Case Studies Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Case Studies facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which sampling logic is most characteristic of case study research? → Purposeful selection of information-rich cases
2. What is 'discovery' in US civil litigation case studies? → The pre-trial process in which parties exchange relevant information and evidence
3. Case study research begins with __________. → Defining the case
4. In a healthcare case study, what is 'interdisciplinary collaboration'? → Healthcare professionals from different disciplines working together for patient care
5. A thick description is one that covers every facet of the subject in great detail. → True
6. What is a 'thesis statement' in the context of case study writing? → A single sentence that states the main argument or position of the report
7. In a business case study, what does 'competitive advantage' refer to? → Attributes that allow a company to outperform its rivals
8. Which case study analysis method involves asking 'Why?' five times to reach the root of a problem? → The 5 Whys Technique
9. A pilot case study is conducted primarily to: → Refine data collection plans, protocols, and lines of questioning
10. Research questions for case studies typically start with HOW or WHY. → True
11. What is 'habeas corpus' in a constitutional law case study? → The legal right requiring authorities to justify detaining a person before a court
12. In a case study involving a startup, what is a 'burn rate'? → The speed at which a startup spends its capital before generating revenue
13. In a US healthcare case study, what is the role of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)? → Administering Medicare and Medicaid programs and setting payment and quality standards
14. In Harvard Business School's case method, who is primarily responsible for driving the analysis and discussion? → The students themselves
15. What is a 'readmission rate' in healthcare case studies, and why does it matter? → The percentage of patients returning to hospital within 30 days; it indicates care quality
16. A case study database is maintained separately from the final report primarily to: → Increase reliability by letting others review the raw evidence
17. In a case study, qualitative analysis primarily involves which of the following? → Interpreting non-numerical data such as interviews and observations
18. What is the main threat when a case study relies heavily on interviews conducted long after the events occurred? → Retrospective bias and inaccurate recall by informants
19. In case study analysis, what is a 'rival explanation'? → An alternative interpretation that could also explain the observed evidence
20. What does 'ecological validity' mean in the context of case study analysis? → The degree to which findings reflect real-world conditions
21. Which of the following best describes the 'problem-centered' approach in educational case studies? → Focusing the case around a specific dilemma or challenge to be resolved
22. A study follows the same school district at three points over ten years to see how reform processes change. Yin classifies this single-case rationale as: → Longitudinal case
23. Which type of educational case study presents an ongoing situation where the outcome is not yet known? → Live case study
24. What is 'market segmentation' in a business case study context? → Dividing a market into distinct groups with similar needs or characteristics
25. What is 'class action litigation' in US legal case studies? → A lawsuit in which many plaintiffs with similar claims sue a defendant collectively
26. In a case study about change management, what is 'resistance to change'? → Employee or stakeholder opposition to new processes or organizational shifts
27. What does 'breach of contract' mean in a legal case study? → One party's failure to fulfill their contractual obligations without legal justification
28. Which concept describes a business that loses money on each unit but attempts to make it up through volume? → Penetration pricing
29. What is the primary purpose of using case studies in an educational setting? → To apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios
30. An ethics board asks how case participants will be protected. Which practice best addresses confidentiality when the case organization is easily identifiable? → Anonymizing individuals and negotiating what identifying details may be published