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

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CONFIGURATIONAL COMPARATIVE METHODS. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Related Techniques
Benoit RIHOUX and Charles C. RAGIN (eds)
2008, 240p., paperback
Sage Publications
ISBN: 9781412942355
USD 32.95

Sage promotions for the textbook

It is possible to purchase the textbook, through Sage, with 20% reduction, in the following way:

1/ If you are located in the US or Canada: use the Sage US web pages [click HERE] to order online (at some stage in the process you have to enter the specific "priority offer code" N081006). Alternatively, you can complete the Sage US Priority offer form and send it either by fax or e-mail to Sage US (see instructions on the form).

2/ If you are located in greater Europe, Russia, the whole of Asia (except India) or Africa (in fact: any place except the US, Canada, South America, India or Australasia): use the Sage UK web pages [click HERE] to order online (at some stage in the process you have to enter the specific "priority offer code" 20DI). Alternatively, you can complete the Sage UK Priority offer form and send it either by fax or e-mail to Sage US (see instructions on the form).

3/ If you are located elsewhere, it is not possible to have the book delivered by Sage with that 20% reduction -- but naturally you can also order the book through some online bookshops, with good conditions.

NB with regards to those 2 promotional offers, note that:
- the URLs are different for Sage US & Sage UK;
- the priority offer codes are also different;
- they are valid until September 2009;
- you may circulate information re: these promotional offers to anyone interested

Description:

Configurational Comparative Methods paves the way for an innovative approach to empirical scientific work through a strategy that integrates key strengths of both qualitative (case-oriented) and quantitative (variable-oriented) approaches. This first-of-its-kind text is ideally suited for "small-N" or "intermediate-N" research situations, which both mainstream qualitative and quantitative methods find difficult to address. Benoît Rihoux and Charles C. Ragin, along with their contributing authors, offer both a basic, comparative research design overview and a technical and hands-on review of Crisp-Set QCA (csQCA), Multi-Value QCA (mvQCA), and Fuzzy-Set QCA (fsQCA).

Key Features:

* Discusses existing applications in many different fields and disciplines along with state-of-the-art coverage of the strengths and limitations of these techniques
* Demonstrates further inventive ways of using QCA techniques
* Provides advice on how to develop a comparative research design (case and variable selection) as well as a specific technique called MSDO/MDSO (most similar, different outcome/most different, same outcome).
* Shows how to perform the technical operations linked to three specific QCA techniques: csQCA, mvQCA, and fsQCA
* Includes a glossary, an extensive bibliography, and a detailed list of good practices at every stage of the research process

Intended Audience:

A must for any student or researcher who wants to engage in systematic cross-case comparison in the social and behavioral sciences, the book is ideal for use in upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level social science research methods courses.

THE CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY
Comparing Europe and Latin America
Carsten Q. Schneider
2008, 208p., paperback
Routledge
ISBN: 9780415468060
£ 70.00

Description:

This book investigates the successes and failures in consolidating those democratic regimes
that emerged in Europe and Latin America in the last quarter of the 20th century.
Reinterpreting conventional claims, Schneider’s comparative analyses of 32 countries
indicate that the driving force behind the Consolidation of Democracy (CoD) is the fit
between the institutional type of democracy and the societal context in terms of power
dispersion.
In order to develop the argument that CoD is the result of equifinal, conjunctural, and
asymmetric conditions, this book discusses some general methodological issues involved
when investigating causally complex claims in (macro-) comparative social research. By
employing an innovative two-step fuzzy-set QCA approach, Schneider provides one of the
first book-length applications of fsQCA to real data and demonstrates that this approach can
be a valuable addition to the methodological tool kit of comparative social scientists.
This important volume will be of interest to political scientists, particularly those with an
interest in democracy, democratization, comparative methodology, and configurational
comparative methods.

Selected Contents:

1. Introduction 2. Meanings and Measures of the Consolidation of
Democracy (CoD) 3. The Consolidation of Democracy across Time and Space 4. CoD,
Causal Complexity, and fsQCA 5. Contexts, Institutions, and the Consolidation of Democracy

For more information and to order it, click [HERE]

REDESIGNING SOCIAL INQUIRY
Fuzzy Sets and Beyond
Charles C. RAGIN
2008, 240p., paperback
The University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226702759
USD 18.00

Description:

For over twenty years Charles C. Ragin has been at the forefront of the development of innovative methods for social scientists. In Redesigning Social Inquiry, he continues his campaign to revitalize the field, challenging major aspects of the conventional template for social science research while offering a clear alternative.
Redesigning Social Inquiry provides a substantive critique of the standard approach to social research—namely, assessing the relative importance of causal variables drawn from competing theories. Instead, Ragin proposes the use of set-theoretic methods to find a middle path between quantitative and qualitative research. Through a series of contrasts between fuzzy-set analysis and conventional quantitative research, Ragin demonstrates the capacity for set-theoretic methods to strengthen connections between qualitative researchers’ deep knowledge of their cases and quantitative researchers’ elaboration of cross-case patterns. Packed with useful examples, Redesigning Social Inquiry will be indispensable to experienced professionals and to budding scholars about to embark on their first project.

