Includes bibliographical references (pages 211- 234) and index.
Contents:
1. Qualitative comparative analysis in the social sciences -- 2. Research design -- 3. Set theory -- 4. Causation and causal complexity -- 5. Calibrating sets -- 6. Measures of fit -- 7. Set-theoretic analysis -- 8. QCA variants -- 9. QCA and its critics -- 10. Guiding principles for QCA research.
Summary:
"Social phenomena can rarely be attributed to single causes. Drawing on set theory and the language of necessary and sufficient conditions, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is a case-based research method that is ideally suited to capture causal complexity. QCA regards cases as combinations of conditions. It compares the conditions of each case in a structured way to identify the necessary and sufficient conditions for an outcome. While QCA has become increasingly popular and seen a substantial increase of applications across the social sciences and management, introductory textbooks have not kept pace with this development. In this textbook, Patrick A. Mello teaches students, scholars, and self-learners the fundamentals of QCA, research design, interpretation of results, and how to communicate findings. This concise and accessible textbook provides a hands-on introduction to QCA that will be ideal for use within a broader qualitative methods course and in intensive short courses"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.