Affiliation:
1. Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Abstract
Qualitative comparative analysis allows for the breadth of analysis associated with quantitative data and the depth of case knowledge provided by qualitative analysis. In particular, fuzzy-set qualitative analysis (fsQCA) provides a nuanced analysis of data and offers actionable insights. Despite this, fsQCA has been underutilized in the social sciences. This chapter explores the application of fsQCA in the social sciences. The authors advance an argument for its wider adoption due to fsQCA's ability to disentangle the causal complexity involved in person- and policy-based contexts by applying a set-theoretic understanding of causation. The chapter provides an introduction to fsQCA for readers unfamiliar with the approach and advocates for its suitability within a broad range of social science studies.
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