Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) combines qualitative and quantitative research methods. It helps researchers study complex social issues using case studies. Unlike traditional qualitative research methods that often focus on in-depth exploration of single cases, QCA allows researchers to compare multiple cases systematically.
At the heart of QCA is the concept of configurational analysis. Configuration analysis involves identifying patterns and relationships within qualitative data to understand how different conditions combine to produce a particular outcome. Comparative case study is also a fundamental component of QCA. It involves selecting a set of cases that share certain characteristics but differ in key ways. This allows for a comparative analysis, where researchers can explore how variations in specific conditions lead to different outcomes.
One advantage of QCA is its flexibility in handling qualitative data analysis. Data analysts can use various data sources like interviews, documents, and observations. QCA is particularly useful in situations where quantitative data may be scarce for getting a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study.
QCA’s comparative analysis framework is instrumental in fields such as political science, sociology, and public policy. It provides a systematic approach to understand how different factors interact. For example, in public policy, QCA can help identify the conditions under which certain policies succeed or fail, guiding more effective policy design and implementation.
List of recommended resources #
For a broad overview
Qualitative Comparative Analysis
This brief overview by INTRAC for Civil Society defines Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and gives a step-by-step explanation of how it works. The brief also highlights QCA’s strengths and weaknesses as well as presents a case study to illustrate QCA in practice.
Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA): Principles and Application
This lecture by Dr Eva Thomann, Professor of Public Administration at Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Konstanz provides an overview of the principles of Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Thomann takes an applied example of internet shutdowns during elections in Sub-Saharan Africa to better explain the research method.
For in depth understanding
Pathways to change: Evaluating development interventions with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
This report by Barbara Befani is a self-contained 8-step how to-guide to QCA, built on real-world cases. It discusses issues of relevance for commissioners of evaluations using QCA, in particular on how to quality-assure such evaluations.
This paper by Vera Scholz, Amy Kirbyshire and Nigel Simister explores the use of QCA for learning-focussed monitoring and evaluation (M&E), using recent work with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) as a case study.
Case study
This paper by the World Bank employs the method of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to validate the theory of change developed for an evaluation of renewable energy strategies, identifying pathways for scaling up RE in a variety of different contexts.
This research paper by Benjamin Hanckel, Mark Petticrew, James Thomas and Judith Green assesses the emerging field of QCA, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of QCA techniques identified in published PubMed studies on public health and identifies implications for future research and reporting.
References #
Qualitative Comparative Analysis
What is Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)?
