In a case study dissertation, researchers analyse multiple perspectives of a specific social phenomenon within a defined context. Students select a topic and apply theoretical knowledge to address real-world practical issues. To ensure focused and effective research, they must have a clear understanding of the case study’s purpose, as this will guide the direction and scope of their investigation.
To write the best dissertation on a case study, develop an outline first. The Western Sydney University has shared the following structure outline with the students:
A well-crafted case study thesis contains all these chapters. When crafting such dissertations, the researchers ensure that the general public can benefit greatly from their work.
Let’s first discuss the structure of an efficient case study dissertation, and then we will move forward to exploring helpful tips.
What Is the Structure of a Case Study Dissertation?
A case study dissertation is similar to all other dissertations at different academic levels. It is more like a research approach that provides an in-depth examination of particular events and phenomena. As it differs from a formal dissertation, students often need help understanding the concept behind such papers. They prefer getting assistance from expert dissertation writers and researchers to fulfil the requirements of different ideas.
Coming back to the discussion of the structure of a case study thesis, here are the main elements of such papers:
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Data Collection
- Findings
- Conclusion
In the section below, we will discuss the basic details of the chapters of these kinds of dissertations.
05 Effective Ways to Write a Case Study Dissertation
Are you worried because you want to incorporate a great case study in your papers and impress your supervisor? Do you find it hard to craft a dissertation based on a case study of a real-world research issue? Well, we are here to help you.
There are two ways you can add case studies in your dissertations, and those are listed here:
- Qualitative case studies
- Quantitative case studies
In both kinds of dissertations, the introduction is followed by a detailed literature review section. After that, a detailed assessment section tells the readers about the methods used to obtain research results. Although the nature of both qualitative and quantitative case studies is different, the main elements of the papers are the same.
Here, we shall explore the main five chapters of a case study research dissertation in detail.
1.Introduction
In the introduction of a case study dissertation, you have to tell the readers about the background and context of your research work. Specifically, talk about the purpose of your papers and discuss the approach that you will take to justify your research aims.
Furthermore, the theoretical tools and research approaches that you have undertaken in the study must be explored in detail. Do not forget to keep the language of the introduction chapter simple because it will affect the readability of your papers. Apart from them, write it in a way that a common man can understand the meaning. This chapter should not be too long.
2.Literature Review
The literature review of a case study dissertation should be structured in a way that your ideas have a natural flow. You must be able to convey your main arguments in detail from one point to another. Also, ensure that all the references and sources are linked to your chosen area of research.
The viewpoints and terminology should be presented in a comprehensive and unbiased manner. You can also provide the readers with a synthesis of your reasons for getting the conclusions that you have gotten. Interestingly, you can comment on the areas that you find the most intriguing from your research.
3.Data Collection
Here, you can explain the methods you used to collect data for your case study papers. This section can also explain how your study is carried out and what research methods were applied. You can also discuss the circumstances and situations in which you conducted your dissertation.
Following are the sources that you can use for the collection of data for your papers:
- Use different kinds of sources over different periods.
- Effectively utilise a database to craft a case study.
- Focus on establishing a given chain of evidence and track the conclusions backwards through your personal study notes.
- You can also exercise care when using the electronic sources for your research work.
In case studies, the research questions usually drive the data that needs to be gathered. From the dissertation aims and the questions, the researcher designs the questionnaires and conducts surveys. The research aims also dictate what documents are to be reviewed and what artefacts need to be examined.
4.Findings
When you are done with the collection of data for your papers, it will be time to analyse them in detail. Mention the findings and discuss in detail the raw material that you used to get those results. Do not try to interpret any of the results unless you are completely done with your thesis.
One thing that is important and must not be ignored is that you have to link the aims of your case study research to the results you get. Show the readers the mutual link between the thesis aims and the thesis results. This way, they will be able to see that both things are related to each other. You can also talk about the significance of your work in the existing body of knowledge.
Here is a template to show the findings of the research work in the form of a Gantt chart. We have taken this example from Template Net:
5.Conclusion
Case study research is used to conduct an in-depth investigation and explain a real-life phenomenon in detail. In the conclusion chapter of a case study dissertation, you can be expected to talk about multiple things.
Some of the core elements that you must discuss here are the following:
- The main lessons that you have learnt along the way
- Discuss the best solutions and explain why they are important
- You can also provide the recommendations for further studies
- Focus on devising your own action plan (this can be explained in a separate section)
You can also choose to add a reference list and appendix to the dissertation you craft. All the top-tier dissertations have certain qualities that we have discussed in the section below.
Qualities of a Good Case Study Dissertation
Some qualities distinguish excellently written research work from mediocre papers. When you are done crafting a case study thesis, you must check if your work meets the following specifications:
●Neutrality
See if the perspective of the writer is biased or neutral. Your viewpoints must not be skewed and heavily biased depending on your personal judgements.
●Worth
You must also check if the ideas you expressed in the entire case study dissertation make sense to the readers. They must be convincing and add value to the existing research body.
●Credibility
Your papers must be clear and credible. Ensure that you have sourced all your sources from reliable sources.
●Qualifications
The most important thing to check here is whether the credentials of authors are in sync with the judgements they have made in the papers. Mentioning all your relevant qualifications is important.
●Relevance
Critically evaluate if your papers fill a gap in the existing research on the same topic or topics. Is it closely or remotely linked to other research or not?
How Long Should a Case Study Be in a Dissertation?
If you think that it is too tough for you to manage the length of a case study on your own, consider getting online help. According to the University of Westminster, the length of an undergraduate dissertation can range anywhere from 5000 to 8000, whereas a master’s dissertation can be 10 to 15 thousand in length.
To effectively meet your papers’ learning outcomes, it’s essential to evaluate them against specific assessment criteria. UK-based dissertation writing platforms, such as those offered by experienced writers, can help craft high-quality case study dissertations that align with these criteria.
Conclusion
Writing a case study dissertation is an interesting process if you know all the guidelines. The entire process allows you to have a detailed glance at real-life problems. We hope that the guidelines that we have provided you with in this article can be helpful.
Know that the main purpose of a case study dissertation is to relate theoretical knowledge with practical solutions to real-world problems. Hence, throughout the dissertation, keep this link alive.
Lastly, do not forget to edit and revise your work for any mistakes. Your papers should be free of punctuation and grammatical errors. The entire thematic context and formatting of content should be on point.
