Qualitative comparative analysis

Qualitative Comparative Analysis ( QCA ) refers to a method of analysis in the social sciences, which makes simplifying the rules of Boolean algebra ( classical logic, two-valued logic ) advantage. Translated, QCA as much as: qualitative comparative analysis. The Charles Ragin 1987 presented method is to close the gap between methods qualitative studies with small sample sizes and quantitative methods by providing a tool for medium number of cases.

QCA a target is to identify the necessary and sufficient conditions for a particular outcome. The QCA is deterministic, in contrast to statistical methods. QCA data are collected in a so-called truth-table and reduces to a minimum combination of necessary and sufficient conditions by means of Boolean algebra. An advantage of the method is the ability to identify and sufficient combinations of conditions necessary for the outcome of interest. Thus, QCA provides a causal analysis dar. Since the original QCA only works with dichotomized variables, it has been extended to fuzzy sets to fsQCA that a Vercodung of conditions and outcomes to all values ​​in the interval; extended [0 1].

Further Reading

  • Ragin, C. C.; 1987: Comparative Method: Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. University of California: Berkeley
  • Ragin, C. C.; 2000: Fuzzy - Set Social Science. University of Chicago: Chicago
  • DeMeur G.; Rihoux, B.; 2002; L' quality analysis Quantitative Comparee ( AQQC - QCA). Approche, techniques et applications en sciences humaines. Louvain- la- neuve: Academia - Bruylant.
  • Schneider, C. Q.; Wagemann, C.; 2007: Qualitative Comparative Analysis ( QCA) and Fuzzy Sets: A Textbook for users and those who want to be there. Budrich: Opladen
  • Smithson, M.; Verkuilen, J.; 2006: Fuzzy Set Theory: Applications in Social Sciences. Sage: Thousand Oaks
  • Longest, K. C.; Vaisey, S.; 2006: fuzzy: A program for performing qualitative comparative Analyses ( QCA) in Stata. The Stata Journal, Vol 8, No. 1: 79-104
  • Qualitative Social Research
  • Abbreviation
Determinism
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