will pick one or more aspects of firm and its deal to analyze: for example, corporate strategy, range of businesses, geographical and product policies, and how the deal fits in with these.
• One person should study the financial institution itself
• One person should perform a comparative industry analysis, looking at other companies in the same financial services business.
• One or more people should research the deal
• At the end of the process, the group will write one report. In this report, the results will be presented as a whole rather than as five separate parts.
• The financial institution may be large or small, domestic or international, a commercial or investment bank or money manager.
• I'd choose one for which plenty of information is publically available.
• Examples: Chase; Fidelity; BNP; Morgan Stanley Dean Witter; AIG.
• Perhaps an interesting "story" can be your guide. You'll find stories daily the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Institutional Investor, among other places.
• A 5-10 page case study, plus appendices, plus references including websites.
• The appendices should include relevant backup info including relevant financials, industry tables if appropriate, a table showing the sequence of events if appropriate, and any key articles.
• The case should conclude with a pithy summary of any major insights gained or lessons learned from the study.
• Each group will receive one grade and every group member will receive the same grade.
• No attempt will be made to allow for intra-group differences in effort.

Virtual Consulting Projects & Live Case Studies

Real companies, real-world problems, real-time collaboration. access companies in the most in-demand markets and industries worldwide with our virtual consulting projects., virtual suite.

Participating in a consulting project or live case study with Virtual Suite by Southbridge Access offers students the opportunity to collaborate with entrepreneurs, business executives and NGO’s from around the world. Virtual Suite clients enjoy direct access to leading global executives and groundbreaking entrepreneurs via our unparalleled global network. Our partner companies are handpicked by our experienced program management team, and projects are customized to meet each of our client’s unique needs. Leave the logistics to us; our turnkey delivery process allows faculty and staff to focus on what is important: your students.

Consulting Projects vs. Live Case Studies

Consulting projects.

• Small groups working with one or more companies
• Duration: two weeks to a semester

Live Case Studies

• One company per class
• Duration: one week to a semester

Our consulting projects and live case studies are available to suit a wide variety of curricular realities. From intensive 5-day immersions to quarter long projects, we are happy find solutions that work for each client’s unique realities. Contact us to learn more about how we can adapt a consulting project to meet your curriculum.

Methodology

Prior to the execution of a consulting project or live case study, Southbridge Access thoroughly researches, vets, and selects candidate companies varying in size and across a wide range of industries. We are present throughout the entire duration of the project, from facilitating a formal handoff between company executives and your university representatives, timeline and communication management, and last minute replacement of companies in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Virtual consulting projects and live case studies are adaptable to the focus of your university’s program. SBA has executed programs across a number of concentrations, including international business, healthcare, communications, agriculture and architecture.

Consulting projects and live case studies are available in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Course Level

Consulting projects and live case studies are available for all levels of business students, from undergraduate, MBA to Executive MBA.

What our partner companies are saying about our collaboration

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Live Case Study Series

The Live Case Study Series offers students an insider perspective of what it is like to be a family entrepreneur. During each event, a guest with a strong family entrepreneurship background presents a challenge they are facing at the nexus of business, family and personal. In a highly interactive discussion, students form groups to discuss how this issue relates to their personal situation and to come up with solutions to the guest’s challenge.

The Live Case Studies Series is supported by a generous donation from Daniel Fireman M’00 and the The Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation.

Highlights of Past Events

Thursday, november 21st, 2019 live case study with the ceo of one of the largest real estate family businesses in the u.s..

Join IFE Executive Director Lauri Union for this fun, interactive live case study featuring the CEO of a Florida-based real estate conglomerate. We are not sharing the name because that would give away too much about the case! In our live case study, you will have the chance to hear this CEO’s story and a dilemma they have faced. Decide what decision you would make and then find out what really happened! Our guest will talk about how they balance family legacy and obligation, while staying true to their own personal aspirations. 

