data

hat's just a guideline of certain things that need to added. But really it just needs to analyze certain data obviously in comparison to what a 23-year-old woman would have on their computer and what I added about Facebook.

The Analysis

A case study analysis is not just a summary of the case. It should identify key issues and problems, outline and assess alternative courses of action, and draw appropriate conclusions. The case study analysis can be broken down into the following steps:

Identify the most important facts surrounding the case.

Identify the key issue or issues.

Specify alternative courses of action.

Evaluate each course of action.

Recommend the best course of action.

Identify the most important facts - You may need to read the information about the case a couple of times. Typically, cases contain quite a bit of information. Accompanying tables and figures often contain important information that is not in the narrative. Some details are more important than others, and you typically can assume that while the facts are true, the statements and decisions made by the individuals in the case might be questionable. If key information is not available, you may need to make assumptions, but be sure your assumptions are reasonable for the situation. The appropriateness of your conclusions likely depend on the assumptions you make.

Identify the key issue(s) - Use the facts to identify two to five key issues in the case. Often, multiple issues or problems are present, but determine which are important and which are trivial and focus on the important one(s). Summarize each issue in one or two sentences, and describe how this problem is relevant. This step of summarizing in a sentence or two will help focus your analysis. Problems in a case come from a variety of areas – but keep in mind that our focus is on the ethical implications of the case.

State alternative courses of action - List the possible alternatives that can be (or could have been) taken to address these problems. You might suggest that certain permissions be obtained or that certain data protection measures could be undertaken. Be sure to consider what changes would be required to implement these changes. Keep in mind that there are limits on what can practically be done—some solutions may be difficult to implement, so you should identify if these factors might limit the ability to implement a particular alternative.

Evaluate each course of action – Given the information that is available, identify the strengths and weaknesses of each alternative. Identify the likely outcomes, and again evaluate whether this course of action is feasible to undertake.

Make a recommendation – Select one of your possible options, and make a list of reasons why you made this recommendation. Your final recommendation should flow logically from the rest of your case analysis and should identify any assumptions that you used to shape your conclusion. There is often no single "right" answer, and each option is likely to have risks as well as rewards.

The Write-Up

Writing up your case study analysis tracks the process you just completed, and should include an introduction, background on the issues, possible alternatives, your proposed solution, and recommendations for how the organization might carry the solution out.

Introduction – The introduction should be brief, one to two sentences. You should identify the key issue in the case and summarize your recommendation. Include details such as the organizations and the project or individuals the case concerns, as relevant. Your introduction should include a thesis statement, stating the proposed solution to the problem you have highlighted.

Background – In this section, you should summarize the key facts and most important issue(s) of the case. You should provide sufficient background information for the reader to understand the issue, but this section should be relatively brief—no more than two paragraphs.

Framework – This section should identify and highlight the conceptual framework (contextual integrity, Menlo Report, feminist ethics, etc.) that you will use as support to identify the problem and that your proposed solution is an effective practice. Make sure to define the appropriate concepts that you will discuss, using the readings from class

Key Points – In this section, you should outline three to five key points in this case. Be sure to link these points to the concepts of your framework. Note that it is not sufficient to simply state facts from the case. You will need to support your assessment with evidence (in the form of citations) from theories, experts, or examples that we have discussed or read about in class.

Alternative courses of action - In this section, you should briefly describe possible alternative course of action, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Proposed solution – In this section identify one specific and realistic solution. Be sure to both present your solution and to also present support as to why your solution would be effective and appropriate. Explain your decision with solid evidence (citations!). Be sure to include a thorough description of the requirements for implementing your solution, any specific strategies that will be needed to accomplish it, and specify whether than are any constraints or reasons this solution is not possible at this time. What needs to be done, and who should do it?

Conclusion - The conclusion is where you will re-state the main points for your reader. Why is this case important or significant? What can we learn from this?

Be sure to include enough detail in the sections related to Key Points, Proposed Solutions and Conclusions. These sections demonstrate your learning and analytical skills. Again, I want to emphasize that you should use concepts from the course readings, class discussion, and your notes in your writing. You may need to do a little outside research to support your decision; if so, be sure to cite your research and include your sources in the references list.