Full Description
Configurational Comparative Methods paves the way for an innovative approach to empirical scientific work through a strategy that integrates key strengths of both qualitative (case-oriented) and quantitative (variable-oriented) approaches. This first-of-its-kind text is ideally suited for "small-N" or "intermediate-N" research situations, which both mainstream qualitative and quantitative methods find difficult to address. Benoît Rihoux and Charles C. Ragin, along with their contributing authors, offer both a basic, comparative research design overview and a technical and hands-on review of Crisp-Set QCA (csQCA), Multi-Value QCA (mvQCA), and Fuzzy-Set QCA (fsQCA).
Key Features
Discusses existing applications in many different fields and disciplines along with state-of-the-art coverage of the strengths and limitations of these techniques
Demonstrates further inventive ways of using QCA techniques
Provides advice on how to develop a comparative research design (case and variable selection) as well as a specific technique called MSDO/MDSO (most similar, different outcome/most different, same outcome).
Shows how to perform the technical operations linked to three specific QCA techniques: csQCA, mvQCA, and fsQCA
Includes a glossary, an extensive bibliography, and a detailed list of good practices at every stage of the research process
Intended Audience
A must for any student or researcher who wants to engage in systematic cross-case comparison in the social and behavioral sciences, the book is ideal for use in upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level social science research methods courses.
Contents
INTRODUCTION - Benoît Rihoux and Charles Ragin
1. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) as an Approach - Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Gisèle De Meur, Benoît Rihoux & Charles Ragin
2. Comparative Research Design: Case and Variable Selection - Dirk Berg-Schlosser & Gisèle De Meur
3. Crisp-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (CSQCA) - Benoît Rihoux & Gisèle De Meur
4. Multi-Value QCA (MVQCA) - Lasse Cronqvist & Dirk Berg-Schlosser
5. Qualitative Comparative Analysis Using Fuzzy Sets (FSQCA) - Charles C. Ragin
6. A Commented Review of Applications - Sakura Yamasaki & Benoît Rihoux
7. Addressing the Critiques of QCA - Gisèle De Meur, Benoît Rihoux & Sakura Yamasaki
8. Conclusions - The Way(s) Ahead - Benoît Rihoux, Charles Ragin and Sakura Yamasaki
FURTHER RESOURCES FOR CONFIGURATIONAL COMPARATIVE METHODS - Damien Bol and Sakura Yamasaki
GLOSSARY - Sakura Yamasaki, Benoît Rihoux, Gisèle De Meur and Charles C. Ragin
THEMATIC AND AUTHOR INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
A Commented Review of Applications - Sakura Yamasaki, Benoît Rihoux
Addressing the Critiques of QCA - Gisele De Meur, Benoît Rihoux, Sakura Yamasaki
Comparative Research Design: Case and Variable Selection - Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Gisele De Meur
Conclusions - The Way(s) Ahead - Benoît Rihoux, Charles Ragin, Sakura Yamasaki, Damien Bol
Crisp-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis - Benoît Rihoux, Gisele De Meur
Multi-Value QCA (mvQCA) - Lasse Cronqvist, Dirk Berg-Schlosser
Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) as an Approach - Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Gisele De Meur, Benoît Rihoux, Charles Ragin
