Here - Tilburg University

Author and presenter
Kuchenkova, Anna; Russian state university for the humanities
Title
Analysis of causes by means of two logical – combinatorial methods: QCA and
JSM-method
Abstract
The aim of the paper is to examine two non-statistical methods of causal
relation analysis. First of them, QCA is an approach (introduced by C.С. Ragin in
the late 1980-s), including several techniques of formalized comparative analysis
for small- and intermediate-N research designs. Second, JSM-method is a
method of automatic hypotheses generation in intelligent data analysis, that is
used for analysis of respondents’ opinions (introduced by V.K. Finn in the early
1980-s).
Both methods have a lot of in common, though they were devised
independently at the same time. Firstly, they are non – probabilistic methods,
based on mathematical logic (Boolean algebra, fuzzy set, predicate logic).
Secondly, they have the same epistemological foundation - ideas of J.S. Mill (his
“method of agreement”, “method of difference”, “joint method of agreement and
differences” are formalized in QCA and JSM-method). Thirdly, they imply the
same interpretation of causality as a combination of necessary and sufficient
conditions that lead to a certain output. Fourthly, these methods are labeled as
formalized qualitative methods; which combine elements of quantitative and
qualitative research. From the one hand, these methods imply analysis of rigidly
structured data, description of objects through a set of variables. From the other
hand, these methods implement inductive strategy of data analysis: individual
cases are examined in order to find out similarities and differences, empirical
regularities. So it is a process of generalization, during which hypotheses are not
testing, on the contrary, they are generated, what accords to the logic of
qualitative research. Finely, QCA and JSM-method are intended for discovery of
interconnection between values of different variables. They constitute a special
group of methods among the methods of causal relationship analysis.