Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)

This course is offered as part of the Radboud Summer School in Social Research Methods, in collaboration with MethodsNET (a global network that offers excellent training in social research methods).

This course introduces students to the nuts and bolts of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), a set-theoretic technique that allows for comparisons of cases to identify necessary and/or sufficient conditions for an outcome.

Course leader

Eva Thomann
Professor of Public Administration
Department of Politics and Public Administration
University of Konstanz

Target group

-Master
-PhD
-Post-doc
-Professional

This PhD level course is open to all researchers aiming at bringing their research to the next level. It is particularly designed for those who are looking for a method that allows them to compare cases while modelling aspects of causal complexity, on the one hand, and integrate case knowledge, on the other hand.

Course aim

After this course you are able to:

-Design your research using Qualitative Comparative Analysis
-Understand the logic and technical underpinnings of Qualitative Comparative Analysis
-Independently perform a standard crisp-set or fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis using the R software environment
-Address potential pitfalls of Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Credits info

2 EC
2 ECTS credits, with the possibility of an extra 1-3 ECTS credits depending on additional course work and assignments handed in during or after the summer school (for a possible total of up to 5 ECTS).

Fee info

EUR 575: The fee includes the registration fees, course materials, access to library and IT facilities, coffee/tea, lunch, and a number of social activities.

Scholarships

We offer several reduced fees:
€ 518 early bird discount- deadline 1 April 2022 (10%)
€ 489 partner + RU discount (15%)
€ 431 early bird + partner + RU discount (25%)