sample case study apa format

How to Write a Case Study in APA Format

Table of contents

• 1 What Is a Case Study In APA Format?
• 2.1 Sample Of APA Case Study Outline
• 3.1 Title Page in APA for Case Study Project
• 3.2 The Abstract for an APA case study

Whether you study social sciences or life sciences, you’re likely to encounter a case study analysis in your academic journey. These papers demand a lot from students. First, you must have impeccable research and analysis skills. Sample populations, particularly people, can be challenging to analyze. It’s easy to misinterpret data and come up with the wrong conclusions. Additionally, you’ll need to have a knack for writing to present your findings persuasively, backed up by evidence-based arguments that build confidence for your teacher to accept the results of your work. If you need to boost your paper, Papers Owl is here to help you with a wide range of guidelines on how to write a case study in APA.

What Is a Case Study In APA Format?

To make your success, first realize that a case study is detective work. Your research may have an unresolved question or to carry out some testing to validate a hypothesis; in this case, studies are born. Psychology, nursing, and business are common fields this method is applied. In this scientific method, you’ll approach an event, action, individual, etc. And apply a set of circumstances to observe outcomes. Most papers in this field are written in the APA format, which can be a burden for students, especially if they aren’t familiar with this style. If you lack time or motivation for writing, appeal to our professional writers to write a case study  in APA format, and we will ensure your paper is perfectly formatted and gets a high grade.

Structure of Case Study Report In APA

First, let’s look at the sections in writing a case study in APA, which shares a few similarities to a typical research paper.

Introduction: Introduce your topic to the reader. Be sure to include the state of current research and where you plan to develop the current state of knowledge. You should include an interesting fact to reinforce your work’s importance and develop an interest in your hypothesis. Finish off with a thesis statement that you’ll focus on your workaround.

Aims: In this section, you answer the questions regarding why you are conducting your research and any questions you’ll explore. Avid case study writer recommends focusing your questions around your thesis. You can develop a triangle with a diagram and drill down your questions in a logical format that matches your paper’s main purpose.

Methods: Writing a case study in APA requires a methods section that details how you conducted your research. Did you conduct any interviews, send out questionnaires, or observe any behaviors? Detail them in this section, and state the environment and circumstances surrounding your data collection.

Results: Now that you’ve identified what you’d planned to accomplish and how you went about it in your APA case study format, it’s time to post the results. Don’t be shy if things don’t go swimmingly. Often in studies, we have unexpected results, which sometimes makes your paper more interesting to read.

Discussion: It’s time for the heart and soul of your paper. After all your research and observation, it is time to have a discourse on the results. The key to how to write a case paper in APA hangs on your ability to interpret the results in a meaningful way. Be sure to focus the discussion on your stated methods and how they pertain to your aims.

Recommendations: Here you want to detail what is to follow your research. Professional case study writers advise stating any knowledge gaps in your work and any unanswered or new questions you had found in the process. Your insights will be useful for others to follow in your footsteps and expand on your analysis.

Sample Of APA Case Study Outline

Example of writing a case study analysis in APA format:

Writing a case study in APA Step By Step

Knowing how to write a case study in APA format is a common question for students. In addition to the typical academic standards, APA has its own requirements that must be adhered to. The first step is to create a heading, known as a running head, that will be present on each page of your paper. The running head includes:

• The page number on the right margin
• A shortened title of your paper in ALL-CAPS no longer than 50 characters to the right

Title Page in APA for Case Study Project

The title of a case study in an APA paper is a requirement. The purpose is to state the name of the work, who the author is, and the institution that sponsored the research. It has the following parts:

• The words “running head” at the top, followed by the actual running head
• The full title of your paper using APA titling no longer than 12 words
• Your name without any designations (Dr/Ph.D./Rev/etc.) and the institution you attend

The Abstract for an APA case study

The abstract of your paper works as a summary to give a brief overview of what it contains. Include the running head at the top; the first line should have the word “abstract” centered. Follow the abstract with 150-250 words summarizing your paper. You may also index some keywords to help find the contents of your work in academic databases. At the end of your summary, indent once, and in italics, indicate keywords related to your work.

