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The Global Insight

Is case study research qualitative or quantitative?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on February 08, 2026

Case studies tend to focus on qualitative data using methods such as interviews, observations, and analysis of primary and secondary sources (e.g. newspaper articles, photographs, official records). Sometimes a case study will also collect quantitative data.

How do you analyze a case analysis?

The case study analysis can be broken down into the following steps:

  1. Identify the most important facts surrounding the case.
  2. Identify the key issue or issues.
  3. Specify alternative courses of action.
  4. Evaluate each course of action.
  5. Recommend the best course of action.

Is thematic analysis used in case study?

Thematic analysis is not particular to any one research method but is used by scholars across many fields and disciplines. It is not a research method in itself but rather an analytic approach and synthesizing strategy used as part of the meaning-making process of many methods, including case study research.

What is case study research in qualitative research?

Qualitative case study is a research methodology that helps in exploration of a phenomenon within some particular context through various data sources, and it undertakes the exploration through variety of lenses in order to reveal multiple facets of the phenomenon (Baxter & Jack, 2008).

Is Phenomenology qualitative or quantitative?

Phenomenology is a type of qualitative research in that its focus is in answering the ‘what is it’ question rather than questions of frequency or magnitude such as ‘how much’ and ‘how many.

How do you start a case analysis?

How To Start Writing Your Case Study Analysis

  1. Identify the problem.
  2. Think about the underlying causes of the problem.
  3. Make an outline.
  4. Examine cause-and-effect relations.
  5. Formulate possible solutions to the problem.

How long is a case analysis?

While the guidelines and template contain much detail, your finished case study should be only 500 to 1,500 words in length.

What is thematic analysis example?

A thematic analysis strives to identify patterns of themes in the interview data. An example of an explorative study could be conducting interviews at a technical workplace in order to obtain an understanding of the technicians’ everyday work lives, what motivates them, etc.

What are the disadvantages of thematic analysis?

The disadvantages of thematic analysis become more apparent when considered in relation to other qualitative research methods. While thematic analysis is flexible, this flexibility can lead to inconsistency and a lack of coherence when developing themes derived from the research data (Holloway & Todres, 2003).