Case Studies
Case studies provide students with an opportunity to prepare for challenges that may confront them outside the classroom. In this section, you are asked to respond to two difficult situations; the first is an academic situation, and the second is a professional situation with different layers. Use the appropriate academic and/or professional standards and discussions with fellow students (if possible) to develop your responses.
Instructions: Read each case study carefully. Use the attached worksheet to analyze possible responses to the situation described in the case study.
Case 1: You are a sociology grad student…
Case 2: Helping or exploiting other cultures…
When you have completed your analyses, respond to the following items:
- Have you experienced similar conflicts in your personal or professional life? If so, how did you deal with them?
- What would you do in this situation? How would you deal with any negative consequences?
- How does this exercise prepare you to face future challenges?
In "real life," situations are seldom as simple as the one described in "Case 2: Helping or exploiting other cultures…" One response may provoke another, or some other change may occur. Suddenly, what seemed like a simple situation has become a lot more complicated! For some additional practice in problem solving, analyze your response to this additional piece of information. "To be continued…" adds yet another wrinkle to the situation.