Overview
Case Study Assignment Directions and Template
Purpose: The case study is an established research design that is used extensively in a wide variety of disciplines and is beneficial for guiding program improvements. Through this abbreviated case study process, students will learn to look at a problem of practice within the context of one’s own school or organization. Students will evaluate the identified problem and report on the existing literature on this issue concisely. Additionally, students will formulate a realistic methodology, conduct the in-house study, analyze the findings and results, draw conclusions, and offer viable recommendations for improvement. Directions: After you have identified a problem of practice firsthand, you are to investigate the problem within a selected school or organization. You may study this problem through the eyes of a teacher, parent, community member, student, or employee. Conduct a review of the literature on your topic, interview key figures, and review specific artifacts and websites. To enhance your study, complete a brief 5-question perception survey with stakeholders, which may include the principal, counselor, director of special education, curriculum specialist, teachers, parents, and students. Report findings, write a conclusions, and recommendations. Use the template below, including headings, to guide your study. Template: Title: 1. Introduction Include a statement of the selected problem of practice identified within a school or organization of your choice. You may provide some brief history and background information here as well. 2. Context This section presents the context of your case study. In this section, you are to provide an overview of your school or organization’s demographics, achievement data, and other pertinent information that you may want to include. Some of this information can be found on various websites hosted by your organization. Examples include: the Kentucky Department of Education, the School Report Card, and IMPACT Survey Results. 3. Review of Current Literature Provide a brief overview in this section of the existing literature and research that you have found regarding your problem of practice. Include three to five cited references within this section. Typically, literature reviews are considered substantive and scholarly. Remember this is a review of the literature that has already been reported on by others, and in a review of the literature, the pronoun “I” is not used. This is because you are not reporting your thoughts in this section; you are only reporting what others in the field are saying about the topic.
2 4. Methodology This section is typically brief and provides a statement on how you went about finding the possible answer to your selected problem in education. In other words, how will you, or did you, conduct your study within your chosen school or organization? Include who you interviewed and surveyed, documents that were reviewed, and how many participated in your study. Include survey questions here (see example questions in Week Three Folder). 5. Findings What were the results of your investigation? Provide a brief narrative to explain your findings. Additionally, insert charts, images, graphics, and/or artifacts that provide an illustration of your survey results and support your observations. 6. Conclusions What did you conclude from the results of your investigation? You should refer back to the original issue that you stated in the Introduction section of your case study. If you were unable to obtain an answer, what additional investigation/study would be needed? 7. References Use APA citation rules. Rubric: Signature Assignment Rubric 50 Points Possible Measure Exceeds Standard (93%-100%) Satisfactorily Meets Standard (76%-92%) Does Not Fully Meet Standard (50- 75%) Written case study includes design and effective implementation to answer student needs Case study includes critical interviews, surveys, and review of specific artifacts, as well as inclusion of other information from research and websites. Case study includes interviews, artifacts, and inclusion of information from research. Case study does not adequately include interviews and inclusion of information from research is limited. Effective Case study is a one to Case study Case study is not related to course topics
3 50 Points Possible 50 Points Possible proposal supported by approved organizational design one correlation to the case study template provided and relates to the course topics. relates to the course topics and follows the case study template. and loosely follows the case study template. Effective and innovative case study supported by readings Includes a minimum two-page review of the literature with three- five references included. Includes a minimum two- page review of the literature with three references. Includes a limited review of the literature with less than three references. 30 Points Possible Data analysis and illustrations of data Findings are fully and clearly explained and results of the study are used to formulate informed conclusions and offer recommendations. Charts, diagrams, images, and illustrations are accurate and significantly add to the understanding of the topic. Findings are clearly explained and results of the study are used to formulate conclusions. Charts, diagrams, images, and illustrations are accurate and add to understanding of the topic. Limited findings and explanations are evident. Charts, diagrams and illustrations are not evident or do not add to the understanding of the topic. 10 Points Possible Effective writing Information in case study is written with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings with proper grammar and punctuation. Case study information is written with well- constructed paragraphs. Proper grammar and punctuation. Information is written, but paragraphs are not well-constructed. Errors in grammar and punctuation. 10 Points Sources Cited All sources are accurately cited (both in-text and on the reference page) and documented in APA format. All sources (both in-text and on the reference page) are cited and documented, but a few are not in the desired APA format. Sources are not documented, or many are not in the desired format. The Case Study should use Times New Roman – 12-point font, be double-spaced, and be approximately 5-7 pages. Use APA style to guide citations. (200 Points