Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA): A mixed-method approach for the in-depth study of complex causality

Introduction

Course information

 

Key terms: Qualitative and quantitative research; Complex causality; fsQCA 4.1 software package; introductory course; relevant for students in any PhD phase.

ECTS: 2.5 
Number of sessions: 4
Hours per session: 4
Course fee: 

 

Aims and focus

Need to analyse cause-effect relations across multiple cases and not sure how? Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) offers a systematic, transparent, and innovative solution. 

Introduced by Charles Ragin in the 1980s and developed further since, QCA is gaining prominence in various social sciences, including political science, economics and business, management, pedagogical sciences, health sciences, sociology, and environmental sciences.

QCA is relevant for researchers who normally work with qualitative methods and are looking for a more systematic way of comparing and assessing cases. QCA is also useful for quantitative researchers who like to assess alternative (more complex) aspects of causation, such as how factors work together in producing an effect.

The class meetings comprise lectures, group discussions and exercises, which are supported by videos that were made for our MOOC on the topic (https://www.coursera.org/learn/qualitative-comparative-analysisOpens external). The course will be less useful for participants who have already completed our MOOC. 

Please note that you will need a laptop in all 4 sessions to make notes and assignments.

Key Facts & Figures

Type
Course
Instruction language
English

What will you achieve?

  • After completing the course you will know how QCA has historically developed and in which academic context.
  • After the course you will know how a QCA study can be designed, under which conditions, and for what purposes.
  • After completing the course you will know how to conduct a QCA study and understand the precise logics on which the analyses are based.
  • After the course you know how to interpret and report the results of a QCA study.

Start dates

Session 1
April 1 (Tuesday) 2025
13.00-17.00 hrs
Mandeville building (campus map), room T19-01

Session 2 
April 9 (Wednesday) 2025
13.00-17.00 hrs
Mandeville building (campus map), room T19-01

Session 3 
April 15 (Tuesday) 2025
13.00-17.00 hrs
Mandeville building (campus map), room T19-01

Session 4
April 22 (Tuesday) 2025
13.00-17.00 hrs
Mandeville building (campus map), room T19-01

Entry level and relevance

This is an introductory course. It is designed for people who have no or limited experience with QCA. No prior knowledge or research experience is required.

The course is useful for researchers in all phases of their PhD trajectory. 

QCA can help both quantitatively and qualitatively oriented researchers, and it can be applied for both small samples (with at least 10 cases) and larger samples.

There are no distinct relations and no significant overlap between this course and other courses offered by the EGSH.

Sessions and preparation

About the instructor

  • Portrait of dr. Fadi Hirzalla
    Dr. Fadi Hirzalla is the Graduate School senior lecturer and methodology consultant. He specialises in quantitative and qualitative methods and methodology, next to his substantive interests in citizenship and new media, with a particular focus on intercultural relations and young people. Prior to joining the Graduate School, he worked at the University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University.

Contact

Facts & Figures

Fee
Tax
Not applicable
Offered by
Erasmus Graduate School of Social Sciences and the Humanities
Course type
Course
Instruction language
English