Comparative Research Design: Case and Variable Selection

Berg‐Schlosser, Dirk; Meur, Gisèle De

doi:10.4135/9781452226569.n2

Cited by 139 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The QCA method, however, is not exclusively inductive in nature. Rather, it is a "theory-driven approach to empirical observation" (Sager and Andereggen, 2012) or an analytic induction (Rihoux and Lobe, 2009): knowledge is generated through a dialogue with data, but theory is used to select the relevant variables, a qualitative comparative analysis of 20 cases in france operationalize them, and make other decisions in the QCA process (Berg-Schlosser and De Meur, 2009;Sager and Andereggen, 2012). The method is expected to trigger new knowledge and new insights, building new segments of theory (Fiss, 2007).…”

Section: General Features and Benefits Of The Qca Methods For Ir Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Pathways to Above-Mandatory Severance Pay When Downsizing: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 20 Cases in France

Garaudel

Beaujolin

Noël

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

When it comes to negotiating over a collective dismissals plan, the French national legal framework explicitly encourages social partners to favour outplacement services over significant indemnity payments. However, significant above-mandatory redundancy payments are commonly granted to laid-off workers. Based on these factual observations, this article aims to identify the antecedent conditions, or, more precisely, the combinations of conditions, that lead to the granting of a large severance pay. We conducted a qualitative comparative analysis (Crisp set QCA) methodology applied to 20 monographs on downsizing operations that took place in France during the 2000s. The results show that above-mandatory severance payments are closely related to two major dimensions characterizing the economic and social context in which restructuring processes are carried out. The first one is about the balance of power prevailing between the company decisionmakers and the employees. This balance of power dimension is subsumed by two distinct conditions: the availability of financial resources and the presence of active unions. The second dimension relates to the moral and economic damages inflicted upon laid-off workers. This dimension is intrinsically connected to two downsizing process features, i.e. the perceived degree of legitimacy associated with the downsizing process and the degree of employability associated with the laid-off workers. Most notably, it appears that none of the identified conditions is sufficient by itself to induce the payment of a significant above-mandatory indemnity. However, some causal conditions may induce the outcome variable when they are combined with some specific other antecedent conditions. Thus, our research shows that the financial resource condition leads to the granting of an above-mandatory indemnity either in conjunction with a low degree of worker’s employability or in conjunction with both a weak perceived legitimacy of the restructuring process and the presence of active unions.Les dispositifs légaux français qui encadrent les suppressions d’emplois incitent explicitement les partenaires sociaux à négocier des accords mettant l’accent sur le reclassement des salariés licenciés plutôt que sur l’indemnisation financière. Pourtant, l’octroi d’indemnités supra-légales semble bien inscrit dans les pratiques des entreprises françaises. Cet article tente d’identifier les conditions ou, plus précisément, les combinaisons de conditions qui conduisent à l’octroi d’indemnités supra-légales. Pour cela, nous avons mené une analyse qualitative comparée (Crisp set QCA) de 20 cas de restructurations ayant eu lieu en France au cours de la décennie 2000. Les résultats montrent que les indemnités de licenciement sont conditionnées par deux dimensions principales du contexte économique et social dans lequel se déroulent les suppressions d’emplois. D’une part, l’instauration d’un rapport de force favorable aux salariés est nécessaire. Celui-ci dépend soit de la disponibilité de ressources financières, so...

show abstract

Section: General Features and Benefits Of The Qca Methods For Ir Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Pathways to Above-Mandatory Severance Pay When Downsizing: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 20 Cases in France

Garaudel

Beaujolin

Noël

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When particular cases can be chosen from a larger population, Berg-Schlosser and De Meur [16] offer other strategies and best practices for choosing cases. Unless the number of cases relies on an existing population (i.e., 30 programs or grantees), the outcome of interest and existing theory drive case selection, unlike variableoriented research [3,4] in which numbers are driven by statistical power considerations and depend on variation in the dependent variable.…”

Section: Identify Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conditions (or "sets" or "condition sets") refer to the explanatory factors in a model; they are similar to variables. Because QCA 16-100) number of cases, one should aim for fewer than five conditions because in QCA a researcher assesses all possible configurations of conditions. Adding conditions to the model increases the possible number of combinations exponentially (i.e., 2 k , where k=the number of conditions).…”

Section: Identify Conditions and Outcome Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unless the number of cases relies on an existing population (i.e., 30 programs or grantees), the outcome of interest and existing theory drive case selection, unlike variableoriented research [3,4] in which numbers are driven by statistical power considerations and depend on variation in the dependent variable. For use in causal inference, both cases that exhibit and do not exhibit the outcome should be included [16]. If a researcher is interested in developing typologies or concept formation, he or she may wish to examine similar cases that exhibit differences on the outcome or to explore cases that exhibit the same outcome [14,16].…”

Section: Identify Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For use in causal inference, both cases that exhibit and do not exhibit the outcome should be included [16]. If a researcher is interested in developing typologies or concept formation, he or she may wish to examine similar cases that exhibit differences on the outcome or to explore cases that exhibit the same outcome [14,16].…”

