Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Valérie Pattyn (1, 2)

1 Universiteit Leiden = Leiden University
2 KU Leuven Public Governance Institute

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is a method which translates qualitative data into a numerical format in order to systematically analyse which configurations of factors produce a given outcome. QCA indeed relies on a configurational conception of causality, according to which outcomes derive from combinations of conditions. It is very useful for ex post impact evaluation, more specifically to understand why the same policy may lead to certain changes in some circumstances and not in others.

Keywords: configurations; combinations of conditions; causal complexity; systematic identification of cross-case patterns; equifinality; conjunctural causation; asymmetrical causality

Domains: Humanities and Social Sciences; Political science

Valérie Pattyn. Qualitative Comparative Analysis. LIEPP Methods Brief n°39, 2023, 5 p. ⟨hal-04160570⟩