Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research
Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research is a research topic within Sociology and Political Science. Science Explorer counts 7.6k research works in it since 1950. 32.3% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.
This cluster of papers focuses on the application of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and related set-theoretic methods in social science research. It emphasizes the exploration of causal complexity, configurational theory, and methodological pluralism, utilizing techniques such as process tracing and case study methods to understand complex causality. The cluster also highlights the integration of multi-method approaches and comparative-historical methodology in social science research.
- Qualitative Comparative Analysis
- Causal Complexity
- Fuzzy-Set Approach
- Configurational Theory
- Process Tracing
- Case Study Methods
- Complex Causality
- Methodological Pluralism
- Multi-Method Research
- Comparative-Historical Methodology
- Research works
- 7.6k fractional, since 1950
- In the world top 10%
- 2.4k per year above
- Top-10% rate
- 32.3% share of its works in the world top 10%
- Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
- +42% the tick is no change
Which countries lead Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research research?
By volume, China and the United States publish the most (460 and 365 works in 2022–2025).
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 China 460 works
- 2 United States 365 works
- 3 Germany 171 works
- 4 United Kingdom 110 works
- 5 Spain 53 works
- 6 Italy 50 works
- 7 Netherlands 48 works
- 8 Canada 41 works
- 9 Australia 37 works
- 10 India 30 works
How concentrated that is
The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.
Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.
Which institutions lead Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research research?
By volume in 2022–2025, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill publishes the most Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research research, followed by Sapienza University of Rome and Universitat de València.
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUnited States 12 works
- 2 Sapienza University of RomeItaly 9 works
- 3 Universitat de ValènciaSpain 9 works
- 4 Mitchell InstituteUnited States 7 works
- 5 George Washington UniversityUnited States 7 works
- 6 Columbia UniversityUnited States 7 works
- 7 Central European UniversityAustria 6 works
- 8 Radboud University NijmegenNetherlands 6 works
- 9 Arizona State UniversityUnited States 6 works
- 10 Erasmus University RotterdamNetherlands 6 works
Who are the leading researchers in Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research?
The most-cited researchers publishing on Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research include Marko Sarstedt, Christian M. Ringle and Ronald C. Kessler.
- 1 Marko Sarstedt Germany 11k citations
- 2 Christian M. Ringle Germany 11k citations
- 3 Ronald C. Kessler United States 9.8k citations
Ranked by citations received across their whole record, among researchers with at least three works on this topic.
Where is Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research research done?
The largest centres of Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research research in 2022–2025 are Beijing (China), Shanghai (China), London (United Kingdom) and Nanjing (China).
Largest cities, 2022–2025
Where is the best place to study Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research?
Among universities, judged by research, Universitat de València, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Sapienza University of Rome score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.
| # | University | Score | Top 10% | Specialisation | Works | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universitat de ValènciaSpain | 80.0 | 51.5% | 9.4× | 9 | +1184.4% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUnited States | 21.2 | 6.3% | 3.8× | 12 | -19.7% |
| 3 | Sapienza University of RomeItaly | 19.2 | 4.4% | 4.5× | 9 | — |
Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.
Is Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research research growing?
Output in 2018–2022 was 42% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research.
The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.
Which topics inside it are moving
Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.