10 tips for Writing a great Case Study

There are tips for writing a successful case study. While there can be many tips for creating a great case study, they can be limited to ten main ones. These involve formatting, research and the actual composition of a case study.

Lead with the results

Create a headline that highlights the results of the study and grabs the reader's attention. This leads with your best foot forward and leads straight to the point of the study and can help the reader determine immediately if the study is right for their needs and what was contributed to the field with the study.

Begin with a summary of the study

Your first paragraph should lead with a summary of the case and what lead to the reason of the study. This could also quickly summarize how you were lead to the results with the details to be followed in the rest of the paper.

Include interviews

Using quotes from patients or clients can be beneficial to understanding how an individual thinks and how they display behavior or symptoms.

Analyze

Always dissect the research, experiences and problems. Discuss in length the steps taken in how you were lead to the conclusions and understandings you were lead to.

Minimize Jargon

You want the most readers possible. To do so, you must be able to keep their attention. In order to keep their attention, using jargon can be counter productive to what you are trying to accomplish which is understanding.

Detailed notes and mind mapping

Creating detailed notes make for a more detailed and stronger study. Taking notes every step of the process is important to writing a strong study that can be supported and credible. Mind mapping and organizing thoughts is also important to a cohesive study that is focused.

Research, research, research

Back any discoveries and stories with facts and research.

Create an outline

Outlining and organizing thoughts is essential to a focused and clarified study.

Create a story

Don't just repeat facts or statistics, create a story. In psychology, it is important to discuss the person behind the study and why they are being studied and who they are. Their story can lead to understanding and clarity on how they think and why they think the way they do and that is what the field of psychology is aiming to do.

Build credibility

Have your interviewees and people you quote sign off and personally confirm what is being said is accurate and make yourself look more credible.