To write a case study in STEM, you analyze one real or realistic situation using the theory from your course. The aim is to explain what happened, why, and what should be done.
This page covers the types of STEM case study, a standard structure, how to apply theory, how to write recommendations, an example excerpt from an engineering failure analysis and a checklist.
The Shape of a Strong STEM Case Study
Describe the situation briefly, define the problem precisely, analyze its causes with course theory and calculations, weigh the options, then give specific, justified recommendations.
Most marks sit in the analysis. A case study that mostly retells events, with little theory applied, scores poorly however well it is written.
Types of STEM Case Study
| Type | Common in | Central question |
|---|---|---|
| Failure analysis | Mechanical, civil, materials engineering | Why did the component or structure fail? |
| Design evaluation | All engineering branches | How well does an existing design meet its requirements? |
| Process or operations | Chemical, industrial engineering | Why is a process underperforming, and how can it improve? |
| Clinical case report | Medicine, nursing, biomedical science | How was a patient's condition assessed and managed? |
| Software or project | Computer science, software engineering | What went right or wrong in a system or project? |
| Ethics and safety | Professional practice modules | Which decisions led to harm, and what duties applied? |
General Case Study Structure
Check your brief first, because some courses supply headings. If not, this structure suits most STEM case studies.
| Section | What it contains | Rough share |
|---|---|---|
| Executive summary | Problem, key findings and main recommendation in one paragraph | 5% |
| Introduction and background | Context, scope and the facts a reader needs | 10 to 15% |
| Problem definition | A precise statement of what needs explaining or solving | 5% |
| Analysis | Theory, calculations and evidence applied to the problem | 40 to 50% |
| Options | Alternative solutions compared against criteria | 10 to 15% |
| Recommendations | Specific actions with justification and priorities | 10% |
| Conclusion | What the case shows and its wider lessons | 5% |
How to Write a Case Study, Step by Step
- Read the case twice. First for the story, then to mark facts, figures and unknowns.
- Define the problem. Write it in one sentence, such as "Why did the bracket crack after six months of service?"
- Choose the theory. Pick the course concepts that explain the problem: fatigue, heat transfer, control loops, risk assessment.
- Analyze with evidence. Apply the theory with calculations, data or diagrams, not general statements.
- Generate options. List realistic solutions and compare them against clear criteria.
- Recommend. Pick the best option, explain why and say how to implement it.
- Write the summary last. It should reflect the case study you actually wrote.
Applying Theory: The Most Valued Section
Applying theory means using a concept to explain this specific case. Describing the theory in general earns little; showing what it predicts here earns a lot.
- Weak: "Fatigue is a common cause of failure in metals."
- Strong: "The bracket saw about 106 load cycles per year at a stress amplitude above the material's endurance limit, so fatigue failure within a year is consistent with its S-N curve."
Use numbers wherever the case allows. A quick stress, energy or flow calculation turns an opinion into an argument, and it shows the marker you can use the course tools.
Example excerpt: engineering failure analysis. The steel bracket failed at the fillet where the arm meets the base plate. The fracture surface shows beach marks spreading from the fillet edge and a small, rough final-fracture zone, a pattern typical of fatigue under a modest nominal stress.
The fillet radius is 1 mm on a 20 mm section. The case file gives a stress concentration factor Kt of 2.5 for this fillet, so the local stress amplitude reaches about 2.5 times the nominal 80 MPa, or 200 MPa. That exceeds the estimated endurance limit of the steel, so the design was never safe for unlimited cycles.
Increasing the fillet radius to 5 mm would lower Kt substantially and is the simplest fix. Shot peening the fillet would add compressive surface stress and further delay crack initiation.
Notice the chain: observation, theory, calculation, conclusion, then a fix linked directly to the cause. Every analysis paragraph should follow that chain.
Clinical Case Reports
In medicine, nursing and biomedical science, case studies often follow a clinical format. Protect privacy throughout: remove names, dates and any detail that could identify the patient.
- Patient background and presenting complaint.
- Assessment findings and investigations.
- Diagnosis or nursing problem, with reasoning.
- Management plan and its evidence base.
- Outcome, evaluation and reflection on practice.
Support each decision with current guidelines or research. Use the citation style your school requires, often APA, Harvard or Vancouver.
Writing Recommendations
Good recommendations are specific, feasible and tied to the analysis. "Improve maintenance" is too vague; "inspect the fillet by dye penetrant testing every 3 months until the redesign is installed" can be acted on.
- Link each recommendation to a cause identified in the analysis.
- Prioritize: what must happen now, and what can follow later.
- Note costs, risks and trade-offs honestly.
- Say how success would be measured.
Common Mistakes and a Final Checklist
| Check | Done? |
|---|---|
| Problem defined in one clear sentence | ☐ |
| Background kept short, analysis given most space | ☐ |
| Course theory applied to this case, not described in general | ☐ |
| Calculations shown with units | ☐ |
| Options compared against stated criteria | ☐ |
| Recommendations specific and linked to causes | ☐ |
| Assumptions and missing information acknowledged | ☐ |
| Sources cited in the required style | ☐ |
The most common mistake is retelling the case. Assume the marker knows the story and spend your words on explaining it.
How STEM Donkey Helps with Case Studies
Send the case brief and any data, the module theory you are expected to apply, the required structure or headings, your citation style and the rubric.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the brief, but 1,500 to 3,000 words is common at undergraduate level. Give at least 40% of the length to the analysis.
A report presents findings on a topic in a standard format. A case study analyzes one specific situation in depth and usually ends with recommendations for it.
In engineering and science, yes, wherever the case gives data. Calculations turn general statements into evidence.
Follow your course. Many engineering briefs prefer third person; reflective clinical case studies often allow first person in the reflection.
Remove names, exact dates, locations and any detail that could identify the patient, and follow your placement's confidentiality policy.
State a reasonable assumption, explain why, and note how a different value would change your conclusion.