Writing an effective college paper requires a lot of planning and formatting to get it done right. Brush up on these guidelines for how to write your paper in APA format . If you need someone to review your work or write any parts of your paper, reach out to our professional writers, who are always willing to lend a hand.

Additionally, with the help of our blog, you can make sure you create a professional PowerPoint presentation that clearly outlines the main points of your paper. If you need help with this, our professional writers can provide guidance.

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Writing A Case Study

Case Study Format

Simple Case Study Format for Students to Follow

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A Complete Case Study Writing Guide With Examples

Understand the Types of Case Study Here

Brilliant Case Study Examples and Templates For Your Help

Having trouble making your case studies stand out? Finding it hard to organise your story? You're not alone! 

Many students struggle with case study writing !

Imagine spending a lot of time on your case studies, but they don't grab your reader's interest.  But don't worry! 

In this guide, we will go step by step through case study formatting, along with practical tips to make your research stand out from the rest! By following our step-by-step approach, you can understand how to write a case study assignment well. 

So, let’s get started!

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• 1. How to Format a Case Study 
• 2. Case Study Format Template
• 3. Case Study Format Examples

How to Format a Case Study 

When it comes to crafting a compelling case study, understanding how to write case study format is key to presenting your research effectively. 

If you are wondering how to make case study format, here are the elements to include in your case study paper format.

Create an interesting title for your work. Keep it simple and short.

Here you need to briefly elaborate on the accomplishment. What you have done and how you got there.

Write about the entire story in one paragraph followed by 2-3 bullet points to display the case study contents.

An introduction about what the case study is all about.

Describe the challenges of the customer prior to using your product or service. Explain the long-term goals or objectives that the customer set out to achieve.

In this 2-3 paragraph section describe how your product or service specifically benefited and helped achieve the goals. You can also use percentages to show your contributions.

In the relevant section of your case study, add 1-2 quotes and visuals to support the story you are telling. You can also use icons to summarise information and highlight areas of your research.

Figure out what a study means and look at where else we can learn more are really important for making academic work have a bigger impact.

Call to action is optional but adding one can encourage your readers to take some action after learning your work.

Case Study Formatting Guidelines 

Effective case study formatting is essential to convey your insights clearly and engage your audience. Follow these guidelines to ensure your case study is well-organised and impactful:

• Opt for easily readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Maintain a consistent font size, typically 12 points for the body text.
• Set line spacing to double-spaced for the entire document.
• Use bullet points for concise and scannable information presentation.
• Employ numbered lists for sequences of steps or chronological order of events.
• Bold or italicize key phrases to draw attention to critical points; use underline sparingly.
• Choose left, center, or justified alignment based on your overall design.
• Make your headings clear and organized so readers know what's important.

If you need further assistance, check our case study format for students pdf here:

How To Write A Case Study Pdf

Case Study Format Template

Case studies can be used for different purposes. In social sciences, it can help you understand the problems of other people.

In businesses, it can help you earn the trust of potential customers. But do you even know what are the different  types of case study  and how to write one?

Refer to this case study format pdf before you start writing your own document. This student case study format sample contains all the information you might need when gathering information for your case study.

Case Study Format Examples

Case study examples are the best way to learn the basic techniques for writing a great case study on your own. 

Explore these short case study sample pdfs to gain insights into presenting your research cohesively:

For your help, we have also compiled real-life  case study examples  along with a format that you can refer to while writing your own.

APA Case Study Format

If you are asked to write a case study in APA format, keep in mind there are some specific requirements that you need to adhere to.

Here is a case study APA format example for you to learn how to format a case study.

Business Case Study Format

Business case studies can help businesses sell products or services to prospects. Here is a perfect example for you to learn how to write an impressive business case study.

Case Study Format For MBA Students

Case Study Format Nursing

Writing a great nursing case study can be tough. That’s why we have provided a case study format for nursing students to use as a guide in creating their work. 

Refer to this family case study format example if you are writing a nursing case study for the first time.

