C. Selected Case Studies

[Skip Breadcrumb Navigation]

This section contains links to a series of selected case studies. These URLs are provided here to instructors rather than students, because students may not know how to use them in relation to the assignments for your class.

The following selected links and the brief descriptions of cases were culled—with special attention to their applicability for science communication assignments—from the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science Case Collection at the University of Buffalo. Other and more recent cases can be found at this Web site. Grateful acknowledgment is given to the Center for making such resources publicly available, and to the individual scientists who authored these cases for their valuable contributions to science education.

These case studies can be used as the basis for the research report or research proposal, as well as other major projects and assignments as you see fit.

The cases are organized by general field (i.e., chemistry, ecology/environment, medicine, physics, etc.), in alphabetical order. The title and authors of the case, their brief description, and advice on the use of the case is included with each URL.

Click here for a printable version of these case studies.

ANATOMY / PHYSIOLOGY

"A Bad Reaction: A Case Study in Immunology"
"In addition to illustrating the various roles of immune cells, the physiology of anaphylaxis, and the function of antibodies in immune physiology, the case explores concepts related to histocompatibilities, organ donation, and organ rejection." (Have students write up the experiment and results for an appropriate journal in the field.)
"Gender: In the Genes or in the Jeans? A Case Study on Sexual Differentiation"
"This case explores the biology of human sexual differentiation and its social and ethical ramifications." (Students may treat this as a small-scale research project, and write up the experiment and results for an appropriate journal. For the research report, they should design professional tables for the final results.)

ANTHROPOLOGY
"Dem Bones: Forensic Resurrection of a Skeleton"
"In this case study, a forensic anthropologist must determine the age and sex as well as look for signs of trauma to a skeleton found in a shallow grave in a state park. Students simulate the actual procedures used in a forensics lab and learn to identify bones, landmarks, and anatomical features associated with sex, age, height, and pathology." (Students can write up this discovery as a short journal article or note to a journal in anthropology.)
"The Missing Link"
"The setting for this case study is a paleontological dig in East Africa, where Sam, an American undergraduate student, has unearthed part of what appears to be an ancestral human skull. In the lab, students examine a number of primate skulls and are asked to make up a phylogeny based on their observations." (Students can write up a report on their team's findings for an appropriate journal in the field, or propose a wider study to an appropriate funding agency.)
"Of Mammoths and Men: A Case Study in Extinction"
"The recent discovery of a mammoth frozen in the Siberian tundra is the backdrop for this case study, which explores the various theories for the extinction of the great Ice Age mammals and Homo neanderthalensis. Students research evidence for and against the different hypotheses and then discuss in class the merits of each." (Students can write a research report for an appropriate journal in which they review the debate; if they are able to advance a hypothesis based on available data contained in the case or elsewhere, they can do so.)

BOTANY
"Is Guaiacum santum Effective Against Arthritis? An Ethnobotany Case"
"Students read the case and then answer questions designed to explore the process of screening and testing the medicinal value of plants identified as having potential health benefits." (Have students write up the experiment and results for an appropriate journal in the field.)

CHEMISTRY
"As Light Meets Matter-Art Under Scrutiny"
"In this dilemma case, the central character, a museum curator, must decide whether or not to show a painting as a hitherto 'undiscovered' Cézanne. The stylistic analysis suggests it is for real, but data obtained using different spectroscopic techniques is inconclusive. Students study the data to determine whether the painting is authentic or a fake." (Students can use this case as the basis of a research report on chemistry in art. They may want to generalize about the applicability of the methods employed here to other paintings, as well as their usefulness.)
"To Spray or Not to Spray: A Debate Over Malaria and DDT"
"In this case study, students grapple with the complex issues surrounding the use of DDT to control malaria. In their examination of the issue, students consider risk/benefit analysis and the precautionary principle, two techniques used when making policy decisions involving the impact of science and technology on society." (Students can write a research report in which they address questions 2-5, and their implications.)

