COMParative methods for the Advancement of Systematic cross-case analysis and Small-n Studies

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COMPASSS activities

The COMPASSS Seminars are jointly sponsored by the Working Group on "Approches et Méthodes en Politique Comparée" of the Association Belge de Science Politique - Communauté française

Next COMPASSS activities posted soon here

See also our past activities

Past activities:

Dijon, Université de Bourgogne, 29th January 2008
Séminaire Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
"Approche Qualitative Comparative Analysis de la réalité managérial des organisations publiques, privées et sportives"

Bern, 7th December 2007
Joint Workshop
"Comparative Methods: Constructing Concepts and Using QCA"

Louvain-la-Neuve, 4th May 2007
COMPASSS Seminar
"Temporality and Causal Configurations: Combining Sequence Analysis and Fuzzy Set/Qualitative Comparative Analysis"

Louvain-la-Neuve, 9th February 2007
COMPASSS "intimate seminar"
"Integrating time-series components into QCA"
[Presentation slides available]

Louvain-la-Neuve, 1st December 2006
COMPASSS "intimate seminar"
"Recent development in QCA and fuzzy-set methods and applications"

Louvain-la-Neuve, 2nd June 2006, 14:00-17:00
COMPASSS "intimate seminar"
"Expanding the frontiers of QCA applications"
[Presentation slides available]

Louvain-la-Neuve, 25 November 2005, 14:00- 17:00
COMPASSS «intimate seminar»
«The potential of QCA for cross-national survey data analysis»

Louvain-la-Neuve, 28 April 2005, 14:00-17:00
Explaining political system performance, measuring party system configurations : current developments and challenges

Louvain-la-Neuve, 28 April 2005, 9:30-12:30
COMPASSS “intimate seminar”
"Developing further TOSMANA & MSDO/MDSO modules"

Leuven, 25-6 November 2004
Recent Developments in Comparative Case Methods
[Presentation slides available]

Brussels, 17 September 2004
International Colloquium
"Analyzing strategic change in organizations: innovative methods for management"

Brussels, ULB, 29 April 2004
Advances in applications of TOSMANA (QCA and MVQCA applications)

Antwerp, 12 December 2003
"Systematic Comparative Case Analysis: the 'third way' in social science methods "

Louvain-la-Neuve and Leuven, 16-17 Sept. 2003
COMPASSS launching conference:
Systematic Comparative Case Analysis : Bridging the gap between qualitative and quantitative methods

Louvain-la-Neuve, 4th May 2007, 14:00-16:00
COMPASSS Seminar
"Temporality and Causal Configurations: Combining Sequence Analysis and Fuzzy Set/Qualitative Comparative Analysis"

Guest Speaker:
Mona Lena KROOK (Washington University in St Louis)
Abstract:
Contemporary debates over methods in political science revolve primarily around the relative merits of quantitative versus qualitative approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation. As such, they offer few tools for conducting medium-n analyses that enable systematic comparisons across cases but still remain sensitive to the regional and temporal specificities of each individual case. Seeking to bridge this divide, a number of scholars propose medium-n solutions that tackle the layers of complexity embedded in case studies through two broad techniques for formal qualitative analysis. The first focuses on causal configurations by applying set theory to identify, simplify, and compare the various combinations of conditions associated with particular outcomes. The second addresses the issue of causing ordering by elaborating a variety of techniques for mapping and comparing recurrent and non-recurrent causal paths. The two bodies of work thus adopt opposite research strategies: one set of techniques captures causal configurations at single moments in time, while the other outlines the temporal location and context of single causal conditions.
In this paper, I review these contributions, as well as three recent attempts to reconcile them through sub-process and full process analysis, temporal qualitative analysis, and two-step analyses and two-level theories. Arguing that these solutions do not achieve a true synthesis, I outline an alternative based on the study of ‘sequences of iterated reforms.’ This approach requires that analysts (1) construct a ‘truth table’ that maps causal conditions and outcomes as they change over time, (2) apply a ‘soft’ form of optimal matching to detect the changes that occur across configurations, and (3) construct and compare sequences of change and their effects on political outcomes. This procedure joins configuration and sequence analysis by using sequences to uncover the causal effects of configurations, and then employing shifts in configurations to theorize the trajectories and results of specific sequences of reform. To explore the possibilities of this method, I focus on one particular set of policy reforms: the emergence and implementation of candidate gender quotas.

Venue :
Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)

Louvain-la-Neuve, 9th February 2007
COMPASSS "intimate seminar"
"Integrating time-series components into QCA"

Guest speakers:
Wendy OLSEN (University of Manchester)
"Entailment and sufficiency in a time-series framework:
configurational versus regression techniques"
&
David BYRNE (University of Durham)
"Tracking trajectories of change - combining numerical taxonomies and QCA in exploring differentiation in large data sets - an illustration from English secondary schools"
&
Airo HINO (UCLouvain)
"Integrating time-series components into QCA: A systematic use of temporal changes"

Venue : Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)

Programme and abstracts of presentation to be downloaded HERE.