Nursing Case Study Format

Harvard Business School Case Study Format

Looking for HBS style business case study? Here is one for you to read and take hints and ideas to prepare this type of case study like a professional.

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Medical Case Study Format

Writing medical case studies is helpful in medical practices as it gives a lot of information about different diseases. Look at this example and learn how to write a detailed medical case study.

Case Study Format Psychology 

To study how the human mind works, you need a clear and organised method. Follow this easy psychology case study format to explore the details of psychological research:

Case Study Format Psychology

To sum it up, getting good at writing case studies means combining a clear structure, good storytelling, and smart presentation. If you follow the tips I've shared in this blog, you're on your way to making interesting stories that grab people's attention.

If your case study is causing problems, consider getting professional help. 

Our custom paper writing service aims to help you secure top grades by meeting the criteria set by professors. 

Our skilled writers are here to assist with any type of assignment you may have. Explore our case study writing service to relieve your stress and excel academically.

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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APA Case Study Format

A case study is one of many research instruments or strategies that are widely used by students, who are studying a particular issue or situation. Case studies are usually assigned to sociology, psychology, education, and anthropology courses. If you are experiencing some difficulties with this task and do not know how to write a case study in APA, we advise you to learn the following guide. It will help you understand this task better and become a skilled case study writer. So, there will be no need for you to put your " write my case study for me " request in the search engines.

APA Case Study Writing

A case study is an assignment that aims to investigate a certain problem and offer a good solution. They may range from academic studies to corporate promotion tools that aim to sell specific goods. Whereas the research paper focuses on the reader`s attention to the specific idea, a case study goes far beyond. In particular, a case study requires ( APA 7th edition changes ) the student to pay attention to the smallest details, as well as investigate the issue from different perspectives using various research methods. As every problem in human life can be treated from different aspects, each case study demands a unique approach.

Think About the Research

As well as in many other academic tasks, in writing case studies, research goes first. Undoubtedly, being a student, you cannot be considered an expert. Therefore, your statements without evidence do not have much value. Reading different sources with different experts` opinions will help you come up with the most effective solutions for the analysis of your topic.

Best Steps for an Effective Start of APA Case Writing

• First of all, it is better to surf the web for credible and relevant sources.
• When the list of sources is ready - categorize them according to the ideas discussed in them.
• Think about the key aspects of the topic you want to discuss in your case study. This process is called brainstorming. It consists of writing down all the ideas that come to your mind.
• Another great idea is to find several of the most substantial sub-topics and focus on them.
• Now it is time to think about the key solutions. Do not hesitate to rely on the class discussions, your personal experiences, or class readings.
• Now the preparation stage is done. So you can start to create a great case study outline and follow it point by point.
• While writing your key study, it is better to select the best solution and develop it.

BONUS HINT.  If you want to get additional points for your paper, here is an elite tip for you. Use several methods for collecting and analyzing the data. Your professor is guaranteed to add a few additional points for such a multifaceted approach in your methodology chapter.

The Next Step is to Write a Draft of Your APA Case Study

When the research is done and the key ideas are selected, writing a rough draft is not a problem. We advise you to check the grading rubric and prompt once again to ensure you move in the right direction. Knowing all the criteria and following the correct assignment structure, you will be able to create a truly great case study that will impress the most demanding professor. If you feel that you cannot do this task well, feel free to break it down into several pieces and write each of them separately.

• Case Study Introduction . Introduce your topic to your target audience. A good introduction to the case study should contain enough background information on the results of the previous studies on your topic so that the audience could familiarize themselves with the topic chosen. At the same time, do not overburden your introduction with unnecessary details. The length of the introduction depends on the length of your case study.
• Case Study Aims . The aim of your case study is suggested in your thesis statement. It should outline the scope of your research emphasizing the issues you want to tackle.
• Case Study Methods . It is crucially important to inform your audience about what methods you used to collect your information. This section may include all interviews, academic journals, statistics, or observations.
• Case Study Results . As the name suggests, this section is dedicated to the results of your research. Tell the audience what did you discover and if it has some theoretical or practical value.
• Case Study Discussion . This section should give answers to the following questions: why did you pick this specific topic? What did you find about it? Are there some alternative approaches to its analysis?
• Case Study Recommendations . Keep in mind that it is not a research paper, so your conclusion should not only restate the ideas discussed in the paper but also give practical recommendations.

