Writing and Using Case Studies Materials developed by the Learner Development Unit at the University of Bradford Learner Development Unit www.brad.ac.uk/developme

What you will learn: What a case study is and what it is not. How to use case studies in your work. What to consider when effectively writing case studies.

What a case study is and what it is not.

How to use case studies in your work.

What to consider when effectively writing case studies.

The Plan… What is a Case Study? Writing about Case Studies Writing your own

What is a Case Study?

Writing about Case Studies

Writing your own

1. What is a Case Study? In your group share any experiences you’ve had so far in using or creating case studies. How do they differ between disciplines? In what ways are Case Studies created or used similarly? Activity: Your experience of Case Studies

In your group share any experiences you’ve had so far in using or creating case studies.

How do they differ between disciplines?

In what ways are Case Studies created or used similarly?

Descriptive A ‘problem’ “a snapshot of reality…”: “ A good case [study] is the vehicle by which a chunk of reality is brought into the classroom to be worked over by the class and the instructor.” (Leenders & Erskine 1978: 12) 1. What is a Case Study?

Descriptive

A ‘problem’

“a snapshot of reality…”:

“ A good case [study] is the vehicle by which a chunk of reality is brought into the classroom to be worked over by the class and the instructor.”

(Leenders & Erskine 1978: 12)

The two types of case study: Factual Fictional Composite case studies 1. What is a Case Study?

Factual

Fictional

Composite case studies

Using your critical skills: - Copying the text - Highlighting and eliciting questions Analysis & Comparative Analysis Making decisions and drawing conclusions 2. Writing about Case Studies

Using your critical skills:

- Copying the text

- Highlighting and eliciting questions

Analysis & Comparative Analysis

Making decisions and drawing conclusions

Activity: Getting Started with a Case Study Working individually or in pairs. Read the Case Study and begin the process of critical analysis. What do you notice about how easy/difficult it feels? What decisions are you beginning to make about the outcomes/implications of the study?

Working individually or in pairs.

Read the Case Study and begin the process of critical analysis.

What do you notice about how easy/difficult it feels?

What decisions are you beginning to make about the outcomes/implications of the study?

3. Writing your own Aiming for concrete coverage of situation rather than theoretical exploration Things to consider when creating a study from scratch: Source Collection Content & Format Application Time limitations

Aiming for concrete coverage of situation rather than theoretical exploration

Things to consider when creating a study from scratch:

Source

Collection

Content & Format

Application

Time limitations

Activity: Creating a Case Study Working in pairs. Plan an outline of a case study on: Student Facilities at Bradford University Compare your plans with others on the table. How do they compare? What were the different approaches and responses to the prompts on the previous slide?

Working in pairs.

Plan an outline of a case study on:

Student Facilities at Bradford University

Compare your plans with others on the table.

How do they compare? What were the different approaches and responses to the prompts on the previous slide?

What next? Check out our website for more learning materials: www.brad.ac.uk/developme Come along to another workshop: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/lssworkshops/ Contact us for 1-2-1 advice and support: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learnerdevelopment

Check out our website for more learning materials: www.brad.ac.uk/developme

Come along to another workshop: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/lssworkshops/

Contact us for 1-2-1 advice and support: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learnerdevelopment