QCA, 25 Years after “The Comparative Method”: Mapping, Challenges, and Innovations—Mini-Symposium
Abstract
Current standard practices put sufficiency at the core of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), while the analysis of necessity is limited to the test of necessary conditions. Here, we argue that the possibilities of QCA in the latter domain are much greater. In particular, it can be used to empirically confront theories centered on necessary relations and that involved various conditions. A new operation, labeled "the systemic necessity assessment," is therefore introduced. To show its added value, a published QCA study that confronts theories centered on necessary relations but using regular minimization is replicated.
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The QCA approach is traditionally considered to tackle external validity, internal validity, and mode of reasoning through a strong case orientation.
“The QCA approach is traditionally considered to tackle these issues through a strong case orientation (Rihoux 2013).”
From Designing Research With Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA): Approaches, Challenges, and Tools (2017) · cites this paper as Rihoux 2013
All QCA studies are configuration oriented, since they conceive of cases as a configuration of attributes.
“All QCA studies are configuration oriented, since they conceive of cases as a configuration of attributes (Rihoux 2013:238).”
From Designing Research With Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA): Approaches, Challenges, and Tools (2017) · cites this paper as Rihoux 2013:238
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Working Draft - Please ask for permission before you cite
Pogrebinschi, T., & Ryan, M. E. (2014)
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- Authors
- Rihoux, B., & Marx, A.
- Affiliations
- UCLouvain (BE)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Venue
- Political Research Quarterly
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-02-12
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 167-235
- ISSN
- 1065-9129 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-274X
- OpenAlex
- W2737577877
- Cited by
- 194
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7
- FWCI
- 54.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Political Research Quarterly (publishedVersion)
- Alexandria (UniSG) (University of St.Gallen) (submittedVersion)
- Digital Access to Libraries (Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), l'Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université Saint-Louis (USL-B)) (submittedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- 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 › Political Science and International Relations › Social Policy and Reform Studies
- Keywords
- qualitative comparative analysis, configurational analysis, welfare state typology, robustness testing, research quality
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