Learn How to Write a Case Study in APA Format

Experts from EliteWritings.com have created a lot of case study APA papers. They got years and years of experience. And now you are reading their explanation in detail on how to write an APA case study. According to them, your paper needs to be double-spaced. According to the case study format APA, your paper will include an abstract, a main body, and a reference list. Also, it should contain a running head on the top left corner of every page. Also, you have to use Arabic numerals for putting in page numbers.

Title Page and Abstract to APA Case Study

In APA, a title page is a separate page that contains only the name of the student, the name of the instructor, the educational institution, and the running head.

An abstract usually contains a few sentences and serves as a summary of the paper. According to the APA guide, an abstract should take 200-250 words. If you do not know how to cite a case study in APA, feel free to find good samples available on the web or address your instructor for assistance.

How to Cite Case Study APA

The best way to cite an APA case study is next: when you quote or paraphrase some text, you need to mention the name of the author and the year of publication. Purdue Online Writing Lab suggests the following quotation:

References in APA Format

All sources used in your case study should appear in your reference list alphabetically. The information from these sources should follow the common order: the name of the article, the date of publication, the title, and the publisher.

A finished entry can look as follows:

Case Study Format APA Examples on EliteWritings.com

• Mary Kay Cosmetics Analysis .
• Feasibility Analysis of the Project .
• Malaysian Airlines Business Turnaround Plan .
• Civil Law Case Analysis Example .
• WalMart Inc. Employees Health Analysis .

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All You Need To Know About APA Case Study (Top Guide)

Citing a case study in APA is no mean feat for any student, whether in college or university. Most students would opt to have this task completed by expert writers instead of themselves. However, you can know how to cite a case study in APA and write an A+ paper painstakingly.

Well, all the answers you need for this are a few scrolls away. Follow me as we explore how to write a case study in APA like a pro!

Table of Contents

• 1. What Is the APA Citation Case Study?
• 2. Case Study Outline: Structure and Writing Tips
• 3. How To Cite a Case Study in APA: Outline
• 4. General APA Case Study Citation Template
• 5. Case Study Title Page For APA 6 and APA 7
• 5.1. APA 6 Case Study Title Page
• 5.2. APA 7 Case Study Title Page
• 6. APA Case Study Citations
• 7. APA Case Study References

What Is the APA Citation Case Study?

APA is an acronym for the American Psychological Association. It is an in-text and reference list citation format used for case studies, theoretical methodologies, literature reviews, empirical studies, and methodological articles. Its use is most prominent in the science fields.

An APA case study allows readers to understand the types of sources used in a project and their components. The information in the post follows the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

It outlines how to properly organize and structure a research paper, explain the grammar guidelines, and cite sources correctly. You will also get the differences between the 6th and 7th editions at the end of this guide.

Case Study Outline: Structure and Writing Tips

A case study is a kind of report, where sections within the essay’s body deal with specific aspects of the case. For instance, your instructor may ask you to focus on particular questions about the issue and organize your writing around those questions.

There are different kinds of case studies, including:

• Historical,
• Problem-oriented,
• Cumulative,
• Critical and
• Illustrative case studies

The type of case study will depend on the topic of discussion. A case structure mainly comprises of the following parts, though this may vary depending on different institutions:

• Cover page: It comprises of the necessary details of the student and class information. These include all authors’ names, institutional affiliation, course number and title, instructor’s name, and due date.
• Table of contents provides an outline of where critical parts of the report can be found and direct the reader accordingly.
• Executive summary: It explains what you will examine in the case study. You will also give an overview of the field you’re researching.
• Introduction: It identifies the focal problem being faced together with background information and the most relevant facts. Any previous studies of the issue come here.
• Case Evaluation: It includes the study’s purpose and the specific questions you are trying to answer. You also have an explanation of why something is working or is not working.
• Proposed solutions: You will give the decision criteria and possible alternatives for solving the problem at hand. They should be realistic ways to decipher what isn’t working or how to improve their current condition.
• Recommendations: Highlight the strategies that you can use to better the situation with explanations on their appropriateness.
• Implementation: It has details on how to execute the recommendations and ensure their success.
• References: Provide citations of sources used in the case study project at any point.

