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Geology Resources: Case Studies

What is a Case Study?

"Case studies summarize fictitious or real life events faced by management, companies, and industries, and provide a framework for problem solving. They enable students to explore, understand and analyze situations with which they may not have had first-hand experience, and to apply the concepts and theory that they have been learning."

From “Libguides: Business Case Studies.” Getting Started - Business Case Studies, libguides.lib.msu.edu/businesscases. Accessed 24 May 2023.

Case Studies in Geology

How Do I Write One?

A case study should focus on a situation, either real world or hypothetical, and a solution. Case studies are usually written with specific sections including:

Summary: An overview of what it is about

Introduction: An introduction to the scenario and its significance (why does it matter?)

Findings: What key problems have you found and addressed?

Discussion: Summarize the main problem and provide solutions. Explain these solutions and why they would work.

Conclusion: Restate the purpose of your case study, your findings, and the solutions you found.

Recommendations: Choose one of the solutions that you think would work the best. Explain why you selected this one and how it better addresses the situation than the other solutions.

References: Cite all of your outside sources in the correct format.

Adapted from "Writing a case study" by Monash University.