#qualitative comparative analysis

[ingorohlfing]

The COMPASSS statement and QCA solution types

The COMPASSS statement and QCA solution types

About two weeks ago, COMPASSS issued a Statement on Rejecting Article Submissions because of QCA Solution Type. In short, the reasoning was that methodological work on QCA is developing and that reviewers and editors should not judge empirical work based on whether one particular solution type is interpreted as causal. (Disclosure: I am a member of the COMPASSS advisory board, but was not…

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[ingorohlfing]

Don’t conflate fuzzy set membership with cases in QCA

Don’t conflate fuzzy set membership with cases in QCA

In 2000, Ragin added the idea of fuzzy sets to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and they have been widely used since then. However, one sometimes still finds misunderstandings about what fuzzy sets are, in particular when it comes to the interpretation of consistency and coverage scores. In a criticism of QCA by Stockemer (which is criticized for a variety of reasons and to which Stockemer…

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[ingorohlfing]

Curiosities of QCA: Fuzzy-set consistency

Curiosities of QCA: Fuzzy-set consistency

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is the method of choice for the analysis of set relations and has changed considerably and improved over the years. The more one delves into the method, however, the more things you (I, at least) stumble upon that seem a little bit curious, sometimes also more than a bit (just as with any method, I guess). One issue I came across relates to the calculation…

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[ingorohlfing]

The irony of Lucas/Szatrowski’s QCA criticism

The irony of Lucas/Szatrowski’s QCA criticism

Among the recent criticisms of QCA, Lucas and Szatrowski’s (LS) critique stands out in multiple respects, including its scope, its tone (QCA is “a nonanalytic means to identify asymmetric causal illusions”, p. 66), and the responses it provoked (and the notorious mistake in their first simulation). Naturally, the critical replies focused on LS’s assessment of QCA, but I find that they make an…

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[ingorohlfing]

Surprised, anyone? Putting the debate about QCA into context

Surprised, anyone? Putting the debate about QCA into context

As is well known, QCA has been under intense scrutiny in recent years and subject to criticism (sometimes quite strong). I am not going to review studies on the validity of QCA that entail criticism; although it would be worthwhile as I am not always convinced that the simulations are set up properly (most inquiries are based on some form of simulation). If, for the moment, we take the findings…

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[ingorohlfing]

The conservative QCA solution isn't based on counterfactuals? Not so fast

The conservative QCA solution isn’t based on counterfactuals? Not so fast

When we use the Quine-McCluskey algorithm to derive a QCA solution, we can choose between the conservative, intermediate or parsimonious solution. While I do not have any figures about which solution has been produced how frequently in empirical research, it is safe to say that the conservative solution is quite popular.

The reason for the popularity lies in the name because the conventional view…

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