Participants will apply concepts from design thinking to this family context and decide which path would best serve their family business and themselves.

April 4th, 2019 Live Case Study with Nick Raglan, Co-President of Gorilla Glue Company 

In this fun, interactive live case study, Professor Ed Marram and IFE Executive Director Lauri Union, talked to Nick Ragland, MBA '00 how his family grew tiny Lutz Tool into a rapidly growing international brand powerhouse. At this juncture, the family has some major decisions to make. Participants  applied concepts from design thinking to this family context and then held their own Ragland family meeting to decide what they would do.

October 15th, 2018 Live Case Study: Leadership in Wealth Management & Family Entrpreneurship with Maria Elena Lagomasino, CEO and Santiago Ulloa, Founder WE Family Offices

Get a unique insider look into the world of women’s leadership in the top echelons of the finance world and the challenges of Latin American and US families with large businesses. Maria Elena (Mel) Lagomasino and Santiago Ulloa are Managing Partners at WE Family Offices, a global family office guiding ultra high net worth families to manage their wealth as a successful business enterprise. Participate in a Live Case Study Challenge around a pivot point in Ms Lagomasino’s career. What would you do?

September 12th, 2018 Live Case Study with Kunal Amalean '12, Digital Engineer, MAS Holdings

Learn how Kunal Amalean is charting his own course and acheiving his entrepreneurship vision in his family business, MAS Holdings. MAS Holdings is one of the largest apparel manufacturers in Sri Lanka and is noted for its emphasis on ethical and sustainable work environments. Its customers include Victoria's Secrets, Nike, Lululemon, and PVH.

A preschooler’s death, delayed improvements, a $9.5-million settlement: The true cost of L.A.’s traffic safety failures

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Good morning. It’s Tuesday, June 4 . Here’s what you need to know to start your day.

• Why did Los Angeles wait 4½ years after a 4-year-old girl’s death to add safer traffic signals?
• ‘Heat dome’ brings California’s first heat wave of the season.
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A case study in L.A.’s failures to deliver safer streets

At Olympic Boulevard and Normandie Avenue in Koreatown, traffic flows a bit differently lately.

Drivers wait for green arrows to make left turns. Next, crosswalk signals let pedestrians make their way into the intersection several seconds before cars get their own green light. The sequence reduces the risks that drivers will hit pedestrians, cyclists or other drivers.

This change was a long time coming. Koreatown is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods for pedestrians in L.A., particularly for schoolchildren walking to Mariposa-Nabi Primary Center.

Children such as Alessa Fajardo.

The 4-year-old and her mother, Erica, were holding hands as they legally crossed Olympic via the Normandie crosswalk on Oct. 16, 2019. A woman driving a sport utility vehicle turned left from the opposite direction and struck them. Erica survived, but Alessa died from traumatic brain injuries.

I’ve been reporting on what happened to Alessa and the city’s response to her death for several years. It’s a case study in how U.S. cities are failing to make streets safer for pedestrians, despite often saying that safety is their top priority.

It also reveals the true cost of traffic violence. Foremost is the incalculable human toll, but there’s also what it costs the city to make streets safer — and the price it ends up paying for not making improvements sooner.

Alessa was kind-hearted, bright, adventurous, tenacious and brave, her parents say

Alessa would have turned nine in April.

“She’s been gone longer than the amount of time that she was with us,” Alessa’s father, Jaime Fajardo, told me recently. “We see our kids growing up and we always think: what would Alessa be like in this situation?... I think we’re just gonna carry that on for the rest of our lives.”

Erica said she strives to summon Alessa’s bravery for her two other children, 6-year-old Clarissa and 3-year-old Alexis, named in honor of the sister he’ll never meet.

“She would always say … ‘I’m not gonna give up, mommy. I can do it!’” Erica said.

Erica said she still deals with pain from the crash and mostly avoids walking in Koreatown now. Mariposa-Nabi is about a five-minute walk from the family’s apartment, but she drives Clarissa there.

