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Set‐theoretic Multimethod Research: The Role of Test Corridors and Conjunctions for Case Selection
Author(s) -
Schneider Carsten Q.,
Rohlfing Ingo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
swiss political science review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.632
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1662-6370
pISSN - 1424-7755
DOI - 10.1111/spsr.12382
Subject(s) - qualitative comparative analysis , computer science , selection (genetic algorithm) , causal inference , conjunction (astronomy) , set (abstract data type) , inference , outcome (game theory) , sanctions , process tracing , econometrics , artificial intelligence , machine learning , operations research , data mining , mathematical economics , mathematics , political science , physics , astronomy , politics , law , programming language
Set‐theoretic multimethod research ( SMMR ) using Qualitative Comparative Analysis ( QCA ) formalizes the choice of cases based on a truth table analysis. We make three recommendations for improving SMMR . First, current standards can lead to faulty case selection if causal inference on a conjunction is the goal. Case selection needs to take into account that the non‐members of a conjunction might be empirically diverse and that only selected types of non‐members are ideal for causal inference. Second, we formally show that cases with similar fuzzy‐set memberships in a term and the outcome are the superior choice for process tracing. They minimize the expected membership in the mechanism and make it most difficult to pass a hypothesis test. Third, we propose formulas that comply with all SMMR principles and identify the best pairs of cases for analysis. We illustrate our arguments with a study of the effectiveness of sanctions against authoritarian regimes.