The problem of analyzing the data, determining
what has been learned and how to present it are integral
to a researcher’s task and may take a great deal of
time and effort (Van Maanen, 1987). Interpreting qualitative
information is, to a great extent, a challenge of
making sense from chaos. Are patterns evident? Do
the observations point to critical exogenous variables?
Is there a conceptual model that helps to explain the
patterns of behavior? Do existing theoretical models
reasonably explain the pattern of behavior observed
in all cases? If not, what construct would need to be
added to the model to do so? These are all questions
that the case-based researcher must ask.