“I’m trying to break free from that,” she said. “Just small steps at a time.”

The Fajardos filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of L.A. in 2021, arguing that officials knew the intersection was dangerous years before Alessa was killed but failed to act. The case was settled late last year , with the city paying Erica and Jaime $9.5 million.

The city waited 4.5 years after a driver killed Alessa to add left turn signals

In the years since her death, Alessa’s family, concerned residents and street safety advocates all called on the city to upgrade traffic signals at the intersection.

“We really don’t want it to happen to another family here,” Jaime said.

L.A.’s Department of Transportation recommended adding protected left turn signals there in January 2020.

But it took more than 4½ years — longer than Alessa’s life — for those new signals to be activated. For Erica and Jaime, their absence was a daily, glaring reminder of the city’s failure.

Why did it take so long? The short answer is actually a doozy.

In L.A., street safety improvements depend on individual councilmembers identifying funding and authorizing LADOT to conduct the work.

Neither former District 10 Councilmember Herb Wesson, who represented the district when Alessa was killed, nor his successor, Mark Ridley-Thomas, secured that funding. Ridley-Thomas was indicted on federal corruption charges , suspended from the council and later convicted and removed from his seat in late March 2022. Nobody represented the district until Heather Hutt was appointed that September.

Hutt identified and allocated $530,000 for the new signals in June 2023, but the installation work did not begin until April 2024, four months after the family’s suit against the city was settled.

District 10 staff would not comment on the record about why they could not secure the funds in 2020, 2021, 2022 and early 2023.

“The moment our office could add left-hand traffic signals on Olympic Blvd. & Normandie Ave., we moved immediately,” Hutt said in a statement to The Times.

L.A. knew the Koreatown school zone was hazardous years before Alessa’s death

The city had long documented the dangers pedestrians face in Koreatown — especially schoolchildren.

“It takes a tragedy like this to get the city to actually do something and react,” said Court Purdy, the attorney who represented the Fajardo family in their lawsuit against L.A. “They fear bad press more than big judgments.”

In 2013, nearly two years before Alessa was born, the city identified LAUSD schools with the “highest need” for traffic safety improvements. Mariposa-Nabi ranked 13th out of the district’s more than 1,000 campuses.

In 2017, city officials dubbed Koreatown the fourth-most dangerous neighborhood for pedestrians and cyclists in L.A.

In the year before Alessa’s death, LADOT proposed a slate of safety improvements for streets around Mariposa-Nabi, which included leading pedestrian intervals, or LPIs, which allow pedestrians a head start in crosswalks.

LPIs are one of the “ proven safety countermeasures ” that allow pedestrians to “better establish their presence in the crosswalk” before drivers enter an intersection, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The intersection where Alessa and Erica were hit was supposed to get an LPI upgrade, but the work was never funded. The city eventually added LPIs at Olympic and Normandie more than a year after Alessa was killed there .

“Protecting children traveling to and from school is a key focus of LADOT’s safety improvement efforts,” LADOT spokesperson Colin Sweeney said in a statement.

Adding an LPI to a traffic signal costs about $2,500 before labor and less than $5,000 overall, Sweeney said. Installing left-turn signals at the intersection cost $530,000, he noted. The city paid the Fajardos $9.5 million to settle their lawsuit for their daughter’s death.

“They had the knowledge back in 2013 to have prevented [Alessa’s] 2019 death,” Purdy said. “It’s like peeling back the onion and you realize: ‘Oh my gosh, they’re actually not doing anything.’”

The city attorney’s office declined to comment on the Fajardos’ lawsuit or the settlement.

In more than four years of reporting since Alessa was killed, one thing I’ve learned is that traffic killings contain layers of responsibility. In tomorrow’s newsletter, I’ll explore more of those layers.

