What is Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)? (2024)

FAQs

What is a qualitative comparative analysis QCA? ›

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is a methodology that enables the analysis of multiple cases in complex situations. It can help explain why change happens in some cases but not others.

QCA is a method for systematically describing the meaning of qualitative material. It is done by classifying material as instances of the categories of a coding frame. In the following, we will look in more detail at: the kind of material to which you can apply QCA; • the goals of QCA; • how QCA is done.

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and other set-theoretic methods distinguish themselves from other approaches to the study of social phenomena by using sets and the search for set relations.

Comparative analysis in quantitative research refers to the process of comparing different units of analysis, such as countries or time periods, in order to identify patterns, relationships, and factors that contribute to a particular phenomenon.

Qualitative comparative analysis is a research methodology primarily rooted in the social sciences, yet its applicability spans across diverse fields. It was originally developed by Charles Ragin in the 1980s as a method to address challenges faced when analyzing complex social situations.

Comparative analysis is a way to look at two or more similar things to see how they are different and what they have in common. It is used in many ways and fields to help people understand the similarities and differences between products better.

Qualitative content analysis is a distinct procedure from quantitative content analysis. This form of analysis is useful for analyzing large amounts of verbal data collected through interviews or focus groups and also offers possibilities for quantification of categories (Schreier, 2012).

Content analysis is a widely used qualitative research technique. Rather than being a single method, current applications of content analysis show three distinct approaches: conventional, directed, or summative.

For example, an auto manufacturer may compare the safety features of two or more models to determine how they affect sales or which features require improvement. This type of analysis might provide in-depth data on each feature and provide historical data to make comparisons about how each feature performs.

There are two key concepts related to QCA: consistency and coverage. Consistency refers to the percentage of causal configurations of similar composition which result in the same outcome value. If the consistency of a configuration is low, it is not supported by empirical evidence.

What is the qualitative analysis model? ›

Qualitative Data Analysis dives into the stories hidden in non-numerical data such as interviews, open-ended survey answers, or notes from observations. It uncovers the 'whys' and 'hows' giving a deep understanding of people's experiences and emotions.

Qualitative data methods include content analysis, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, thematic analysis, and grounded theory analysis. Content analysis involves systematically analyzing text to identify patterns and themes. Narrative analysis interprets stories to understand customer feelings and behaviors.

Overview. Content analysis is a research tool used to determine the presence of certain words, themes, or concepts within some given qualitative data (i.e. text). Using content analysis, researchers can quantify and analyze the presence, meanings, and relationships of such certain words, themes, or concepts.

Visual research is a qualitative research methodology that relies on artistic mediums to produce and represent knowledge. These artistic mediums include film, photography, drawings, paintings, and sculptures. The artistic mediums provide a rich source of information that has the ability to capture reality.

Quantitative content analysis is a research method in which features of textual, visual, or aural material are systematically categorized and recorded so that they can be analyzed. Widely employed in the field of communication, it also has utility in a range of other fields.