For more information and to order it, click [HERE] (The University of Chicago Press)
or [HERE] (amazon.com)

A FORMAL THEORY OF ROLES

Kazuto MISUMI
2007, 194p., paperback
Hana-Syoin
ISBN: 978-4903554037
25.00$

Abstract:

In this book, by application of Boolean approach, we develop unique mathematical sociology on social roles. The key concept is role image that is defined for Boolean sum and product of role elements. As the image for a given role is diverse in general, process of role validation is the matter. We formally elaborate the conditions under which roles are successfully validated between actors and discuss the implications in substantial contexts like as multicultural
communication and role set. The discussion includes measurement problem of this model as
well. The general possibility of unsuccessful role validation leads us to the second issue for role change. We examine the equilibrium of the aggregation process of role modifications and elaborate factors that influence on the modification by formulating the complementarity of role expectations and its relationship with balance theory and with game theory. Throughout the analysis, the tolerant role image is suggestive, not only because it is tolerant in a sense that it
accepts coexistence of different role elements, but also because it generally increases the
possibility of successful role validation and tends to be an equilibrium in the process of role change.

QUALITATIVE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS (QCA) UND FUZZY-SETS.
Ein Lehrbuch für Anwender und alle, die es werden wollen
Carsten Q. SCHNEIDER and Claudius WAGEMANN
Foreword by Charles C. RAGIN
2007, 287p., paperback
Verlag Barbara Budrich
ISBN: 978-3-86649-068-0
EUR. 24.90

For a more detailed description as well as the table of content, download the presentation document HERE (PDF format).

FUZZY SET THEORY
Applications in the Social Science
Michael SMITHSON and Jay VERKUILEN
2006, 112p., paperback
Sage Publications
Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences Series #147
ISBN:076192986X
16.95$

To order, click http://www.sagepub.com/book.aspx?pid=11575.

INNOVATIVE COMPARATIVE METHODS FOR POLICY ANALYSIS
Beyond the Quantitative-Qualitative Divide
Benoit RIHOUX and Heike GRIMM (Eds.)
2006, 340 p., Hardcover
Kluwer Academic Publishers
ISBN: 0-387-28828-7
74.95€

To order, click the link below:
http://www.springer.com/sgw/cda/frontpage/0,11855,5-165-22-88091008-0,00.html

Social Science Concepts: A User's Guide
Gary GOERTZ
2006, 288p, Paperback
Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0-691-12411-6
$27.95

To order this book: http://www.pupress.princeton.edu/titles/8089.html

FUZZY SET THEORY
Applications in the Social Science
Michael SMITHSON and Jay VERKUILEN

Description:

This book introduces fuzzy set theory to social science researchers. Fuzzy sets are categories with blurred boundaries. With classical sets, objects are either in the set or not, but objects can belong partially to more than one fuzzy set at a time. Many concepts in the social sciences have this characteristic, and fuzzy set theory provides methods for systematically dealing with them. A primary reason for not going beyond programmatic statements and rather unsophisticated uses of fuzzy set theory has been the lack of practical methods for combining fuzzy set concepts with statistical methods. This monograph takes that topic as its major focus, and provides explicit guides for researchers who would like to harness fuzzy set concepts while being able to make statistical inferences and test their models. Real examples and data-sets from several disciplines illustrate the techniques and applications, demonstrating how a combination of fuzzy sets and statistics enable researchers to analyze their data in new ways.

INNOVATIVE COMPARATIVE METHODS FOR POLICY ANALYSIS
Beyond the Quantitative-Qualitative Divide
Benoit RIHOUX and Heike GRIMM (Eds.)

Table of contents:

Part One : Systematic Comparative Case Studies:
Design, Methods and Measures

Part Two: Innovative Comparative Methods to Analyze
Policy Making Processes: Applications

Part Three: Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy
Implementation and Evaluation: Applications

Part Four: Conclusion

About this book:
Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy Analysis aims to provide a decisive push to the further development and application of innovative and specific comparative methods for the improvement of policy analysis. To take on this challenge, this volume brings together methodologists and specialists from a broad range of social scientific disciplines and policy fields.

The work further develops methods for systematic comparative cases analysis in a small-N research design, with a key emphasis laid on policy-oriented applications. Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy Analysis is clearly both a social scientific and policy-driven endeavor; on the one hand, the book engages in an effort to further improve social scientific methods, but on the other hand this effort also intends to provide useful, applied tools for policy analysts and the “policy community“ alike. Though quite a variety of methods and techniques are touched upon in this volume, its focus is mainly laid on two recently developed research methods/techniques which enable researchers to systematically compare a limited number of cases; Qualitative Comparative Analysis(QCA) and Fuzzy-Sets (FS).

Written for:
Researchers in the fields of Economics, Sociology, Political Sciences, Communication Sciences, Psychology, Education, Geography, and Anthropology

Social Science Concepts: A User's Guide
Gary GOERTZ

Concepts lie at the core of social science theory and methodology. They provide substance to theories; they form the basis of measurement; they influence the selection of cases. Social Science Concepts: A Users Guide explores alternative means of concept construction and their impact on the role of concepts in measurement, case selection, and theories.

