caseoriented

Caseoriented is an adjective used to describe approaches, analyses, or methods that prioritize real-world cases as the central unit of study or decision making. The form is often written case-oriented or case oriented, and it is not a standardized technical term; its meaning varies by field but generally signals emphasis on particular cases over abstract rules.

In education, case-oriented teaching and case-based learning rely on real or simulated cases to illustrate concepts, connect theory to practice, and develop analytical skills. Students examine cases, discuss embedded assumptions, and justify actions. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with case-based learning, though some curricula distinguish between analyzing cases and solving structured problems.

In professional settings, case-oriented reasoning appears in law through focus on precedents, in medicine through case comparisons to guide diagnosis and treatment, and in computer science through case-based reasoning that retrieves similar past cases to inform new decisions. The approach can be applied across disciplines that value contextualized, evidence-informed judgments.

Advantages include contextual understanding, relevance to real situations, and enhanced problem-solving transfer. Limitations involve potential bias from chosen cases, limited generalizability, and higher resource demands for compiling and analyzing cases. Related concepts include case study, case-based reasoning, and the case method.