Introduction into Qualitative Comparative Analysis

2019/2020

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

5

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент социологии

Статус:

Курс по выбору

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 4 модуль

Преподаватель

Тават Махама

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is intended to provide consistent knowledge on this innovative technique in the comparative method. The course start by acquainting students to the comparative methods that preceded the QCA such as MIll's methods, the strategy of paired comparisons and the comparative historical analysis. Then, it exposes the three main techniques of the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The course will be delivered online using a medium of telecommunication such as ZOOM or another medium to be specified because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning Objectives

• At the end of the course, the student should have: - the skill to lead a basic social science research project using the QCA - the skill to criticize and evaluate the quality of outcome of QCA studies - the skill to model comparative research designs in comparative social research.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Overview of methods in the comparative method.
• Selection of variables. Research design.
• Ability to operationalization the research design.
• Ability to complete robustness tests.
• Knowledge of extra features of the QCA.
• The goal is to acquire know-how through practical exercises.

Course Contents

• Introduction
  The first session will introduce the main concepts of comparative political sociology and lay out the course plan and requirements from student participation. We will discuss Heuristic differ-ences and similarities between the case study, focused comparison, medium N (QCA) and statis-tical analysis. Boolian language, sufficiency and necessity of variables, conditions, multifinality, equifinality, QCA techniques.
• Calibration
  Sets, conditions and set calibration. Basic set operations and concepts. Rules for combining logi-cal operators. Calculating membership in sets.
• Parameters of fit.
  Measures of consistency and coverage.
• Analysis of Necessity and Sufficiency
  Sufficiency, necessity, INUS, SUIN of sets; Construction and logical minimization of a truth table.
• Temporal QCA.
  Time and sequencing in QCA.
• Application of the QCA.
  Exercises.

Assessment Elements

• Home assignment
• Written test
• Written test
  The final exam will take place in the form of a written test. Assignments have to be submitted by email to the professor by June 17th 23:59 at mtawat@hse.ru Confirmation will be sent upon reception by the professor through email.

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (4 module)
  The mid-term exam or interim assessment will weight 40%

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Rihoux, B., Marx, A., Benoît, R., Axel, M., Charles C., R., Priscilla, Á.-C., … Ingo, R. (2013). QCA, 25 Years after “The Comparative Method”: Mapping, Challenges, and Innovations—Mini-Symposium. Political Research Quarterly, 66(1), 167–235. https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912912468269
• Schneider, C. Q. . (DE-588)1028374186, (DE-627)730622509, (DE-576)184542162. (2012). Set-theoretic methods for the social sciences a guide to qualitative comparative analysis Carsten Q. Schneider and Claudius Wagemann. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.362325634
• Schneider, C. Q., & Wagemann, C. (2012). Set-Theoretic Methods for the Social Sciences : A Guide to Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=473253

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Ragin, C. C. (2013). The Comparative Method : Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. Oakland, California: University of California Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=784602