Case Study

Objectives Apply statistical techniques to real-life problems Understand social/financial/industrial/economic issues and study them using statistical methods Be able to analyze, interpret and draw meaningful conclusions from problem context Present study results with proper supporting evidences and references

Topic To be decided by your group You should be able to identify a problem that is worth investigating and be able to collect data for analysis Requirement: the solution to the problem that you choose has not yet been published

Topic The problem of your study must have practical meaning, and the data that you collected must be real-life data (not made up data) Read the case studies in the textbook to get some idea on how to determine a topic of study

Where to collect data You can use websites/newspapers/magazines… that provide real data or you can conduct interview/questionnaires on the individuals/companies that you wish to study Remember to cite your sources in the reference section

Submission Report 6-8 typewritten content pages (1.5 spacing) 12 point font (Times New Roman) Word document Presentation Slides 20 minute-speaking Submission method: read the Case study requirements

Report and Presentation Requirements of report and presentation: read the case study requirements carefully It is crucial that you offer your critical analysis of the study results and interpretations For the presentation: in addition to 20-minute speaking, there will be 10 minute Q/A

Distinguish Case study and other types of study (e.g. Project) There is a case (situation/scenario) Case contains a problem to be solved (you have to discover the problem/case yourself) Students are the decision makers Each case may have more than 1 right answer depending on how the problem is defined and which assumptions are made

Distinguish Case study and other types of study (e.g. Project) Consider alternative solutions Evaluate each alternative in light of the available information  best solution Interpret data and conclusions appropriately Conclusions/interpretations… must be based on reasons

Distinguish Case study and other types of study (e.g. Project) Critical thinking: we do not passively accept everything we read and hear, but we need to question, evaluate, make judgments, find connections and categories, be open to other points of view and not be blinded by our own biases Critical thinking means: following evidence, considering all possibilities, relying on reasons rather than emotion…