Nonetheless, remember to refer to your assignment instructions to find out what you have to do in the writing process.

How To Cite a Case Study in APA: Outline

The standard in-text citation and reference list formats for a case study require that you have an in-depth understanding of the APA citation style. The APA case study format follows a list of stringent rules which you must abide by to have an A+ paper.

Before embarking on the citation process, ensure that you have the following elements in place:

• The author’s name
• Date of publication
• The title of the case study
• Number of case study

Once the details above are intact, it is now time to curate them into the order recommended for APA citation style. You can request one of our professionally tailored APA format case study example to understand this concept better.

Also, feel free to take any APA style case study paper example below for your motivation:

General APA Case Study Citation Template

• General Style

Author(s). (Year). Title of the case study. The number of the case study. URL. For example, Warbeck, D. (2010). Integrated Management. HBS No. 7-806-122. https://hbsp.oxford.edu/cases/

• Textbook Case Study Format APA

Author(s) or editor(s) of the chapter or case study (Year of the book publication). Title of chapter or case study.

For Example, Jameson, B. (2003). The Role of Online Writing. In J. Ness, Cases in College Students (pp.15-18). HMD Publishing.

• Footnote Structure:

Content Footnote:

1 Student rely on online sites for completing their assignments.

Copyright Attribution:

1 Adapted from “Content Management in the US,” by H. B. Gibbering, 08 June 2005, Harvard Business Review, 3(12), p. 34 ( https://hbr.org/case/hbs_22345 ).

• In-Text Appearance:

First footnote: Branding remains a crucial aspect of digital marketing. 1

Case Study Title Page For APA 6 and APA 7

Here are the differences between the two formats as presented in the screens below. Note, that the title page for APA 7 case study doesn’t require any running head, and the paper title is bold.

APA 6 Case Study Title Page

APA 7 Case Study Title Page

APA Case Study Citations

Apa case study references.

And that is how to reference a case study in APA 6th and 7th edition. Perhaps a sample from one of our professional writing experts can help you. With our online writing help , you can request for an APA style case study paper example and use it as a motivation to get started.

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How to Create a Case Study Using APA Format

With a case study, you provide an in-depth observation into an event, process or person. A well-written case study requires planning and thought to properly analyze the situation and offer possible solutions. When your professor requests that you write your paper in American Psychological Association style, he is looking for a particular format and structure.

Format Guidelines

The sixth edition of the “Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association” provides general instructions on how to format your case study. Your paper should be double-spaced and have a 1-inch margin on all sides. The APA recommends you use 12-point Times New Roman font. When you indent the first line of a paragraph, use one-half inch indentations. APA style recommends that your case study feature a title page, abstract (if required), main body and references. Your running head lies at the top of each page in your header. This should feature your title on the flush left hand side and your page numbers on the flush right hand side. Your title is limited to 50 characters in the running head. If you need to condense it, select only the keywords. Type your title in all capital letters and use Arabic numerals for your page numbers.

Title Page and Abstract

In APA style, your title page and abstract are separate pages. For your title page, your running head is slightly different. Before your title, include the words “Running head” and a colon. For the rest of this page, list your case study’s title, your first and last name and your university’s name. This information should be centered in the upper half of the page.

For your abstract, write a paragraph that serves as a summary of your paper. For a case study, this should include what you investigated, the characteristics of your participants, the experimental method you used and any findings or conclusions you reached. In APA style, this paragraph should be 200 to 250 words in length.

