You may want to cite a case study conducted by a university or other organization, especially for a business studies research or a social science essay. Although case studies have titles and publication information like other articles, these usually have a unique number that is usually included in the citation. The Chicago style is the most commonly used in business schools, but you could also use the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Modern Language Association (MLA).
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Chicago Style
Step 1. Begin the citation with the author's name
First put the author's last name, a comma, their first name, and their middle initial (if they have one). End this part of the quote with a period (this will usually be the period after the middle initial).
- For example: Lee, Stan.
- If there is more than one author, please list their names in the format of first name, middle initial, and last name. Separate their names with commas; with the word "and" before the name of the last author.
Step 2. Identify the case study name and number
After the name of the authors of the case study, write the title in quotation marks. Place a period after the title (outside of the quotation marks). Then write the case number (if you have one) provided by the university or organization that published it. Put a period after the case number.
Write it like this: Lee, Stan. "DC Comics in 2016". HBS # 999-111
Step 3. Add your posting information
Write the city in which it was published and then a colon. Now write the name of the publishing company, a comma and the year in which it was published.
For example: Lee, Stan. "DC Comics in 2016". HBS # 999-111. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017
Step 4. Include the URL and access date for online cases
You won't always have to include a direct permanent link to the case study. You can only use the main URL for the source. However, you may need a permanent link if you are citing multiple case studies from the same source or if your instructor or supervisor prefers. After the URL, put a comma and write "visited in" along with the month and year you visited the page.
For example: Lee, Stan. "DC Comics in 2016". HBS # 999-111. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017. https://hbsp.harvard.edu, accessed July 2018
Step 5. Change the punctuation for the footnotes
If you have to reference a case study in the body of an essay with footnotes, you should include the same basic information that you put in the citation. However, the format will change a bit. In general, you will use commas instead of periods. Authors' names will be named first and publication information will be enclosed in parentheses. Add the page number to the bottom of the footnote, if appropriate.
- This is the physical version format: Stan Lee, “DC Comics in 2016,” HBS # 999-111 (Boston, Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017), p. 14.
- This is the citation for an online case: Stan Lee, “DC Comics in 2016,” HBS # 999-111 (Boston, Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017), https://hbsp.harvard.edu, visited at July 2018.
Method 2 of 3: APA Style
Step 1. Put the author's first name with the last name first
In the bibliography, the full citation of the case study will begin with the author's last name. Put a comma after the last name and then the initial of their first name. You can also include the initial of his middle name, if he has one.
- For example: Lee, S.
- Separate multiple author names with commas, and place the ampersand & before the last author's name.
Step 2. Include the year of publication in parentheses
The next part of the full citation is the year of publication of the case study. Add a blank space after the period at the end of the author's name and enclose the year in parentheses. Place a period after the closing parenthesis.
- For example: Lee, S. (2017).
- If there is no year of publication, use the abbreviation “s. F." in brackets.
Step 3. Write the title of the case in italics
When writing the title for a citation in APA format, only capitalize the first word and any proper nouns. This could differ with the capitalization of the case study title. Put a period after the title.
For example: Lee, S. (2017). DC Comics in 2016
Step 4. Include the case number
Include a blank space after the period at the end of the title and write the case number along with any abbreviations or codes used by the university or organization that published it. Put a period at the end of the number.
For example: Lee, S. (2017). DC Comics in 2016. HBS # 999-111
Step 5. Finish the appointment with the posting information
Indicate the location of the publisher and write a colon. Use city and state for US locations, or city and country for international locations. Include the full name of the publisher and place a period to end the quote.
You should write it like this: Lee, S. (2017). DC Comics in 2016. HBS # 999-111. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing
Step 6. Enter the author's name and year of publication for in-text citations
When you paraphrase or quote the case study in the essay text, the APA style requires a parenthetical citation to direct readers to the full citation in the reference list. For a case study, the parenthetical citation follows the same format as any other type. Write the author's last name, a comma, and the year of publication. Place the period outside the closing parenthesis.
For example: (Lee, 2017)
Method 3 of 3: MLA Style
Step 1. First enter the name of the author
The full citation on the works cited page will begin with the names of the authors of the case study. Write the first name with the last name first, then a comma and the first name and middle initial (if it has one). Put a period at the end of this part.
- For example: Lee, Stan.
- If there are two authors, put the word "and" between their names. For 3 or more, use commas with the word "and" before the final author. After the first, put the following with their first name and then their last name. For example: Lee, Stan, and Clark Kent.
Step 2. Include the title and phrase “Case Study”
After the author's name, write the case study name as it appears at the top of the case study. Capitalize nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs. Place a period after the title and write the phrase “Case Study” so that readers know what type of document it is. Put a period after the sentence.
Write it like this: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case study
Step 3. Enter the publication information
Write the city in which it was published and then a period. Write the name of the publishing company (which is usually the university or organization that carried out the study). Put a comma and then the year of publication.
- For example: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case study. Boston. Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017.
- Note that unlike many other citation styles, MLA style citations do not require you to include the unique case study number. Ask your teacher or supervisor if they want you to include this information in the appointment.
Step 4. Indicate if you have accessed a physical or virtual version
After the year of publication, include the phrase "Web version" if you have reviewed it online, or "Physical version" if you have read a printed version. Put a period after the appropriate word. For virtual versions, add the access date in day, month, and year format.
- This is an example for a physical version: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case study. Boston. Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017. Physical version.
- This is a quote for a virtual version: Lee, Stan. DC Comics in 2016. Case study. Boston. Harvard Business School Publishing, 2017. Web version. July 17, 2018.
- If you have reviewed the case study on the internet, you can put the URL. However, the MLA style does not require it. Ask the teacher or supervisor how they want you to do it.
Step 5. Use the author's name and page number in parenthetical citations
If you quote or paraphrase the case study in the body of your essay, the MLA style will require you to place a quotation in parentheses at the end of the sentence. This parenthetical citation will direct the reader to the full citation in the works cited section.