Specific steps in the Case Study Approach:
a. Determining Present Status: The first step is to gather descriptive information, which will determine as precisely as possible the present status of the unit under investigation. Here the investigator after knowing the problem tries to fin out nature and extent of the problem.
b. Gathering Background Information: Once the researcher is able to achieve an accurate description of the present situation he collects background data. Here the researcher collects information about and examines the circumstances leading to the current status. At this stage the investigator compiles a reasonable list of the possible cause of the present situation. He formulates the hypotheses about the true nature of the situation by making use of symptoms which appear in the data by using the researcher past experiences with similar situations and by using the knowledge of the principles of human behaviour.
c. Testing Suggested Hypothesis: At this step the researcher gathers specific evidences in relation to each of the hypotheses suggested from the background information just gathered. The individual behaviour is usually determine by several factors. The researcher tries to locate the factors which are influential and therefore are important. He tries to eliminate those which are not.
d. Instituting Remedial Action: The case studies are generally carried on the make an intensive examination of problem cases. Therefore the researcher tries to find out how one or more of the hypothesized difficulties actually contributed to the original difficulties. This is accomplished by instituting some remedial or corrective programme and then by examining as to what effect the change has brought about.