Persuasion With Case Studies

TLDR

Case-based research often struggles to engage readers and is criticized for biased samples, while theories are viewed as simplifications of complex reality. The article offers guidance for writing compelling case-based studies that provoke thought and generate new ideas.

Abstract

This article presents some helpful suggestions on how researchers can write an interesting and convincing paper based on case-based research. A single case study, unless the subject is extremely interesting, will be hard to make interesting enough to hold readers' attention. Case-based research is often criticized for having a biased sample of cases. The main object of case studies should be to provoke thought and new ideas, rather than to poke holes in existing theories. Theories are only simplifications of a much more complex reality.