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Set-theoretic Multimethod Research : The Role of Test Corridors and Conjunctions for Case Selection
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Authors
Editors
Keywords
Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Causal mechanism
Mixed methods
Multimethod research
Process tracing
HA Statistics
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Causal mechanism
Mixed methods
Multimethod research
Process tracing
HA Statistics
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/27525
Abstract
Set-theoretic multimethod research (SMMR) using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) formalizes the choice of cases based on a truth table analysis. We make three recommendations for improving SMMR. First, current standards can lead to faulty case selection if causal inference on a conjunction is the goal. Case selection needs to take into account that the non-members of a conjunction might be empirically diverse and that only selected types of non-members are ideal for causal inference. Second, we formally show that cases with similar fuzzy-set memberships in a term and the outcome are the superior choice for process tracing. They minimize the expected membership in the mechanism and make it most difficult to pass a hypothesis test. Third, we propose formulas that comply with all SMMR principles and identify the best pairs of cases for analysis. We illustrate our arguments with a study of the effectiveness of sanctions against authoritarian regimes.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2019-09-01
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1111/spsr.12382