Today’s top stories

Climate and environment

• ‘Heat dome’ brings California’s first heat wave of the season , with triple-digit temperatures.
• Extreme heat forecast for Western U.S. may kick off a sweltering summer. Here’s the outlook .
• The oil industry asks the Supreme Court to block climate change lawsuits from California and other states .
• Despite the spread of bird flu, lawmakers in some states are pushing to legalize raw milk .

Mexico’s presidential election

• Mexico elects leftist Claudia Sheinbaum as the first female president in its history.
• Opinion: Mexico’s election of Claudia Sheinbaum is historic . But should we be celebrating it?
• Gustavo Arellano: What Mexico’s historic presidential election can teach the U.S.

More big stories

• Rubio’s Coastal Grill, citing rising business costs, abruptly shuts down 48 restaurants in California .
• Tension, distrust, anxiety pervade UCLA: ‘Everywhere you turn there’s a security guard.’
• Nasty surprise for new homeowners: Daily fines for previous owners’ pot operation.
• Corral fire in San Joaquin County injures two firefighters and burns one home .
• Cyndi Lauper sets four California shows as she plans to kick off farewell tour this fall.
• Spotify raises prices on premium plans to boost profits .
• Caitlin Clark’s rough weekend in the WNBA: What happened?
• Adele tells a homophobic heckler to ‘shut up’ on first day of Pride Month in Las Vegas.
• Cleaners find 235 pounds of meth at an Airbnb , then U-Haul arrives for pickup, police say; two arrested.
• ‘Shark!’ Swimmers race to save bleeding man off Southern California beach.
• Did Home Depot staff bolt planters to an L.A. street to deter RV parking? The city is investigating.
• Who will run Gaza after the war? Israel? Hamas? The U.N.?

Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here .

Commentary and opinions

• LZ Granderson: Caitlin Clark can handle the bruises that come with being a WNBA rookie.
• Dylan Hernández: Dodgers are winning again, but who’s convinced this team will win in October?
• Editorial: Lawmakers, quit trying to evade your constituents .
• Sammy Roth: Why razing Joshua trees for solar farms isn’t always crazy .
• Michael Hiltzik: Anatomy of a smear — Fauci faces the House GOP’s clown show about COVID .
• Jonah Goldberg: Could the guilty verdict cost Donald Trump the election? Sure it could.

Today’s great reads

A child porn conviction and angry ‘Star Trek’ fans: Inside the drama around a new sci-fi museum . The opening of the Sci-Fi World museum in Santa Monica has been plagued by multiple delays and angry “Star Trek” fans. Staff and volunteers have quit and claim the founder, who raised money for the project and was later convicted for possession of child pornography, remains active in the museum, which the founder denies.

Other great reads

• After 13 years, a homeless Angeleno broke into her old, vacant home and wants to stay forever.
• Can money conquer death? How wealthy people are trying to live forever.

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to [email protected] .

For your downtime

• 🍔 🍣 The best places to eat and drink in L.A. this month , according to our food writers.
• 🖼️ Nine immersive experiences in Las Vegas you should book ASAP .
• 📺 Thirteen essential LGBTQ+ television shows (and a parade) to watch during Pride Month.
• 🧑‍🍳 Here’s a recipe for penne with caramelized cauliflower, garlic and chile .
• ✏️ Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games .

And finally ... a great photo

Show us your favorite place in California! We’re running low on submissions. Send us photos that scream California and we may feature them in an edition of Essential California.

Today’s great photo is from Associated Press photographer Fernando Llano. Llano caught this photograph as Claudia Sheinbaum addressed supporters early Monday in Mexico City after the National Electoral Institute announced she held an irreversible lead in the election.

Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Ryan Fonseca, reporter Defne Karabatur, fellow Andrew Campa, Sunday reporter Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor and Saturday reporter Christian Orozco, assistant editor Stephanie Chavez, deputy metro editor Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

Check our top stories , topics and the latest articles on latimes.com .