Louvain-la-Neuve, 1st December 2006
COMPASSS "intimate seminar"
"Recent development in QCA and fuzzy-set methods and applications"

Guest speakers:

Barry COOPER (Durham University)
"Class, gender, measured ‘ability’ and educational achievement in two birth cohorts: crisp and fuzzy set analyses (with a comparison of two competing approaches to calibrating fuzzy membership)"
&
Lasse CRONQVIST (Marburg University)
"Causation and spuriousness in QCA Analysis"
&
Bojana LOBE (Ljubljana University)
"QCA on micro level data: identifying complex patterns from rich case knowledge"

Venue : Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)

Programme and abstracts of presentation to be downloaded HERE.

Louvain-la-Neuve, 2nd June 2006, 14:00-17:00
COMPASSS "intimate seminar"
"Expanding the frontiers of QCA applications"

Guest speakers:
Jelle GOEMAN (Leiden University)
"A significance test for QCA"
Bojana LOBE (Ljubljana University)
" Exploratory QCA for mixed method designs experimental evaluation through individual performance"

Venue : Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)

Programme and abstracts of presentation to be downloaded HERE (PDF format).

Louvain-la-Neuve, 25 November 2005, 14:00-17:00
COMPASSS «intimate seminar»
«The potential of QCA for cross-national survey data analysis»

Programme :

Topic : Both guests presented their own work, which builds upon large cross-national survey datasets: respectively the European Values Study (EVS), the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) and the Religious and Moral Pluralism survey (RAMP). First, they presented the research questions they are trying to address, and displayed some of the ‘mainstream’ (quantitative, statistical) analyses which have been performed. Second, they explored the potential of techniques such as QCA to carry out further analyses.

Louvain-la-Neuve, 28 April 2005, 9:30-12:30
COMPASSS “intimate seminar” : developing further TOSMANA & MSDO/MDSO modules

Programme:
Lasse CRONQVIST : State of affairs and future developments of TOSMANA
Jean-Christophe BEUMIER and Gisèle DE MEUR : MSDO/MDSO programming
Open discussion
Download the full programme HERE (Word format)

Participants :
In principle, this seminar gathers only members of the COMPASSS “core teams” (UCL, ULB, UA, KUL, Marburg, Arizona). However a limited number of other participants may be accepted. To join the “intimate seminar”, pls send a message to Sakura Yamasaki (yamasaki@spri.ucl.ac.be ), who will inform you whether or not room for some additional participants is still available.

Louvain-la-Neuve, 28 April 2005, 14:00-17:00
Explaining political system performance, measuring party system configurations : current developments and challenges

Guest speakers :
Profs. John GERRING (Boston University, USA) and
Rein TAAGEPERA (University of Tartu, Estonia, and University of California, Irvine, USA)

Under the auspices of :
• Working group on « Approaches and methods in comparative politics », Association Belge de Science Politique – Communauté française (http://www.absp-cf.be )
• Centre de Politique Comparée (CPC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) (http://cpc.spri.ucl.ac.be )
• COMPASSS research group – COMParative methods for the Advancement of Systematic cross-case analysis and Small-N Studies (http://www.compasss.org )

Programme :
Chair : Prof. Benoît Rihoux (UCL)

14:00-14:05
Word of welcome – Prof. Benoit Rihoux (UCL)

14:05-14:35
Downloadable communication (PDF format)
“Developing and testing a Centripetal Theory of Democratic Governance: A Global Inquiry” – Prof. John GERRING

14:35-15:00
“A response to John Gerring” – Prof. Lieven DE WINTER (UCL)

15:00-15:15
Open discussion

15:15-15:30
Coffee break

15:30-15:50
“Towards a New Operationalization of the Effective Number of Parties (ENP) Index” – Patrick DUMONT (Université de Luxembourg) and Jean-François CAULIER (FUSL)

15:50-16:20
Downloadable communication (PDF format)
“How to Measure the Number and Balance-In-Size of Parties ? A response to Patrick Dumont & Jean-François Caulier” – Prof. Rein TAAGEPERA

16:20-17:00
Open discussion

Location :
Salle LECL 080 (ground floor, in front of elevator), 1, Place Montesquieu, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Registration :
Participation is free of charge. Prior registration is compulsory (simply send an e-mail to Regis DANDOY dandoy@spri.ucl.ac.be )

Download HERE the full programme (Word format).

