Case Study Topics

A case study is a common assignment in business, nursing, and social sciences. It’s a practical analysis of a real-world problem. Finding a good “case” to analyze is the most important step.

This guide is your resource for “case study topics.” We provide topic lists and a 4-step process for developing a focused analysis. This is the hub for writing a case study that shows your analytical skills.

If you need help with your analysis, explore our case study analysis service.

What is a Case Study?

A case study is an in-depth analysis of a single, real-world “case.” A case can be a person, a group, an event, a business, or a policy. Unlike a broad research paper, a case study is deep and narrow. Its goal is to apply theoretical concepts to a practical problem.

Case Study vs. Thesis

These terms are often confused:

• A Thesis is theoretical. It aims to create *new* knowledge by filling a research gap (e.g., “A new theory of economic value”). See our dissertation topics for more.
• A Case Study is practical. It *applies* existing knowledge to solve a problem (e.g., “Applying Porter’s Five Forces to Netflix’s market strategy”).

The 4 Types of Case Studies

According to case study methodology, most projects fall into one of four types:

1. Illustrative Case Study: Describes an unfamiliar situation to make it understandable (e.g., “A look inside a successful co-op business”).
2. Exploratory Case Study: A preliminary investigation of a topic, often to generate hypotheses for a larger study.
3. Cumulative Case Study: Compares multiple cases to find common patterns.
4. Critical Instance Case Study: Examines a single, unique case to challenge a theory or assumption.

How to Find Your Case Study Topic: 4 Steps

A good topic is developed, not found. Use this 4-step process.

Determine your goal. Is your case Illustrative (descriptive), Exploratory (investigative), Cumulative (comparing cases), or Critical (testing a theory)?

A case study solves a practical problem. Look for problems or challenges in your field.

• Nursing: A problem in patient care (e.g., “High rates of patient falls on a specific ward”).
• Business: A market gap or a company’s failure (e.g., “Blockbuster’s failure to adapt”).
• Education: A specific classroom challenge (e.g., “Low math scores at a local school”).

Your case study must have a central “puzzle” it is trying to solve. What question will your analysis of this case answer? (e.g., “Why did this specific patient not adhere to their care plan?”).

This is the practical test. Can you get the data? This could be interviews, public records, or observation. If you can’t get data, you can’t do the study.

Case Study Topic Ideas by Field

Use these ideas as a starting point to find your own case.

Nursing Case Study Topics

Nursing case studies often focus on a patient, a condition, or a ward-level problem.

For more, see our nursing case study guide.

Business & MBA Case Study Topics

Business case studies analyze a company, strategy, or market.

Find more at our business writing services page.

Psychology Case Study Topics

Psychology cases often focus on a single (anonymized) client or a specific experiment.

For more, see our psychology research paper services.

Education Case Study Topics

How to Structure a Case Study Analysis

A formal case study is a structured academic paper. Sections may vary, but they generally follow this format. As this article on the case study method explains, the key is to connect theory to the case details.

1. Introduction

Introduce the case. Briefly overview the person, company, or event. State the central problem or research question.

2. Literature Review / Theoretical Framework

What theories will you use to analyze this case? (e.g., “This case will be analyzed using Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model”). This shows your academic rigor.

3. Methodology (For original research)

If you collected your own data, explain how. (e.g., “We conducted three semi-structured interviews…” or “We observed the classroom for 20 hours…”). If using a provided case, you can skip this.

4. Analysis / Findings

This is the key section. Apply the theories from your literature review to the facts of your case. This is analysis, not summary. (e.g., “The manager’s failure in Step 2 of Kotter’s model…”).

5. Discussion & Recommendations

What are the findings? What is the solution? What are the lessons? Provide specific, actionable recommendations.

Common Case Study Pitfalls

Avoid these common mistakes: