Case studies can be a powerful tool in IB Digital Society, but they are also one of the most common sources of confusion for students. Many learners believe that success depends on memorising examples, platforms, or real-world events. In reality, IB Digital Society does not reward recall of case studies. Instead, it rewards how effectively students use examples to support analysis, concepts, and evaluation.
This article explains how case studies should be used in IB Digital Society exams and the internal assessment, and how to avoid common mistakes.
What a Case Study Is in IB Digital Society
In IB Digital Society, a case study is any real or realistic example of a digital system in use. This might include:
- A specific platform feature
- A digital policy or practice
- A system that affects a group of people
Case studies are not assessed for factual detail. They are used as evidence to support analysis, not as content to memorise.
Why Memorising Case Studies Does Not Work
Unlike subjects with set texts or prescribed examples, IB Digital Society exams often use unseen digital systems. Memorised case studies may not fit the question and can lead to forced or irrelevant answers.
Memorisation often leads to:
- Over-description
- Ignoring the question
- Weak concept application
Examiners reward relevance and reasoning, not familiarity.
Case Studies as Supporting Evidence
In both exams and the IA, case studies should support analytical points rather than dominate responses.
Effective case study use:
- Illustrates how a digital system works
- Supports a specific claim
- Strengthens ethical or conceptual evaluation
A case study should never replace analysis.
Using Case Studies in Exams
In exams, students may be given a short stimulus or asked to refer to a digital context. Sometimes students may bring in their own examples, but this should be done carefully.
Strong exam case study use:
- Is brief and relevant
- Directly links to the question
- Supports conceptual analysis
If an example does not clearly support the argument, it is better to omit it.
Using Case Studies in the Internal Assessment
In the IA, the entire investigation is effectively a case study of one digital system. This makes focus especially important.
In the IA, case studies should:
- Be clearly defined
- Be analysed, not described
- Be used consistently throughout
Introducing multiple case studies in the IA often weakens depth.
Choosing Appropriate Case Studies
Good case studies are those that:
- Involve a clear digital system
- Have identifiable impacts on people or communities
- Raise ethical or social questions
Overly technical or abstract examples are harder to analyse effectively.
Linking Case Studies to Concepts
Case studies are most effective when clearly linked to IB Digital Society concepts.
For example:
- Power: Who controls the system in the case study?
- Ethics: What ethical tension does it raise?
- Change: How does it alter behaviour or structures?
Without concept linkage, case studies become descriptive.
Avoiding Over-Description
One of the biggest risks when using case studies is spending too much time explaining background details.
Students should avoid:
- Long histories of platforms
- Technical explanations
- Repeating known information
Examiners already understand digital contexts. Focus on analysis instead.
Case Studies and Ethical Evaluation
Case studies are particularly useful for ethical evaluation, but only when used thoughtfully.
Effective ethical use:
- Shows real impacts or risks
- Demonstrates responsibility or lack of accountability
- Supports a balanced judgment
Ethical claims without example-based support are weak.
Adapting Case Studies Flexibly
A key skill in Digital Society is adaptability. Students should be able to use the same case study in different ways depending on the question.
For example, one system could be analysed through:
- Power in one question
- Ethics in another
- Community impact in a third
This flexibility is more valuable than knowing many examples.
Common Case Study Mistakes
Students often weaken responses by:
- Memorising examples
- Forcing irrelevant case studies
- Using examples instead of analysis
- Including too many examples
Fewer, well-used examples are always stronger.
How Examiners View Case Studies
Examiners look for:
- Relevance to the question
- Clear link to concepts
- Support for analysis and evaluation
They do not award marks for naming platforms or events alone.
Practical Strategy for Case Study Use
A useful strategy is:
- Make an analytical point
- Introduce a brief case study reference
- Explain how it supports the point
- Link back to the question
This keeps case studies purposeful.
Why Case Studies Are Still Important
Although memorisation is discouraged, case studies still matter because they:
- Ground analysis in reality
- Support ethical reasoning
- Demonstrate understanding of digital systems
The key is how they are used.
Final Thoughts
Case studies in IB Digital Society are tools for thinking, not content to memorise. When used briefly and strategically, they strengthen analysis, support ethical evaluation, and demonstrate conceptual understanding. By focusing on relevance, flexibility, and explanation rather than detail, students can use case studies effectively in both exams and the internal assessment — and avoid one of the most common pitfalls in the subject.
