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)
Citation Guides
- Annotated Bibliography
- Block Quotes
- Citation Examples
- et al Usage
- In-text Citations
- Page Numbers
- Reference Page
- Sample Paper
- APA 7 Updates
- View APA Guide
- Bibliography
- Works Cited
- MLA 8 Updates
- View MLA Guide
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!
Let us improve this post!
Tell us how we can improve this post?
Citation Basics
Harvard Referencing
Plagiarism Basics
Plagiarism Checker
Upload a paper to check for plagiarism against billions of sources and get advanced writing suggestions for clarity and style.
Get Started
- EXPLORE Random Article
How to Cite a Case Study
Last Updated: March 6, 2024
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing, fact-checking, and evaluating wikiHow's content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 37,364 times.
Particularly in research for business studies or papers in the social sciences, you may want to cite a case study completed by a university or other organization. While case studies have titles and publication information like other articles, they often have a unique case study number that is typically included in your citation. While Chicago citation style is most frequently used in business schools, you may also use the American Psychological Association (APA) or Modern Language Association (MLA) style.
Sample Citations
- Example: Lee, Stan.
- If there is more than one author, list the additional authors' names in first-middle initial-last format. Separate author's names with commas, with the word "and" before the last author's name.
- Example: Lee, Stan. "DC Comics in 2016." HBS No. 999-111.
- Example: Lee, Stan. "DC Comics in 2016." HBS No. 999-111. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017.
- Example: Lee, Stan. "DC Comics in 2016." HBS No. 999-111. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017. http://hbsp.harvard.edu, accessed July 2018.
- Print example: Stan Lee, "DC Comics in 2016," HBS No. 999-111 (Boston, Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017), p. 14.
- Online example: Stan Lee, "DC Comics in 2016," HBS No. 999-111 (Boston, Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017), http://hbsp.harvard.edu, accessed July 2018.
- Example: Lee, S.
- Separate the names of multiple authors with commas, placing an ampersand before the last author's name.
- Example: Lee, S. (2017).
- If there is no year of publication listed, use the abbreviation "n.d." in the parentheses.
- Example: Lee, S. (2017). DC Comics in 2016 .
- Example: Lee, S. (2017). DC Comics in 2016 . HBS No. 999-111.
- Example: Lee, S. (2017). DC Comics in 2016 . HBS No. 999-111. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing.
- Example: (Lee, 2017).
- If there are 2 authors, place the word "and" between their names. For 3 or more, use commas with the word "and" before the final author. After the first author, list subsequent authors with their first name followed by their last name. For example: Lee, Stan and Clark Kent.
- Example: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case Study.
- Example: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case Study. Boston. Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017.
- Note that unlike many other citation styles, the unique case study number is not necessarily included for MLA citations. Ask your instructor or supervisor if they want this information included in your citation.
- Print example: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case Study. Boston. Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017. Print.
- Web example: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case Study. Boston. Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017. Web. 17 July 2018.
- If you accessed the case study online, you may put the URL of the case study. However, this isn't required by MLA style. Ask your instructor or supervisor for their preference.
- Example: (Lee 27).
Community Q&A
You Might Also Like
- ↑ https://guides.library.ualberta.ca/apa-citation-style/case-studies
- ↑ http://libanswers.snhu.edu/faq/128490
- ↑ http://libanswers.walsh.edu/faq/147917
- ↑ http://maag.guides.ysu.edu/businesscitations/mla
About this article
Did this article help you?
- About wikiHow
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Do Not Sell or Share My Info
- Not Selling Info
APA Citation Guide (APA 7th Edition): Case Studies
- Advertisements
- Artificial Intelligence
- Audio Materials
- Books, eBooks, Course Packs, Lab Manuals & Pamphlets
- Business Reports from Library Databases
Case Studies
- Class Notes, Class Recordings, Class Lectures and Presentations
- Creative Commons Licensed Works
- Digital Assignments: Citing Your Sources This link opens in a new window
- Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
- Games & Objects
- Government Documents
- Images, Infographics, Maps, Charts & Tables
- Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers (Oral Communication)
- Journal Articles
- Legal Resources
- Magazine Articles
- Newspaper Articles
- Personal Communications (including interviews, emails, intranet resources)
- Religious & Classical (e.g., Ancient Greek, Roman) Works
- Social Media
- Theses & Dissertations
- Websites (including documents/PDFs posted on websites)
- When Information is Missing
- Works in Another Language / Translations
- Works Quoted in Another Source (Indirect Sources)
- Quoting vs. Paraphrasing
- APA Citation FAQs
- Plagiarism This link opens in a new window
- APA for Faculty This link opens in a new window
- Case Study from a Library Database
- Case Study from a Website
- Case Study from a Book
- << Previous: Business Reports from Library Databases
- Next: Class Notes, Class Recordings, Class Lectures and Presentations >>
- Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024 3:30 PM
- URL: https://library.senecapolytechnic.ca/apa
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
- Exhibitions
- Visit and Contact
- UCD Library
- Current Students
- News & Opinion
- Staff Directory
- UCD Connect
Harvard Style Guide: Case studies
- Introduction
- Harvard Tutorial
- In-text citations
- Book with one author
- Book with two or three authors
- Book with four or more authors
- Book with a corporate author
- Book with editor
- Chapter in an edited book
- Translated book
- Translated ancient texts
- Print journal article, one author
- Print journal article, two or three authors
- Print journal article, four or more authors
- eJournal article
- Journal article ePublication (ahead of print)
- Secondary sources
- Generative AI
- Images or photographs
- Lectures/ presentations
- Film/ television
- YouTube Film or Talk
- Music/ audio
- Encyclopaedia and dictionaries
- Email communication
- Conferences
- Official publications
- Book reviews
Case studies
- Group or individual assignments
- Legal Cases (Law Reports)
- No date of publication
- Personal communications
- Repository item
- Citing same author, multiple works, same year
Back to Academic Integrity guide
Reference : Author/editor Last name, Initials. (Year) 'Title of case study' [Case Study], Journal Title, Volume (Issue), pp. page numbers. Available at: URL [Accessed Day Month Year].
