Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Instructor: Seweryn Krupnik No pre-registration required – just drop in on the day. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is a research method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine complex relationships between conditions and outcomes. Drawing on set-theoretic logic, it identifies configurations of conditions associated with a given outcome, making it particularly suitable for studying causal complexity. Rather than focusing on isolated factors, QCA examines how combinations of conditions interact and recognises that multiple pathways may lead to the same result. This presentation introduces QCA as a methodological approach and discusses the types of research questions for which it is most appropriate. You will be guided through the key stages of a QCA study – from research design and calibration to the interpretation of results – and introduced to practical resources and learning pathways for developing QCA expertise. The session aims to provide participants with the knowledge needed to assess whether QCA is an appropriate method for their own research and to identify effective ways of developing their competencies in applying it.