ECOLOGY / ENVIRONMENT
"Fecal Coliforms in Antarctica"
"In this interrupted case study, students explore the environmental consequences of Antarctic research as they design experiments to assess the impact of disposing untreated sewage from a research station into the ocean." (Students can make good use of the material in this case, particularly the maps and other info about the Station in Part I, and the graphics and data in Part II. They can then write a research report to an appropriate journal [or agency] and make a recommendation, as if they had conducted the experiment. Students should be sure to check the references for background information for their review of the literature and other criteria.)
"Watch Your Step: Understanding the Impact of Your Personal Consumption on the Environment"
"This case makes use of the concept of the "ecological footprint," developed by Wackernagel and colleagues to quantify the amount of land area required to sustain the lifestyle of a population of any size." (This rich case, involving biospheres and population data, can be used as the basis of a research report or research proposal. Students may use some of the questions appropriate for a report or proposal as the basis of a hypothesis, or they may create their own hypothesis to test using the data contained in this case.)
"Threats to Biodiversity: A Case Study of Hawaiian Birds"
"This case study analyzes the impact of introduced species on the bird populations of Hawaii." (Students can use the questions and data in this case to "construct" an experiment and write a research report to an appropriate journal.)
"Search for the Missing Sea Otters: An Ecological Detective Story"
"Using a progressive disclosure format, this case study teaches students how to apply ecological principles to a real-life ecological problem—the decline in sea otter populations in Alaska. Students interpret data from graphs and tables, and practice developing testable hypotheses as they work in groups to solve the mystery of the 'missing' sea otters." (Students can use this case as the basis of a research report or research proposal to an appropriate journal or funding agency.)
"The Effects of Coyote Removal in Texas: A Case Study in Conservation Biology"
"This interrupted case study presents published data on the effect of coyote removal in Texas to teach students about trophic level relationships and the role of keystone species. Students interpret data presented graphically and predict how changes at one trophic level may affect populations and communities at other trophic levels." (Students can use this case as the basis of a research report or research proposal to an appropriate journal or funding agency.)
"The Wolf, the Moose, and the Fir Tree: Who Controls Whom on Isle Royale? A Case Study of Trophic Interactions"
"In this analysis case, students study predator-prey dynamics in the Isle Royal National Park ecosystem, drawing on data and findings reported in the scientific literature." (Students can use the hypotheses and data in this case study to construct a research report for an appropriate journal.)

EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
"Si el Norte Fuera el Sur: A Case of Squirrel Monkey Identities"
"In this case study, students are given the task of developing a recovery plan to protect a recently discovered population of Central American squirrel monkeys on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. In the process they must determine whether the population is a separate species or related to another species of monkeys in the area." (In their research report, you may not want students to fabricate data, as suggested in this case itself.)
"Something's Fishy in Paxton Lake: Speciation in Sticklebacks"
"In this case study, which explores the mechanisms of speciation, students work in groups to design a series of experiments to determine whether two populations of sticklebacks in Paxton Lake in British Columbia represent separate species." (Students can use this case as the basis of a research proposal; they should be sure to argue the importance of the problem based on the goals and values of the funding agency.)
"Mom Always Liked You Best: Examining the Hypothesis of Parental Favoritism"
"This case study is based on a journal article on the parenting behavior of American coots. Working through the case, students develop hypotheses and design experiments to test their hypotheses as they are given pieces of the case in an interrupted case format. A 'prologue' to the case describes the interrupted case format in detail." (Beginning with Part I, which follows the prologue, students can work through the case and write a research report using their hypothesis and experimental design to predict or be refuted by the data provided.)

MEDICINE (GENETICS)
"How a Cancer Trial Ended in Betrayal"
"In this case study, students learn about the complexities and issues associated with clinical trials...[S]tudents simulate their own small-scale 'clinical trial' in class. The simulation involves a secret breaching of a blind test and manipulation of data to favor a positive effect for a particular proprietary drug. As part of the simulation, students examine 'before' and 'after' photographs of skin lesions from 'patients.'" (Although this case is based on exploring the notion of fraud, students—using the materials provided in the case, and in the case teaching notes—can make this simulated study "legitimate," and write up the results of their small clinical trial for an appropriate journal.)
"Childbed Fever: A Nineteenth-Century Mystery"
"This case...provides a brief, factual account of the pioneering work of Ignaz and his efforts to remedy the problem of childbed fever in mid-19^th-century Europe." (Working through Parts I, II, and III of this case, students can assume they are scientists replicating and extending/improving Semmelweis' experiment, and write up the research report.)
"A Search for the Right Answer: Fetal Tissue Research and Parkinson's Disease"
"In this role-playing case study on Parkinson's disease, students learn about brain injury and brain repair mechanisms, the physical and psychological effects of a degenerative disease on a patient and her family, the ethical questions surrounding the use of fetal tissue in research programs, and the sociological implications of an aging population." (Students might use the data and references provided in the case to construct a research report; they will need to [re]build a methods section that would allow them to obtain results.)
"Directed Case Study: The Death of Baby Pierre—A Genetic Mystery"
"This directed case study on a genetic disorder was developed for an exam on genetics in a course in general biology." (Students can use this case to design a proposal for a larger-scale study.)

