Macdonald-Kelce Library: Communication: Case Studies

Spartan Articles Search

Journal Title Search (Example: Chronicle of Higher Education or JAMA)

Finding Case Studies in the Communications Field

In the databases, use terms like "case study" or "case method." Keep the terms in quotes to force the results to only return that phrase. Combine with terms like "social media," "education," "public relations," "market research," etc.

Begin by cross-searching most of the library databases. You may have more luck using one of the specialty databases listed below.

For more information on case studies, see the Case Study Research Guide.

Search company and industry information in the Industry Profiles Guide.

Databases with Case Studies

ABI/INFORM Collection (1971 to current) This link opens in a new window
Features full-text business and economics journals, dissertations, country-and industry-focused reports, and downloadable data.
Business Insights This link opens in a new window
Company and industry information, company fundamentals, investment research reports, industry ranking, company profiles, SWOT reports, and financial reports. along with scholarly and general business periodicals.
Business Source Complete: BSI This link opens in a new window
The same content as Business Source Complete, but with an interface that allows users to easily locate company and industry information. Searching filters include: Industry Profiles, Market Research Reports, Country Reports,SWOT Analyses, and Trade Journals.
Communication & Mass Media Complete This link opens in a new window
Quality research solutions for communications and mass media closely-related fields of study with over 770 indexed journals and 450 in full-text.
Gale Databases This link opens in a new window
Covers multidisciplinary resources in a wide range of formats including journals, e-books, historical primary sources, podcasts, videos, transcripts, newspaper articles, etc.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window
Full-text news, business, and legal sources including deep archives and up-to-the-minute reports on international, national, and regional news services. Also contains company financial information and Shephard's Citations.
Nexis Uni Search Training
SAGE Journals This link opens in a new window
Contains peer-reviewed titles from high-impact journals on a multitude of disciplines. Subjects include business and management, cardiology and cardiovascular medicine ...
communication and media studies, criminology, education, engineering & materials science, geography, health sciences, neurology and neuroscience, nursing, orthopedics and sports medicine, pharmacology, toxicology and pathology, politics and international relations, psychiatry, psychology and counselling, religion, research methods, sociology, social work and social policy, and urban studies and planning.
Taylor & Francis Online This link opens in a new window
A comprehensive multi-disciplinary database offering scholarly articles, ebooks, and reference materials in a wide array of disciplines ...
including such subjects as the arts, behavioral sciences, bioscience, built environment, communication studies, computer science, development studies, earth sciences, economics, finance, business & industry, education, engineering & technology, environment & agriculture, environment and sustainability, food science & technology, geography, health and social care, humanities, information science, language & literature, law, mathematics & statistics, media and film studies, medicine, dentistry, nursing & allied health, museum and heritage studies, physical sciences, politics & international relations, social sciences, sports and leisure, tourism, hospitality and events, urban studies.

Open Educational Resources, Open Access Journals & Association Reports

Case Studies in Strategic Communication (CSSC)
"CSSC is dedicated to the study of strategic communication through the case study form. Case studies illustrate the strategies, tactics, and execution of communication campaigns through in-depth coverage of a single situation. CSSC is a peer-reviewed online publication housed at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.
Institute for Public Relations
"These studies are composed of IPR’s best-in-class research, gold standard papers and other signature research that exemplify IPR’s mission of bringing relevant research to the public relations practice."
Public Relations Council Case Studies
The PR Council Association collects case studies from various agencies and PR firms.
Strategies & Tactics
Published by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), "Strategies & Tactics is a modern newspaper that helps you stay up-to-date with the latest news, best practices and information about everything from crisis communications to social media to reputation management."

Examples of Case Studies

Depending on the company or industry you are targeting, there is an abundance of case studies in the library databases. Here are two examples. The first discusses the effective use of social media in PR campaigns. The second explores brand management decisions concerning the terroir product of an authentic beer brand.

Allagui, I., & Breslow, H. (2016). Social media for public relations: Lessons from four effective cases. Public Relations Review, 42(1), 20–30. https://doi-org.esearch.ut.edu/10.1016/j.pubrev.2015.12.001

Melewar, T. C., & Skinner, H. (2020). Territorial brand management: Beer, authenticity, and sense of place. Journal of Business Research, 116, 680-689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.03.038