Case Study Materials; Strategies for Design and Use

Abstract

Case materials are excellent teaching tools. They offer variety, complement traditional methods, serve as a bridge between theory and practice, and are particularly useful in learning how to solve problems, and to evaluate and judge. Case materials are problem oriented descriptions of a believable event which provides sufficient detail to allow the readers to analyze the problem/solution process. Three levels of case materials are defined: (a) case problems, which are short “snapshot” depictions of a single incident; (b) case studies, which include information on the background and context of a situation; and (c) referenced case studies, which include citations and author insight. Development steps for case problems and studies are provided. Ways in which these materials can be used for instruction are discussed. Case materials can be used for assessment and testing if care is exercised. A checklist is recommended. Case materials are useful to explore research issues and test tentative hypotheses.