Case Study

A successful case study analyses a real life situation. It should:

• Relate the theory to a practical situation, that is, apply the ideas and knowledge discussed in the coursework to the practical situation in the case.
• Identify the problems or the common issues  in the case.
• Select the major problems or issues in the case.
• Suggest solutions to these major problems, or explanations for the issues.
• Recommend the best solution to be implemented, or the most likely explanation for the issues.

The case is the real life situation, the case study is the analysis of this situation.

When an assignment is based on a case study, some students may have difficulty identifying the actual assignment task and recognising the most important information for guiding a relevant response. The cases that you can choose from for this assignment are:

1. Television Talent Programs.
2. Tattoos
3. Hip-hop
4. Facebook
5. Newcastle Style 


Having decided on a case to study, you need to select an aspect to focus on as you do not have the time to do an exhaustive study.  The questions given beside each case might help you decide on an approach to take, but you can follow a different line of investigation if you wish. Leave a comment below if you are taking a different angle, to make sure you are on the right track.


The case study can take one of two different approaches:

• In an analytical approach you will research a case and analyse it in order to demonstrate your understanding of the text, the situation or the practice, and your ability to apply published research to a real life situation.
• In an problem-solving approach you will research a case and identify problems within the situation and suggest solutions, usually narrowing down to an optimal solution.

If you are not sure which approach best suits the case you are interested in, leave a comment below.

Case Study Help Sheet from the University of Melbourne