Foundations of Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Course Information
This course is designed for participants who have experience in qualitative or quantitative research and who are interested in applying qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in their studies. This is an introductory course, but participants are advised to make themselves familiar with the recommended literature before participating. The target audience for this course are researchers, practitioners and academics who have conducted at least one qualitative study, and are familiar with the process and contect of qualitative research. A completion certificate will be issued to each participant.
course information
Code: QUAL 103
Offered: Globally
Duration: 5 days
Timing: 9 am - 5 pm
For Skill Level: 2
Price: per head quotation
Booking: Request Form
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In this course

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) provides a bridge between case-oriented and variable-oriented research methods. It is rapidly making inroads in the social sciences. The course will introduce participants to:
  • the basics of QCA (setting theory and Boolean algebra)
  • the various approaches to QCA (crisp set, multi value and fuzzy set)
  • the different QCA applications
  • the current debates on and application of QCA
  • challenges of develop their own QCA project

Course Format

  • This course will run in a classroom environment
  • Participants are expected to bring their laptops

prerequisites

  • Participants will be expected to have experience with at least one qualitative research project or have undertaken an introductory level course in qualitative research methods.
  • While some discussion of the technical elements of methods is presented during the course, participants should have familiarity with qualitative research, data collection methods and various analysis.
  • QUAL 101 & QUAL 102 courses or equivalent knowledge.

Recommended Texts

The instructor's bound, book length course notes will serve as the course text.
  • Schneider, C. and C. Wagemann (2012). Set-Theoretic Methods for the Social Sciences. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
  • van der Heijden, J. (2017). Innovations in Urban Climate Governance: Voluntary Programs for Low-Carbon Buildings and Cities. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
  • Ragin, C. (2008). Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond. Chicago, Chicago University Press.
  • Rihoux, B. and C. Ragin (2009). Configurational Comparative Analysis. London, Sage.

Requirements

  • Group: 15-20 participants
  • Venue: white board, quality data projector, access to printer
  • Catering: tea/coffee/lunch

Instructor

Syllabus

Day 1
  • Introduction
  • Epistemological foundations of QCA
  • An easy example of QCA application by hand
  • What can QCA be used for?
  • Introduction to 10 steps QCA

Day 2
  • Step 1: Why a QCA analysis for your study?
  • Step 2: Selection of outcomes and conditions
  • Step 3: The number of conditions
  • Step 4: Calibration of data

Day 3
  • Step 5: Raw data matrix
  • Step 6: Analysis of necessary conditions
  • Design, apply and present your own QCA research (afternoon)

Day 4
  • Step 7: Analysis of sufficient conditions – truth table
  • Intermezzo: working with negated data in QCA
  • Step 8: Analysis of sufficient conditions – choice of the solution term
  • Step 9: Presentation of results
  • Step 10: Testing robustness and interpretation of results

 Day 5
  • Further and future development of QCA as a method
  • Ongoing critique to QCA as a method
  • Design, apply, and present your own QCA research (afternoon)

Related Courses

  • QUAL 101: Qualitative Research: Introduction
  • QUAL 102: Qualitative Research: Desing, Analysis and Representation.
  • QUAL 104: Qualitative Research: Collecting, Managing and Analysing Interview Data
  • QUAL 105: Focus Groups: Who, What and How to Moderate