Appendix A: Types of Case Studies - Continued

DOE-STD-1058-93

Case Study Type:

Objective Classifications:

CRITICAL INCIDENT

DIAGNOSIS, EVALUATION

Description and suggested uses:

The critical incident case study is sometimes known as a jigsaw case study.

Here, the trainee is presented with a small amount of information about a

situation. Additional data is supplied by the instructor over time and may take

the form of handouts or verbal descriptions. Once all of the data is received, the

case situation can be understood, and once understood often leads to

suggestions for action. This type of case provides an opportunity to develop the

skills of "asking the right questions." This type of case study is appropriate for

training facility operators. It would help them develop the diagnostic skills

needed for unusual events or emergency situations. The critical incident case

study can be presented in the form of an exercise within a lesson plan. A

technique for this kind of exercise is to break the trainees into teams. Some of

the teams are given the true facts of a situation and should reach similar

conclusions. The other teams are given slightly distorted facts that, without

careful consideration, can lead to conclusions different from the other teams.

This difference will generate discussions allowing the trainees to contrast and

compare their conclusions in order to arrive at a consensus.

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