In-Text Citations

With APA format, when you quote, paraphrase or summarize someone else’s work, you must list the author’s name and the year of publication. If it is a direct quotation or summary, you must include the page number.

To enhance readability, try to incorporate the author’s name into your sentence and then write the year and the page number in parentheses. As an example on the Purdue Online Writing Lab states, “According to Jones (1998), 'Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time' (p. 199)."

If it is impossible to include the author’s name in your text, place your in-text citation as close as possible to the material you cited. The Pearson Education chapter entitled "APA Documetation with Case Study" uses the following example:

“People from the Mediterranean prefer an elbow-to-shoulder distance from each other" (Morris, 1977).

Following your text, you must supply a complete bibliographical list for your readers. In APA style, alphabetize the entries by the author’s last name. Most citations include four main parts: author’s name, date, title of the article and publication information.

A general guideline for APA format is the author’s last name, a comma, first initial and a period. Next, place the year of publication within parentheses; place a period outside the final parenthesis. Type the title in italics and sentence case followed by a period. Finally, write the city of publication, a colon, the publisher’s name and end with a period. A finished entry might look like this:

Wood, P. (2003). Diversity: The invention of a concept. San Francisco: Encounter Books.

• APA Documentation with Case Study
• Purdue University: APA Formatting and Style Guide: In-Text Citations: The Basics
• University of Ottawa: Academic Writing Help Center: APA Style
• Purdue University: APA Formatting and Style Guide: General Format
• Radford University: Dr. Jeff Aspelmeier: A Sample APA Paper

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A case study is an in-depth research project where the writer takes one situation or problem and attempts to discuss or solve the topic with one specific example, or case. The writer can discuss, for instance, issues in politics by researching one town's government, provide a solution for rising high school dropout rates by interviewing one student, or even test pet training methods on one dog. The purpose of the case study is to provide a solution to an existing issue, and this requires extensive hands-on research and a thoroughly written article.

Choose the topic for your case study. A case study is an in-depth project that will require you to go above and beyond merely finding the results of other people's work and discussing these points. You will have to conduct your own research and share your findings in your paper. As such, be sure to pick a topic that you are interested in and that you can reasonably research. In other words, if you decide to focus on one person, be sure to have access to this person for interviews and observation.

Research your case. Like any other research paper, many sources are required in order to strengthen your case study. In addition to the typical books, articles and websites, however, you need to include interviews and/or hands-on research. This information will be the backbone of your study.

Analyze and organize your information. Before you can begin the writing process, you should have a good idea of what direction your paper will take based on your findings. Part of the organization process should include listing your sources for the reference page.

Prepare the title page. This should include the title, running head, author, byline, institutional affiliation, and author note. Also, as APA style requires you to number each page, include this as page one.

Write the abstract. This should be located on page two of your case study, and will contain the four or five most important points that will be discussed in the following pages. For the purposes of the case study, this means the individual or organization under study, the problem addressed, and the questions raised. Keep the abstract to about 150-200 words in one block paragraph format.

Write the body of your case study. A thorough discussion of your research and findings should be written in an engaging way. Remember that a case study is supposed to provide a solution to an existing problem, so your paper should tell a story using formal language, allowing the reader to reach your conclusion along with you. Format your paper with 1 inch margins, a running header, 12-point font, double-spacing and section headers.

Organize the reference page. You are required to include a reference page with all your sources when writing in APA style. This should be written in alphabetical order by author and include pertinent information such as article name, publication name, website and year, among other things, depending on the type of source. Format this page with a hanging indent, where the first line is flush left and all subsequent lines are indented one half-inch from the margin.

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition
• Essay Forum: How to Write a Case Study?
• Andrews University: Case Study Guidelines
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition; American Psychological Association
• When writing a case study for a class, follow your instructor's guidelines first, even if something contradicts APA Style, in order to ensure you receive the best possible grade.
• Case study writing is a fluid process, which means that as you write, you may find you need to conduct additional research. Do not become discouraged as this is normal and only strengthens your work in the end.