Leuven, KULeuven, 25-26 November 2004
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN COMPARATIVE CASE METHODS
Prof. James MAHONEY, Brown University
Co-ordinator: Axel Marx, KULeuven

On 25th and 26th November professor James Mahoney of Brown University (department of sociology) visited the Faculty of Social Sciences of the KULeuven to present his recent work on comparative case methods in the social sciences.

James Mahoney has published widely on comparative methods in political science and sociology with a specific focus on cross and within case analysis. An overview of his publications can be found on his website: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Sociology/faculty/mahoney/

During the two-day visit James Mahoney gave a specialised seminar and a general lecture. The specialised seminar focused on the topic of causal mechanisms and its implications for within case analysis. Prof. Dr. Bernhard Kittel (Universiteit van Amsterdam), professor of methodology and expert in macro-quantitative research, was discussant during the seminar on causal mechanisms.
Click HERE to get the seminar presentation slides (PDF format).
The general lecture addressed recent developments in comparative case methods in the social sciences focusing on issues of causality (necessary and sufficient causes), tools for studying temporal processes and tools for descriptive inference (concept formation and measurement validity).
Click HERE to get the general lecture presentation slides (PDF format).

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Seminar: Causal Mechanisms in Social Sciences
Date: Thursday 25th November - 16.00-18.00
Lecture: Recent Developments in Comparative Case Methods
Date: Friday 26th November - 14.00-16.00

ADDRESS
Faculty of Social Sciences - KULeuven
E. Van Evenstraat 2C
3000 Leuven

Additional information:
Axel MARX (KULeuven & COMPASSS) -
axel.marx@soc.kuleuven.ac.be
T: 0032-16-32.31.72
F: 0032-16-32.33.65

This event is jointly organised by
COMPASSS (www.compasss.org) and
Graduate School of the Faculty Social Sciences - KULeuven (http://www.soc.kuleuven.ac.be/en/doc/).

Funded by
Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO)
Graduate School Social Sciences KULeuven

Brussels, 17 September 2004
International Colloquium : "Analyzing strategic change in organizations: innovative methods for management"

Organisers :
· CRECIS (Centre de Recherche en Changement, Innovation et Stratégie), IAG, UCL http://www.poge.ucl.ac.be/crecis
· COMPASSS research group (COMParative methods for the Advancement of Systematic cross-case analysis and Small-N Studies)

Organising committee:
Regis COEURDEROY (CRECIS, UCL)
Alain VAS (CRECIS, UCL)
Philippe WILMES (CRECIS, UCL)
Benoît RIHOUX (CPC & COMPASSS, UCL)
Gisèle DE MEUR (CERAP & COMPASSS, ULB)

Morning session : "Innovative comparative methods for management"
Afternoon session : "Other innovative methods for strategic change"

Main guest speaker :
Bruce KOGUT (Professor of strategy and management at INSEAD)

Papers of the conference available HERE.

Detailed programme:
You can also access updated (15/09) info here.

Venue :
University Foundation / Fondation Universitaire,
11, Rue d'Egmont,
1000 Brussels,
Belgium (Map to be downloaded below; Metro : Trône/Troon)

Cost Free of charge

Download programme and registration form (Word format)
Download programme and registration form (PDF format)

Contacts :
Prof. Benoît Rihoux (COMPASSS) - rihoux@spri.ucl.ac.be
Prof. Régis Coeurderoy (CRECIS) - coeurderoy@poge.ucl.ac.be

Brussels, ULB, 29 April 2004

Advances in applications of TOSMANA (QCA and MVQCA applications)

Co-ordinator : Prof. Gisèle De Meur, ULB

NB : [information in French] L'après-midi de la même journée [14h30 - ca. 16h30], dans le cadre d'un cours portant sur QCA, deux applications QCA seront présentées : - une application en science politique / politique comparée : Anne-Sylvie BERCK (doctorante, CPC, UCL) - une application en géographie : Marie Scouvart (doctorante, aspirante FNRS, UCL) Les participants au " COMPASSS seminar " du matin sont les bienvenus.

COMPASSS seminar, 12 December 2003

"Systematic Comparative Case Analysis: the 'third way' in social science methods "

Time: 10AM- 1PM
Venue: Departement Politieke Wetenschappen - University of Antwerp, Belgium

Click here to get the programme.

COMPASSS launching conference, 16-17 Sept. 2003

Systematic Comparative Case Analysis : Bridging the gap between qualitative and quantitative methods

Louvain-la-Neuve and Leuven (Belgium)

Inaugural lecture by
Prof. Charles C. RAGIN
(University of Arizona)

• NEW! Pictures

• Presentation
  (A word of welcome, conference theme, organising committee, scientific committee, sponsors)

• Timetable

Last modified: 08-Mai-2008

Benoît RIHOUX, Centre de Politique Comparée