Case series are used to study rare outcomes and generate hypotheses
Yield measures of effect size and test methodologies
Case series designs are often employed in basic science and pre-clinical research. They are useful for generating hypotheses, effect sizes for future power analyses, and studying extremely rare outcomes.
Case series designs are an excellent choice for novice researchers looking to get their feet "wet" in empirical pursuits. They also prove their worth when evidence-based measures of effect do not exist in the literature. Running a small pilot study or case series can yield important measures of effect.