Jen has been a professional writer since 2002 in the education nonprofit industry. Her work has been featured in the New Jersey SEEDS Annual Report, as well as several Centenary College publications, including "Centenary in the News" and the "Trustee Times." In 2009, Jen earned a Master of Arts degree in leadership and public administration from Centenary College.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite a Case Study in APA, MLA, or Chicago

How to Cite a Case Study in APA, MLA, or Chicago

When citing a case study, the format in MLA and APA is similar to that of a report, and in Chicago style, it is similar to that of a book. For all three citation styles, you will need the name of the author(s), the title of the case study, the year it was published, the publishing organization/publisher, and URL (if applicable). The templates and examples below will demonstrate how to cite a case study in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles.

Author Last Name, Author First Name.  Title of Case Study . Edition (if applicable), volume number (if applicable), Publisher, year of publication, URL without http:// or https:// (if applicable).

Hill, Linda A., et al. HCL Technologies (A). Rev. edition, Harvard Business School, 2008, www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=34784.

In-text Citation:

(Author Last Name(s) page #)

(Hill et al. 8)

Author Last Name, Author Initial. (Publication Year). Title of Case Study (Case # if applicable). Publishing Organization. URL

Hill, L., Khanna, T., & Stecker, E. (2008). HCL Technologies (A) (Case 408-004). Harvard Business School. https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=34784

(Author Last Name, Publication Year)

(Hill et al., 2008)

Notes-bibliography style

Author Last Name, First Name.  Title of the Case Study . Publishing City: Publishing Organization, Publication Year. URL.

Hill, Linda A., Tarun Khanna, and Emily Stecker. HCL Technologies (A).  Boston: Harvard Business School, 2008. https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=34784.

1. Author First Name Last Name, Title of the Case Study (Publishing City: Publishing Organization, Publication Year), URL.

1. Linda A. Hill, Tarun Khanna, and Emily Stecker, HCL Technologies (A) ( Boston: Harvard Business School, 2008), https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=34784.

Author-date style

Author Last Name, First Name. Publication Year. Title of the Case Study . Publishing City: Publishing Organization. URL.

Hill, Linda A., Tarun Khanna, and Emily Stecker. 2008. HCL Technologies (A).  Boston: Harvard Business School. https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=34784.

In-text citation: 

(Author Last Name Publication Date)

(Holl, Khanna, and Stecker 2008)

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How to Cite a Case Study in APA: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’re writing an academic paper, you may need to cite a case study. But how do you do that? This guide will explain everything you need to know about citing a case study in APA format.

Table of Contents

What is APA?

APA stands for American Psychological Association. It is a style guide used by many academic disciplines, including psychology, sociology, and business. The purpose of the APA style is to provide a consistent format for academic writing, making it easier for readers to understand and follow the author’s argument.

Why is it important to cite a case study?

Citing a case study is important for several reasons. First, it gives credit to the original author for their work. Second, it allows readers to find the source if they want to learn more. Finally, it adds credibility to your work by demonstrating that you have researched and referenced other relevant studies.

How to cite a case study in APA format

Here are the steps you need to follow to cite a case study in APA format:

Step 1: Start with the author’s last name and first initial.

The first step in citing a case study is to list the author’s last name and first initial. For example Smith, J.

Step 2: Include the year of publication in parentheses.

Next, you need to include the year of publication in parentheses. For example: (2018).

Step 3: Provide the title of the case study in italics.

After the year of publication, you need to provide the title of the case study in italics. For example The impact of social media on adolescent mental health.

Step 4: Add the name of the publisher.

The next step is to add the name of the publisher. For example Harvard Business Review Press.

Step 5: Include the DOI or URL.

Finally, you need to include the DOI or URL where the case study can be found. For example https://doi.org/10.1145/1234567.1234567

Here’s what the final citation should look like:

Smith, J. (2018). The impact of social media on adolescent mental health. Harvard Business Review Press. https://doi.org/10.1145/1234567.1234567

What to do if there is no DOI or URL

If you cannot find a DOI or URL for the case study, you can omit it from the citation. In that case, you should include the name of the database where you found the case study instead. For example:

Smith, J. (2018). The impact of social media on adolescent mental health. Harvard Business Review Press. Academic Search Complete.