While there exists a plethora of books on measurement, scaling, and the like, there are virtually no books devoted to the construction and analysis of concepts and their role in the research enterprise. Social Science Concepts: A Users Guide provides detailed and practical advice on the construction and use of social science concepts; a Web site provides classroom exercises.

To make the volume more useful, an extensive set of classroom exercises is available from the author's Web page at http://www.u.arizona.edu/~ggoertz/social_science_concepts.html. These include questions about prominent published work on concepts, measures, and case selection; in addition there are logic exercises and questions regarding large-N applications.

Chapter 1 (introdution) and Chapter 9 (Concepts in Theories: Two-Level Theories) available at:
http://www.pupress.princeton.edu/titles/8089.html

REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE POLITIQUE COMPARÉE (RIPC), Vol. 11 n°1 (2004)

Dossier thématique: Nouvelles méthodes comparatives : une troisième voie entre qualitatif et quantitatif ? Réflexions et applications

Table des matières de ce numéro spécial

L'analyse quali-quantitative comparée (AQQC-QCA). Approches, techniques et applications en sciences humaines

Gisèle DE MEUR et Benoît RIHOUX

REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE POLITIQUE COMPARÉE (RIPC), Vol. 11 n°1 (2004)

Dossier thématique: Nouvelles méthodes comparatives : une troisième voie entre qualitatif et quantitatif ? Réflexions et applications

La Revue Internationale de Politique Comparée publie un dossier thématique consacré à "Nouvelles méthodes comparatives : une troisième voie entre qualitatif et quantitatif ? Réflexions et applications" dans son premier numéro 2004 (Volume 11, n°1)

Les contributions à ce dossier présentent une série d'applications de ces nouvelles méthodes en sciences politiques (politique comparée, analyse des politiques publiques, relations internationales) et disciplines connexes.

Ce numéro reprend également les principaux éléments d'un Forum qui s'est tenu le 16 septembre 2003 à Louvain-la-Neuve. Il propose ainsi le texte de la contribution originale du professeur Ragin ainsi que les réactions des différents participants.

Table des matières
(télécharger la table des matières et le bon de commande - format WORD)

Dossier: Nouvelles méthodes comparatives : une troisième voie entre qualitatif et quantitatif ? Réflexions et applications

Forum: Pour que la méthode comparative compte : une troisième voie entre approches qualitatives et quantitatives ?

Gisèle DE MEUR, Benoît RIHOUX

"L'analyse quali-quantitative comparée (AQQC-QCA). Approches, techniques et applications en sciences humaines" (English abstract below)

2002, Louvain-la-Neuve: Academia Bruylant (ISBN: 2-87209-663-9, 19.63 €)

Préface de Charles RAGIN
Postface d'André-Paul FROGNIER
Avec la collaboration de Sakura YAMASAKI

Dans le vaste champ des sciences humaines, un profond clivage sépare aujourd'hui les tenants des approches "qualitative" et "quantitative". Le propos de l'Analyse Quali-Quantitative Comparée (AQQC) est, précisément, de tracer une via media originale entre ces deux traditions. Elle constitue à la fois une approche et une technique, tout particulièrement adaptée à l'analyse d'un nombre limité de cas (les "petits N").
Cet ouvrage constitue le tout premier manuel d'AQQC. Il vise à rendre l'AQQC accessible aux chercheurs et étudiants, dans différentes disciplines. Outre une présentation détaillée de l'approche et de la technique, il comprend des résumés d'applications dans divers domaines, une revue des critiques, ainsi que différents outils dont une bibliographie, une liste de ressources, des exemples (construits ou réels) et un lexique.
Le livre est enrichi d'une préface de Charles Ragin et d'une postface d'André-Paul Frognier.

Pour commander l'ouvrage, imprimez et complétez le bon de commande ici et renvoyez-le à Academia Bruylant (academia.bruylant@skynet.be) (fax: +32 (0)10 45 44 80).

English abstract:

In the vast field of the social sciences and humanities, a deep cleavage separates the upholders of "qualitative" and "quantitative" approaches. The purpose of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is, precisely, to draw an original via media between these two traditions. It constitutes both an approach and a technique, particularly well suited for the analysis of a limited number of cases ("small N").
This is the very first QCA textbook/handbook. It seeks to make QCA accessible to researchers and students coming from different disciplines.
Along with a detailed presentation of the approach and technique, it comprises summaries of applications in various fields, a critical review of critics, as well as several tools such as a bibliography, a list of resources, examples (virtual or real), and a lexicon.
The book is enriched by a foreword by Charles Ragin and an epilogue by André-Paul Frognier.

To order the book, please print and fill out the order coupon here and send it back to Academia Bruylant (academia.bruylant@skynet.be) (fax: +32 (0)10 45 44 80).

Last modified:

30-Nov-2008

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Benoît RIHOUX, Centre de Politique Comparée