The Comparative Advantages of fsQCA and Regression Analysis for Moderately Large-N Analyses
Open accessAbstract
This article contributes to the literature on comparative methods in the social sciences by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of regression analysis and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) for studies with a moderately large-n (between approximately 50 and 100). Moderately large-n studies are interesting in this respect since they allow for regression analysis as well as fsQCA analysis. These two approaches have a different epistemological foundation and thereby answer different, yet related, research questions. To illustrate the comparison of fsQCA and regression analysis empirically, I use a recent data set ( n = 53) that includes data on the conditions under which governments in Western democracies increase their spending on active labor market policies (ALMPs). This comparison demonstrates that while each approach has merits and demerits, fsQCA leads to a fuller understanding of the conditions under which the outcome occurs.
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General linear regression models can to some extent capture conjunctural causation through interaction effects, but interpreting interactions of more than two variables is challenging.
“While general linear regression models can to some extent capture conjunctural causation through interaction effects, interpreting interactions of more than two variables is challenging (Vis, 2012).”
From Embracing Causal Complexity: The Emergence of a Neo-Configurational Perspective (2017) · cites this paper as Vis, 2012
General linear regression models cannot uncover equifinality.
“While general linear regression models cannot uncover equifinality (Vis, 2012), QCA's focus toward whether or not more than one causal recipe may lead to the same outcome embraces equifinality .”
From Embracing Causal Complexity: The Emergence of a Neo-Configurational Perspective (2017) · cites this paper as Vis, 2012
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Embracing Causal Complexity: The Emergence of a Neo-Configurational Perspective
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- Authors
- Vis, B.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Vis, Barbara
- ORCID
- Vis, Barbara
- Venue
- Sociological Methods & Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2012-02
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 168-198
- ISSN
- 0049-1241 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8294
- OpenAlex
- W2089171024
- Cited by
- 483
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 54.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.vu.nl
- Locations
- Sociological Methods & Research (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Syddansk Universitet
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Science Research and Education
- Social Sciences › General Social Sciences › Computational and Text Analysis Methods
- Keywords
- fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, regression analysis, method comparison, active labour market policy, government spending, Western democracies
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