Tip #509: Directions for Writing a Narrative Case Study

“If written directions alone would suffice, libraries wouldn’t need to have the rest of the universities attached.” Judith Martin

I created these instructions for writing a narrative case study, for the benefit of three health professionals in Kenya who were contracted to create case studies for a US Agency for Industrial Development training program. Please see what you think:

A narrative case study is a story of a real life problem or situation that provides sufficient background data so that the problem can be analyzed and solved.

• A good case study is written in the form of a story.
• It has a problem for the readers to solve.
• It has characters who have names and use authentic dialogue.
• It is descriptive, with realistic details.
• The flow is easy to follow.
• There is sufficient information so that the readers can understand what the problem is and, after thinking about it and analyzing the information, come up with a proposed solution.
• It has pertinent questions that focus the readers on the key points.

Directions:

• Draw your information from real situations that were either resolved successfully or unsuccessfully.

• Your case study should include:

1. A decision maker who is dealing with some question or problem that needs to be resolved;
2. A description of the problem;
3. An explanation of the context in which the problem occurred; and
4. Sufficient supporting data.

• Your case study should provide the answers to these questions:

1. What is the issue?
2. Who is involved?
3. When did the situation occur?
4. Where did the situation take place?
5. Why did the issue/problem arise?
6. What key facts should be considered?
7. What questions do the key characters need to resolve?
8. What alternatives are available to the decision-maker?

• Your case study should have five sections:

1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion
4. Questions
5. Answers to Questions [identify what the actual owner did in the situation]

If you would like a copy of the Narrative Case Study Template that accompanied these directions, just contact Deborah Laurel.

May your learning be sweet.

Deborah