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Ryan Fonseca writes the Los Angeles Times’ Essential California newsletter. A lifelong SoCal native, he has worked in a diverse mix of newsrooms across L.A. County, including radio, documentary, print and television outlets. Most recently, he was an associate editor for LAist.com and KPCC-FM (89.3) public radio, covering transportation and mobility. He returns to The Times after previously working as an assistant web editor for Times Community News, where he helped manage the websites and social media presence of the Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press and La Cañada Valley Sun. Fonseca studied journalism at Cal State Northridge, where he now teaches the next generation of journalists to develop their voice and digital skills.

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Latest human H5N1 bird flu case in US is 1st to cause respiratory symptoms

This infection, tied to an ongoing outbreak in cows, is the first in the U.S. to cause respiratory symptoms, but not the first H5N1 case in the world to do so.

A third human case of bird flu has been linked to the ongoing outbreak in cows on U.S. dairy farms — and this one came with respiratory symptoms, such as cough, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported May 30.

Officials first became aware of bird flu spreading among U.S. dairy cows in March, and since then, the viral disease has been detected among cattle on farms in nine states. The type of bird flu spreading is known as H5N1, which has sporadically infected individual humans in the past but has never spread widely from person to person. However, these rare human infections can sometimes be fatal, and there's concern about the virus picking up the necessary mutations to spread easily through the populace.

Prior to the outbreak in cows, only one person in the U.S. had ever been infected with H5N1, as far as we know. Now, since the outbreak began, three people have likely been infected via exposure to sick cows. The first person infected by a cow was in Texas , and the second was in Michigan ; both are dairy-farm workers and developed only eye infections from the virus before recovering.

The third, newly reported case linked to cow exposure was also in Michigan but on a different farm. The person was given treatment and is now isolating at home as their symptoms resolve. This infection is notable because it is the first human H5N1 case in the U.S. associated with respiratory symptoms. 

Related: H5N1: What to know about the bird flu cases in cows, goats and people  

"This is the first human case of H5 in the United States to report more typical symptoms of acute respiratory illness associated with influenza virus infection, including A(H5N1) viruses," the CDC reported. "The patient reported upper respiratory tract symptoms, including cough without fever, and eye discomfort with watery discharge." 

In humans, bird flu viruses, including H5N1, can cause both mild symptoms — including pink eye, cough, sore throat, runny nose and body aches — as well as severe ones, such as pneumonia, difficulty breathing and seizures. If severe, the infections can be fatal , but antiviral drugs available for seasonal flu can help treat the disease.

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Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

Finding another case of human H5N1 infection is "not surprising," given the extent of the spread of this virus in dairy cows, the CDC says. H5N1 was also already known to cause respiratory symptoms — however, seeing this is still concerning because, generally, symptoms like coughing and sneezing can make it easier for a virus to spread between people, The New York Times reported .

Each time the virus jumps to people, it gains an opportunity to pick up mutations that make it capable of spreading sustainably between humans — a chain of events that, in the worst scenario, could precipitate a pandemic . 

— 21-year-old student dies of H5N1 bird flu in Vietnam

— 1st polar bear death from bird flu spells trouble for species

— China reported 1st human death from H3N8 bird flu, WHO says

With that possibility in mind, the CDC continues to closely monitor for unusual flu activity across the country. So far, "there has been no sign of unusual influenza activity in people, including no increase in emergency room visits for influenza and no increase in laboratory detection of human influenza cases," the agency reported. 

Scientists are also looking to see if the virus has picked up any mutations that would raise the risk of spread, although thus far, there's no evidence of person-to-person transmission. 

Based on the available information, the risk of spread to the general public remains low, the CDC noted. As always, health authorities still recommend against drinking raw milk . Dairy-farm workers currently face the highest risk of exposure, the agency emphasized. 

Some experts have argued that federal officials should be screening many more workers for H5N1 and offering optional experimental bird flu vaccines, The New York Times reported. At this point, only about 40 farm workers have consented to being tested for H5N1, while a few hundred are being monitored for possible symptoms, according to news reports.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Ever wonder why some people build muscle more easily than others or why freckles come out in the sun ? Send us your questions about how the human body works to [email protected] with the subject line "Health Desk Q," and you may see your question answered on the website!

Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She holds a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains heavily involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.

H5N1 bird flu has spread to human from cow in 2nd probable case, CDC reports

H5N1: What to know about the bird flu cases in cows, goats and people

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Hunter Biden trial live updates: Prosecutors, Hunter Biden's lawyers address drug use

Opening arguments began Tuesday in Hunter Biden’s felony gun trial, kicking off the presentation of evidence in the historic case  featuring the first criminal charges against a president’s child.

Hunter Biden  faces three felonies over whether he lied on a federal gun form  in 2018 that asked if he was addicted to drugs. On Monday, a jury of 12 was seated in the federal courthouse in Wilmington. One juror dropped out Tuesday for lack of transportation to the courthouse.

Biden’s relatives – his wife, sister and First Lady Jill Biden – attended jury selection Monday and the opening arguments Tuesday.

Justice Department special counsel David Weiss’ team began by laying out the case against Biden and saying “no one is above the law.” Defense lawyers were expected to follow later in the day. The first witnesses is expected to be an FBI agent who investigated the case.

Follow along for live updates from USA TODAY Network.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Hunter Biden’s cash withdrawals for lack of credit card, not for drugs: defense

Prosecutors argued that Hunter Biden routinely withdrew large amounts of case, including $5,000 the day he bought a gun in October 2018.

But rather than paying for drugs, the president’s son didn’t have a credit card and was paying thousands for drug recovery programs, according to defense lawyer Abbe Lowell.

“He withdrew cash for lots of things, which are the opposite of buying drugs,” Lowell said. Biden spent “thousands and thousands” on recovery and rehab around that time, Lowell said.

– Xerxes Wilson

Hunter Biden’s defense disputes timing of drug abuse

Prosecutors and defense lawyers at Hunter Biden’s trial disagreed about when he was using illegal drugs – and whether the timeline affects the gun charges against him.

Prosecutors said his drug abuse occurred before, during and after buying the gun in October 2018. Biden is charged with lying on a federal form and to the gun dealer about his drug abuse, which he chronicled in a 2021 memoir.

But his lawyer, Abbe Lowell, disputed the timing of his drug use. The federal form asked whether a person “is” using drugs rather than “have you ever been,” Lowell said.

“Hunter was not using when he bought the gun,” Lowell said. “When the form wants to ask someone ‘have you ever done something,’ the form knows how to do that.”

Gun shop cut corners to sell Hunter Biden a gun: defense

The gun shop that sold Hunter Biden the pistol at issue in his federal trial didn’t receive verification of his address, as they are legally required to do, according to defense lawyer Abbe Lowell.

“A sale is a sale and that was their goal that day,” Lowell said. “You will hear they wanted it done quickly.”

Biden’s defense is arguing he didn’t knowingly lie when he filled out the form in October 2018 denying he used illegal drugs because he had recently completed a rehabilitation program.

Lowell argued that the form defined terms such as fugitive, but not portions asking about drug use. He implored jurors to listen to testimony from the gun dealer, to determine whether they knew what the drug-related terms meant.

Prosecutors can’t prove Hunter Biden believed he was addicted: defense

Abbe Lowell, one of Hunter Biden’s defense lawyers, emphatically told jurors that prosecutors can’t prove he knowingly lied on the gun form at the heart of the trial on federal gun charges against the president’s son.

Pounding the lectern, Lowell said nobody will dispute that Hunter Biden struggled with drug use.

But Lowell emphasized that much of the evidence prosecutors outlined deals with episodes well before or after the gun purchase in October 2018. Biden is charged with lying on a federal form, lying to the gun dealer and then possessing the gun for 11 days, all while addicted to unlawful drugs.