Section: Identify Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Using qualitative comparative analysis to understand and quantify translation and implementation

Kane

Lewis

Williams

et al. 2014

Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding the factors that facilitate implementation of behavioral medicine programs into practice can advance translational science. Often, translation or implementation studies use case study methods with small sample sizes. Methodological approaches that systematize findings from these types of studies are needed to improve rigor and advance the field. Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is a method and analytical approach that can advance implementation science. QCA offers an approach for rigorously conducting translational and implementation research limited by a small number of cases. We describe the methodological and analytic approach for using QCA and provide examples of its use in the health and health services literature. QCA brings together qualitative or quantitative data derived from cases to identify necessary and sufficient conditions for an outcome. QCA offers advantages for researchers interested in analyzing complex programs and for practitioners interested in developing programs that achieve successful health outcomes. KEYWORDS

show abstract

What Political Settings Promote Renewable Energy Investments by Energy Utilities?—A Qualitative Comparative Analysis in Swiss Cantons

Schmid¹,

Bornemann²

2019

European Policy Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Investment decisions by power utilities significantly shape sustainable energy systems. While it is known that different political factors influence investment decisions, the interaction of these factors remains unclear. Using a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis of 22 cases in 19 Swiss cantons, this study analyses which combinations of political conditions promote investment decisions by utilities in renewable energies. The analysis reveals the significance of different combinations of political conditions. High investments in renewable energies can be explained above all by political settings in which high administrative capacity is linked to ambitious policy goals, to the considerable power of a parliamentary pro-ecology coalition or to non-privatized utilities. The results support other findings on the importance of complex governance settings with hierarchical elements. They raise further questions about the precise mechanisms that mediate between political conditions and investment decisions of energy utilities, and the role of public administrations in this respect. KEY WORDS: energy policy, political conditions, investment decisions, renewable energy, QCA 何种政治设置会就能源和公共事业推动可再生能源投资? 能源公共事业的投资决策会显著影响可持续能源系统。众所周知, 不同政治因素会影响投资决策, 但尚不清楚这些政治因素间的相互影响。通过对瑞士 19 个行政区的 22 项案例进行模糊集定性比较分析, 本文分析了政治情况的哪些组合能推动对可再生能源公共事业的投资决策。分析揭示了不同政治情况组合的显著性。尤其是可再生能源方面的高投资能通过政治设置予以解释。在这种政治设置中, 以公有化为主体的行政能力与宏伟的政策目标、议会支持生态联盟的显著权力或与非私有化的公共事业都有联系。分析结果对有关复杂治理设置 (具备阶级性质) 的重要性的其他研究发现给予了支持。分析结果进一步就精准机制提出了疑问,该机制负责在政治情况和能源公共事业投资决策,以及公共行政对此产生的作用之间进行协调。关键词: 能源政策, 政治情况, 投资决策, 可再生能源, 定性比较分析¿Qu e entornos pol ıticos promueven inversiones en energ ıa renovable por parte de los servicios p ublicos de energ ıa?Las decisiones de inversi on de las empresas de energ ıa dan forma a los sistemas de energ ıa sostenible. Si bien se sabe que diferentes factores pol ıticos influyen en las decisiones de inversi on, la interacci on de estos factores sigue sin estar clara. Utilizando un an alisis comparativo cualitativo de 232 conjuntos difusos de 22 casos en 19 cantones suizos, este estudio analiza qu e combinaciones de condiciones pol ıticas promueven las decisiones de inversi on de las empresas de servicios p ublicos en energ ıas renovables. El an alisis revela la importancia de diferentes combinaciones de condiciones pol ıticas. Las altas inversiones en energ ıas renovables pueden explicarse sobre todo por entornos pol ıticos en los que una alta capacidad administrativa est a vinculada a objetivos pol ıticos ambiciosos, al considerable poder de una coalici on parlamentaria pro-ecolog ıa o a empresas de servicios p ublicos no privatizadas. Los resultados apoyan otros hallazgos acerca de la importancia de entornos pol ıticos complejos con elementos jer arquicos. Plantean m as preguntas sobre los mecanismos precisos que median entre las condiciones pol ıticas y las decisiones de inversi on de las empresas de energ ıa, y el papel de las administraciones p ublicas frente a este tema.PALABRAS CLAVES: pol ıtica energ etica, condiciones pol ıticas, decisio...

show abstract

Comparative Research Design: Case and Variable Selection

Cited by 139 publications

References 0 publications

Understanding the Pathways to Above-Mandatory Severance Pay When Downsizing: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 20 Cases in France

Understanding the Pathways to Above-Mandatory Severance Pay When Downsizing: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 20 Cases in France

Using qualitative comparative analysis to understand and quantify translation and implementation

What Political Settings Promote Renewable Energy Investments by Energy Utilities?—A Qualitative Comparative Analysis in Swiss Cantons

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About