Tips for citing a case study in APA format

• Always check the specific requirements of your instructor or publisher to ensure that you are following their guidelines correctly.
• Double-check your citations to make sure that you have included all the necessary information.
• If you are citing multiple case studies from the same author or publisher, you can use a shortened version of the citation after the first one. For example Smith (2018, p. 25).

Citing a case study in APA format may seem daunting at first, but it is quite simple once you know the steps. By following the guidelines in this article, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and complete and that you are giving credit to the original authors for their work.

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• Case studies

General format

There is no specific way to reference a case study in APA style. Case studies are typically published as an article or report, or within a book. Format the reference list entry according to the type of publication. Following are some examples of case studies in business.

Business case study

Author(s). (Year).   Title of case study . Number of case study. URL

Harvard business school case study

Dey, A. (2022). Corporate governance: A three pillar framework. HBS No. 491-009.  https://hbsp.harvard.edu/cases/

Ivey business school case study

Dunbar, C., & Southam, C. (2005). London youth symphony. Ivey ID: 9B05009.  http://iveycases.com

Style notes

• If the case study is not numbered, leave it out of the reference entry.
• If the source is a book, format the reference according to the rules for books.
• If the source is a journal, format the reference according to the rules for journal articles.
• << Previous: Book and chapter
• Next: Dictionary or encyclopaedia entry >>
• Indigenous authors
• In-text citations
• Artificial intelligence tools
• Book and chapter
• Dictionary or encyclopaedia entry
• Health information sources
• Journal article
• Newspaper or magazine article
• Thesis or dissertation
• Webpage or website
• Writing style resources & sample papers

Generate accurate APA citations for free

• Knowledge Base
• APA Style 7th edition
• APA headings and subheadings

APA Headings and Subheadings | With Sample Paper

Published on November 7, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on October 24, 2022.

Headings and subheadings provide structure to a document. They signal what each section is about and allow for easy navigation of the document.

APA headings have five possible levels. Each heading level is formatted differently.

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Table of contents

Additional guidelines for apa headings, how many heading levels should you use, when to use which apa heading level, section labels vs headings, sample paper with apa headings, using heading styles in word or google docs.

As well as the heading styles, there are some other guidelines to keep in mind:

• Double-space all text, including the headings.
• Use the same font for headings and body text (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt.).
• Don’t label headings with numbers or letters.
• Don’t add extra “enters” above or below headings.

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The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

• Missing commas and periods
• Incorrect usage of “et al.”
• Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
• Missing reference entries

Depending on the length and complexity of your paper, you may not use all five heading levels. In fact, shorter student papers may have no headings at all.

It’s also perfectly fine for some sections in your paper to go as deep as five levels, where others use only heading level 1.

Heading level 1 is used for main sections like “ Methods ”, “ Results ”, and “ Discussion ”. There is no “ Introduction ” heading at the beginning of your paper because the first paragraphs are understood to be introductory.

Heading level 2 is used for subsections under level 1. For example, under “Methods” (level 1) you may have subsections for “Sampling Method” and “Data Analysis” (level 2). This continues all the way down to heading level 5.

Always use at least two subheadings or none at all. If there is just one subheading, the top-level heading is sufficient.

In addition to regular headings, APA works with “section labels” for specific parts of the paper. They’re similar to headings but are formatted differently. Section labels are placed on a separate line at the top of a new page in bold and centered.

Use section labels for the following sections in an APA formatted paper :

• Author note
• Paper title
• Reference page

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Instead of formatting every heading individually, you can use the “Styles” feature in Word or Google Docs. This allows you to save the styling and apply it with just a click.

The first time you use APA Style, you need to update the default heading styles to reflect the APA heading guidelines. Click here for the instructions for Microsoft Word and Google Docs .

An added benefit of using the “Styles” feature is that you can automatically generate a table of contents .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2022, October 24). APA Headings and Subheadings | With Sample Paper. Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-headings/

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