Lowell noted Hunter Biden had been in rehabilitation in California months before buying the gun. He emphasized that prosecutors can’t prove at the time he bought the gun, that he believed himself to be addicted or an unlawful user of drugs.

Hallie Biden granted immunity to testify about Hunter Biden’s drug use

A prosecutor told jurors that Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter Biden’s brother, would testify about his drug use and her own, under a grant of immunity.

Hallie Biden was married to Beau Biden, who died in 2015. She was then in a relationship with Hunter Biden after Beau Biden's death.

Prosecutor Derek Hines said she had become a drug user at the time as well but ceased using months before October 2018, when Hunter Biden purchased the gun at issue in his federal trial. Hallie Biden is the one who threw the gun at issue in the trial into a grocery store trash can.

Hines said prosecutors will also call Zoe Kestan, Hunter Biden’s former girlfriend, to discuss his frequent use of crack cocaine. She is also testifying with a grant of immunity.

“The agreement they have requires them to tell the truth noting more nothing less,” he said.

Gun dealer unaware that Hunter Biden used drugs: prosecutor

A prosecutor said the Delaware gun dealer who sold Hunter Biden a .38-caliber revolver in 2018 will testify that he watched the president’s son fill out a from stating he was not an unlawful drug user or addicted to controlled substances.

Prosecutor Derek Hines said the dealer, Gordon Cleveland, will testify that he didn’t know Biden used drugs. The defense is expected to argue that Biden considered himself sober at the time he bought the gun, after completing a stint in rehabilitation.

“What Mr. Cleveland didn’t know was that Mr. Biden was an unlawful user and he lied,” Hines said.

What was Hunter Biden’s relationship with his brother's widow?  

Hallie Biden is the widow of the president’s other son, Beau, and a key witness prosecutors have indicated they plan to call during the trial.  

Two years after Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, she became romantically involved with Hunter, prompting a tabloid media frenzy . The two split in 2019. 

– Rachel Barber  

One juror dropped from Hunter Biden trial

A juror dropped out the day after being selected for Hunter Biden’s federal trial on gun charges because she didn’t have transportation from southern Delaware to the Wilmington courthouse, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika said Tuesday.

Twelve jurors – six men and six women – had been chosen Monday, along with four women alternates.

Noreika said one of the jurors had been “lost” before the start of opening arguments Tuesday because she begged to be dismissed for living an hour away and not having a car, job or money for parking.

– Bart Jansen

‘No one is above the law’: Hunter Biden prosecutor tells jury

The prosecution in Hunter Biden’s trial on gun charges told the jury Tuesday the reason the president’s son was in the courtroom was because of choices he made.

"No one is above the law, it doesn’t matter who you are or what your name is," special prosecutor Derek Hines told the jury.

"Each day in courtrooms like this one, defendants from all walks of life are tried because of the choices they make, not the people they are,” Hines added. “Choices they made to break the law. This case is no different."

Who is Melissa Cohen Biden?  

Hunter Biden is currently married to Melissa Cohen, a 38-year-old South African filmmaker. Within a week of meeting her in May 2019, he proposed . 

The Biden family was not at the wedding, but he told The New Yorker  of his father's support for the marriage. 

In 2019 they welcomed a son together, Beau Biden IV, named after Hunter Biden’s late older brother . 

– Rachel Barber

How many children does Hunter Biden have?  

Hunter Biden has five children. He has three daughters with his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle named Naomi Biden, Finnegan Biden, and Maisy Biden. In 2019, he welcomed a son with his second wife Melissa Cohen, Beau Biden IV., named after his late older brother .  

It was also revealed that he had secretly fathered another daughter with an Arkansas woman named Lunden Roberts in 2018. Her name is Navy Roberts. President Joe Biden first publicly acknowledged his granddaughter in 2023. 

Why was Hunter Biden discharged from the Navy?  

Less than a year after he was commissioned in 2013, Hunter Biden was administratively discharged from the Navy after testing positive for cocaine on a drug test. 

