Exploring the robustness of set theoretic findings from a large n fsQCA: An illustration from the sociology of education

Cooper, B.; Glaesser, J.

Abstract

Ragin’s Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is often used with small to medium samples where the researcher has good case knowledge. Employing it to analyse large survey datasets, without in-depth case knowledge, raises new challenges. We present ways of addressing these challenges. We first report a single QCA result from a configurational analysis of the British National Child Development Study dataset (highest educational qualification as a set theoretic function of social class, sex and ability). We then address the robustness of our analysis by employing Duşa and Thiem’s R QCA package to explore the consequences of (i) changing fuzzy set theoretic calibrations of ability, (ii) simulating errors in measuring ability and (iii) changing thresholds for assessing the quasi-sufficiency of causal configurations for educational achievement. We also consider how the analysis behaves under simulated re-sampling, using bootstrapping. The paper offers suggested methods to others wishing to use QCA with large n data.

Citation

Cooper, B., & Glaesser, J. (2016). Exploring the robustness of set theoretic findings from a large n fsQCA: An illustration from the sociology of education. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 19(4), 445-459. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2015.1033799

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 19, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Apr 29, 2015
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 31, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 20, 2015
• Journal: International Journal of Social Research Methodology
• Print ISSN: 1364-5579
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-5300
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 445-459
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2015.1033799
• Keywords: Qualitative Comparative Analysis, Calibration, Fuzzy sets, Robustness, Simulation, Bootstrapping.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1434736