Qualitative Comparative Analysis, necessary conditions and limited diversity: some problematic consequences of Schneider and Wagemann’s Enhanced Standard Analysis

Cooper, B.; Glaesser, J.

Abstract

We discuss a recent development in the set theoretic analysis of data sets characterized by limited diversity. Ragin, in developing his Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), developed a standard analysis that produces parsimonious, intermediate, and complex Boolean solutions of truth tables. Schneider and Wagemann argue this standard analysis procedure is problematic and develop an enhanced standard analysis (ESA). We show, by developing Schneider and Wagemann’s discussion of Stokke’s work on fisheries conservation and by discussing a second illustrative truth table, that ESA has problematic features. We consider how scholars might proceed in the face of these problems, considering the relations between limited diversity and the different methods of reducing truth tables instantiated in Ragin’s QCA and Baumgartner’s Coincidence Analysis.

Citation

Cooper, B., & Glaesser, J. (2016). Qualitative Comparative Analysis, necessary conditions and limited diversity: some problematic consequences of Schneider and Wagemann’s Enhanced Standard Analysis. Field Methods, 28(3), 300-315. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822x15598974

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 5, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Oct 5, 2015
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Deposit Date: Mar 31, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 12, 2016
• Journal: Field Methods
• Print ISSN: 1525-822X
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-3969
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 300-315
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822x15598974
• Keywords: Qualitative Comparative Analysis, Necessary conditions, Limited diversity, Enhanced standard analysis, Coincidence Analysis.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1412985