On the presidential debate stage in 2020, former President Donald Trump falsely claimed Hunter Biden was dishonorably discharged from the Navy. 

"Hunter got thrown out of the military," Trump said . "He was thrown out, dishonorably discharged for cocaine use." 

An administrative discharge is standard procedure after failing a drug test. It is different from a dishonorable discharge which is usually the result of misconduct.  

Who is Abbe Lowell?

Hunter Biden’s main lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has a long history of working with Democrats and Republicans.

Lowell represented Ivanka Trump while she was  a White House aide, chiming in as an ethics adviser.  He also defended Jared Kushner when House members questioned his use of WhatsApp to  communicate with foreign leaders.

Now, he is defending  Hunter Biden  who faces three felony charges related to purchasing a gun in 2018. Biden officially added Lowell to his legal team after  a plea deal  fell through in July that would have covered tax charges and the gun charges. It was seen at the time as a way to take a more  aggressive response  to the investigation into him, which have been going on for more than five years.

He was the chief minority counsel during the impeachment proceedings against  President Bill Clinton .

--Kinsey Crowley

Who is David Weiss?

Justice Department special counsel David Weiss , who is overseeing the prosecution of Hunter Biden, was appointed the U.S. attorney in Delaware by former President Donald Trump in 2017.

Weiss investigated Biden for years before reaching a plea agreement for the president’s son to admit two tax misdemeanors and enter a pretrial program to potentially erase a drug charge. But U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to rubber stamp because of disputes about whether it would protect Biden from future charges.

Attorney General Merrick Garland  appointed Weiss as special counsel in August to continue his investigation. Weiss secured indictments on gun charges in Delaware, in the trial that started Monday, and on tax charges in California, with that trial set to begin Sept. 5.

Weiss has been criticized by Republicans as going too soft on Biden by reaching a “sweetheart deal” in the plea agreement. Democrats have criticized him for being too hard on Biden by pursuing charges that are rarely enforced.

Garland has defended Weiss as an independent prosecutor following the facts and the law.

--Kinsey Crowley and Bart Jansen

Hunter Biden had family's support during jury selection

Hunter Biden, the president’s son, enjoyed the support of relatives as the jury selected Monday in his trial on federal gun charges.

The first lady, Jill Biden, sat in the front row on her birthday, paying rapt attention and taking notes. She had helped raise Hunter Biden after his mother was killed in a car crash when he was young. Hunter Biden’s wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and half-sister Ashley Biden also attended.

President Joe Biden, who remained in Wilmington during the jury selection, issued a statement supporting his son despite the political toll the charges have taken on his reelection bid.

“Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support,” Joe Biden said.

−Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy and Bart Jansen

What is Hunter Biden on trial for?

The president's son faces three firearms felonies in the case that kicked off on Monday.

In October 2018, Hunter Biden walked into a gun shop north of Wilmington, Delaware and purchased a revolver. People who purchase firearms are required to fill out a standardized form that asks whether they are an unlawful user or are addicted to controlled substances, narcotics and other listed substances. Biden is accused of answering "no" to that question on the form.

But Biden has been open about his longtime struggles with crack cocaine addiction. He's written about it in his book and discussed it during a court hearing last year, stating he's been sober since 2019.

Who’s testifying at the Hunter Biden trial? 

While every witness in the case isn't set in stone, there have been reports about who's expected to testify at the Delaware trial.

At least two employees from the gun store at the center of the case are expected to testify at the trial. Millard Greer, a former state police officer who authored the final investigative report on the incident included in court files, is expected to testify.

Hallie Biden, who was married to President Joe Biden's other son, the late Beau Biden, is also expected to provide testimony. Hallie Biden and Hunter Biden were in a relationship in 2018, and she told law enforcement officials she found a gun in Hunter Biden's vehicle and threw it away outside of a Delaware store.

– Xerxes Wilson and Marina Pitofsky