Case studies are a qualitative research method used to systematically investigate individuals, groups, events or phenomena within their real-life context. They provide detailed descriptions and seek to explain phenomena. Case studies can be single or multiple cases and are used for exploratory, explanatory or descriptive purposes. They involve gathering data from multiple sources like documents, interviews and observations. Analysis involves techniques like pattern matching and explanation building to understand the case. While time-consuming and not generalizable, case studies provide an in-depth understanding of the topic under study.