Abstract
The lack of support for contradictions in fsQCA limits the method’s usefulness for conducting inductive research. In this paper, I describe how to extend fsQCA to accommodate contradictory conditions. I review kirq (Reichert and Rubinson 2011), a new software package for QCA that includes support for fuzzy-set contradictions. For researchers using software that does not support fuzzy-set contradictions, I describe how to identify them by hand.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown C., Boswell T.: Strikebreaking or solidarity in the great steel strike of 1919: a split labor market, game-theoretic, and qca analysis. Am. J. Sociol. 100(6), 1479–1519 (1995)
Cronqvist, L.: Using multi-value logic synthesis in social science, paper prepared for the 2nd General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), Marburg, Germany (2003)
Franzosi R.: The Puzzle of Strikes: Class and State Strategies in Postwar Italy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1995)
Kiser E.: Book review: Fuzzy-set social science by Charles C. Ragin. Am. J. Sociol. 106(5), 1486–1487 (2001)
Lakatos I.: The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1980)
Lieberson S.: Small N’s and big conclusions: An examination of the reasoning in comparative studies based on a small number of cases. In: Ragin, C.C., Becker, H.S. (eds) What is a Case? Exploring the Foundations of Social Inquiry, chap 4, pp. 105–118. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1992)
Lieberson S.: Fuzzy-set social science. Contemp. Sociol. 30(4), 331–334 (2001)
Mahoney J.: Strategies of causal assessment in comparative historical analysis. In: Mahoney, J., Rueschemeyer, D. (eds) Compartive Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences, Chap 10, pp. 337–372. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2003)
Modell J.: Review: the comparative method: moving beyond qualitative and quantitative strategies by Charles C. Ragin. J. Soc. Hist. 25(3), 627–628 (1992)
Ragin C.C.: The Comparative Method: Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA (1987)
Ragin C.C.: Constructing Social Research. Pine Forge Press, Thousand Oaks, CA (1994)
Ragin C.C.: Fuzzy-Set Social Science. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL (2000)
Ragin C.C.: Set relations in social reseach: evaluation their consistency and coverage. Political Anal. 14(3), 291–310 (2006)
Ragin C.C.: Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy-Sets and Beyond. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL (2008)
Reichert C., Rubinson C.: Kirq. University of Houston–Downtown, Houston, TX (2011)
Rihoux, B., Ragin, C.C. (eds): Configurational Comparative Methods: Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Related Techniques, Applied Social Research Methods, vol 51. Sage, London (2009)
Rubinson C.: libfsqca. University of Houston–Downtown, Houston, TX (2011)
Rubinson C., Reichert C.: acq. University of Houston–Downtown, Houston, TX (2011)
Timberlake M.: Review: the comparative method: moving beyond qualitative and quantitative strategies by Charles C. Ragin. Soc. Forces 67(3), 827–829 (1989)
Zadeh L.: Fuzzy sets. Inf. Control 8, 338–353 (1965)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rubinson, C. Contradictions in fsQCA. Qual Quant 47, 2847–2867 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-012-9694-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-012-9694-3