MICROBIOLOGY
"Between the Living and the Dead"
"This engagingly written case explores the differences between viruses and bacteria while teaching about the basic components and 'life' cycle of a T-even bacteriophage. The case includes a follow-up assignment in which students explore the risks and potential benefits of using bacteriophage to control bacterial disease." (Students can use data contained in the follow-up study and references to construct a research report on this topic, or a proposal suggesting the next needed step in research.)
"Nanobacteria: Are They or Aren't They Alive?"
"This case study draws upon two recently published conflicting research reports on the status of nanobacteria as living organisms to explore basic concepts related to the biological definition of life and the process of scientific investigation." (Students can use the scientific questions posed and data provided in this case as the basis for a research report whose results favor one or another prior report.)
"Is Iron Fertilization Good for the Sea?"
"This case explores how human activities contribute to greenhouse effects and global warming." (Students can use this case as basis of a research proposal.)
"Microbial Pie, or What Did You Feed the Neighbors?"
"This case uses a story of microbial contamination, combined with lab experiments, to teach skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and experimental design and analysis." (Students can use this case as basis of a small pilot study involving one neighborhood.)
"Morgan: A Case of Diabetes"
"The overall objective of this case is to teach students about the causes and effects of Type 2 diabetes by working through the various options available to a young Native American woman suffering from the disease. This case can be used in a variety of settings, including nutrition classrooms, herbal drug courses, physiology courses, medical schools, nursing schools, pharmacy schools, diabetes workshops, and even weight-loss clinics." (Students can use this case as the basis for a [clinical report or] proposal; it might also be suitable for the development of a set of procedures, discussed in Chapter 7 of Writing in the Sciences.)

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY / GENETICS/PLANT SCIENCE
"Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis: Bt Corn, Lignin, and ANOVAs"
"This case is based on a research paper about the lignin content of genetically modified corn published in the American Journal of Botany. Students are asked to analyze and discuss the paper, focusing on questions related to experimental design and interpretation and a critique of the statistical data presented." (Students can construct methods from the abstract, results from methods, etc. They can write the report as if they were conducting the experiment, or altering/improving/extending the experimental design or interpretation of prior research.)
"Gender: In the Genes or in the Jeans? A Case Study on Sexual Differentiation"
"This case explores the biology of human sexual differentiation and its social and ethical ramifications. In working through the case, students learn how scientists use laboratory experiments on animals and 'experiments of nature,' or conditions that occur naturally in humans, to help them understand human biology." (Students should work through pertinent questions and data as if they were conducting the experiment and writing the research report.)
"Sickle Cell Anemia"
"In this case study on sickle cell anemia, students are introduced to some of the key investigators responsible for determining the molecular basis of the disease and learn about the functioning of erythrocytes as well as the notion that changes in the environment can influence the functioning of cells." (Students can use as basis of a research report; see especially Section 3 of this case study.)
"Directed Case Study: The Death of Baby Pierre—A Genetic Mystery"
"This [is a] case study on a genetic disorder." (Students can use this case as the basis of a pilot research report.)
"Hemophilia: 'The Royal Disease'"
"This case study uses the spread of hemophilia through successive generations of Europe's royal families through Queen Victoria's descendants to illustrate classical principles of genetics." (Students can propose a study to answer questions, or use the case as the basis of a research report by developing methods, results, and implications.)

NATURAL RESOURCES / METEOROLOGY

"The Petition: A Global Warming Case Study"
"The goal of this dilemma case study is to teach students about the various aspects of global warming. Students read graphs and interpret data, and consider the political, economic, and ethical issues surrounding the controversy." (Students can use this case as the basis of a research report or especially a proposal.)

PHYSICS
"A Fridge in Space: A Case Study in Thermodynamics"
"This case provides an in-depth study of the principles of thermodynamics and the ADR cycle." (From Physics Today. Students can use this case as basis of a research report; the case also leaves questions at the end that can be used for a research proposal.)

PHYSICS/NATURAL RESOURCES
"An Electrical Storm on the Horizon: Can Technology Stimulate Reasoned Debate on Waste Containment?"
"In this case study, student teams design a prototype sensor capable of quantitative measurement of dissolved oxygen and fluorescein dye in water in order to analyze runoff from an impoundment facility potentially leaching toxins into the groundwater. The case was developed for an undergraduate laboratory course in photonics for junior- and senior-level students." (Students can use this case as the basis of a research report or proposal.)

PHYSICS/NATURAL RESOURCES / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
"The Day They Turned the Falls On: The Invention of the Universal Electrical Power System"
"This case details the history of the use of a natural resource, Niagara Falls, to generate electricity." (Students can use this case as the basis of a proposal on the next step in the research.)

PLANT PATHOLOGY
"War of the Roses: A Case Study in Plant Pathology"
"In this case, students use lab techniques to determine how the protagonist of the case, a student in a plant pathology class, can find out what's wrong with his mother's roses." (Students can use the questions and details to construct/do a simple experiment, and write a research report to an appropriate journal.)

PSYCHOLOGY

"Studying Racial Bias: Too Hot to Handle?"
"This case explores the fundamental principles of memory, eyewitness accuracy, and police questioning techniques in witness identification in a criminal case. By studying the details of an actual series of attacks and the subsequent police investigation, students learn that memory is a reconstructive process rather than an accurate recording of events." (Students can rewrite the proposal to conform to IRB regulations)
"Treatment Options for Depression"
"This case study introduces students to treatment alternatives for depression using a jigsaw method in which groups of students are divided up so that each member of the 'home group' becomes the 'resident expert' in one of five possible treatment options, including a natural remedy." (Students can use this case to write a research report or proposal in psychology, pharmacology, or neurology for an appropriate journal or funding agency.)

[Return to the Top of this Page]