Ofek, E., Avery, J., Rudolph, S., Martins Gomes, V., Saadat, N., Tsui, A., & Shroff, Y. (2014) 'Case study second thoughts about a strategy shift' [Case Study], Harvard Business Review , 92(12), pp. 125-129. Available at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=99621003&site=ehost-live [Accessed 10 December 2014].
In-Text-Citation :
- (Author last name, Year)
- Author last name (Year)...
- In their case study Ofek et al. (2014) describe how marketing to the young generation...
Still unsure what in-text citation and referencing mean? Check here .
Still unsure why you need to reference all this information? Check here .
- << Previous: Book reviews
- Next: Datasets >>
- Last Updated: Mar 22, 2024 9:51 AM
- URL: https://libguides.ucd.ie/harvardstyle
- 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
Harvard Referencing Style: Case Studies & Standards
- Introduction to In-text Citations
- Introduction to Referencing
- Internet Sources
- Dissertations & Theses
- Legal Sources & Government Publications
- Study Guides
- Reference Material
- Corporate Bodies
- Audio-visual Materials
- E-Mail & Personal Communication
- Powerpoint Presentations
- Case Studies & Standards
- Images or Diagrams
Referencing Case Studies
IN-TEXT CITATION
Spar and Burns (2000) ...
.... (Spar & Burns, 2000)
"....." (Spar & Burns, 2000:8)
FORMAT OF A REFERENCE TO A CASE STUDY
Author’s surname, Initials. Year. ‘Title.’ Case number. Place: Publisher or Institution.
Note that the title is not italicised.
EXAMPLE OF A REFERENCE TO A PRINTED CASE STUDY
Spar, D. and Burns, J. 2000. ‘Hitting the wall: Nike and International Labor Practices.’ HBS 700047. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing.
EXAMPLE OF A REFERENCE TO AN ELECTRONIC CASE STUDY FROM A DATABASE
Mathu, K.M. and Scheepers, C . 2016. 'L eading change towards sustainable green coal mining'. Available from: Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, < https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/ EEMCS-01-2016-0007> [Accessed on: 7 June 2017].
Referencing Standards
South African Bureau of Standards (2013) ...
... (South African Bureau of Standards, 2013).
"....." (South African Bureau of Standards, 2013: 3).
FORMAT OF A REFERENCE TO A STANDARD
Name of the Authorizing Body. Year. Number and Title of Standard. Place of Publication: Publisher.
EXAMPLE OF A REFERENCE TO A PRINT STANDARD
British Standards Institute.2015. BS ISO 14001:Environmental management systems. Requirements with guidance for use. London: British Standards Institute.
EXAMPLE OF A REFERENCE TO AN ELECTRONIC STANDARD TAKEN FROM A DATABASE
South African Bureau of Standards. 2013. SANS 1300: Quality management — Customer satisfaction — Guidelines for monitoring and measuring . [online]. Pretoria: South African Bureau of Standards. Available from:<https://www.sabs.co.za/Standardss/index.asp> [ Accessed on: 17 March 2014].
- << Previous: Powerpoint Presentations
- Next: Images or Diagrams >>
- Last Updated: Feb 12, 2024 11:44 AM
- URL: https://wsu-ac.libguides.com/harvardstyle
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.
Related Posts
What is a Flipped Classroom?
- Bessie Oliver
- March 30, 2023
In recent years, the concept of a flipped classroom has gained popularity among educators. The […]
How to Archive Google Classroom
Google Classroom is a popular learning management system that simplifies communication and organization between teachers […]
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
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. ... Harvard Referencing ...
General format for citing case studies: Author(s). (Year). Title of case study.Number of case study. URL. Examples: Harvard Business School Case Study
Here’s how the IEEE citation case study format looks like: Author’s last name, Case Study Title. City, State, Country: Publisher’s name, Month Day, Year. An example of how to cite a case study in IEEE: Leonard, Our response to global warming. New York, NY, USA: Printed Press, Sept. 14, 2015.
To create a reference or citation for a case study, you will need to know basic information including the name of the author, title of the case study, journal or book title, and publication year. The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a case study in MLA style, APA style, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing style.
2. Identify the name and number of the case study. After the name of the author or authors of the case study, type the title of the case study in quotation marks. Place a period after the title (inside the closing quotation marks). Then type the case study number, if any, provided by the publishing university or organization.
Reference List Citation: Author's Last Name, Author's First Initial. (Publication Year). Title of case study. Case Study Number (if given). Database URL. Examples. Havard, C. T. (2021). Basketball at the most magical place on Earth: A case study of the NBA’s season conclusion at Walt Disney World amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reference: Author/editor Last name, Initials. (Year) 'Title of case study' [Case Study], Journal Title, Volume (Issue), pp. page numbers. Available at: URL [Accessed ...
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.
EXAMPLE OF A REFERENCE TO A PRINTED CASE STUDY. Spar, D. and Burns, J. 2000. ‘Hitting the wall: Nike and International Labor Practices.’ HBS 700047.
Why is it important to cite a case study? How to cite a case study in APA format. Step 1: Start with the author’s last name and first initial. Step 2: Include the year of publication in parentheses. Step 3: Provide the title of the case study in italics. Step 4: Add the name of the publisher. Step 5: Include the DOI or URL.