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A Robustness Test Protocol for Applied QCA: Theory and R Software Application
Sociological Methods & Research ( IF 6.5 ) Pub Date : 2021-08-26 , DOI: 10.1177/00491241211036158
Ioana-Elena Oana 1 , Carsten Q. Schneider 2
Affiliation  

The robustness of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) results features high on the agenda of methodologists and practitioners. This article aims at advancing this debate on several fronts. First, in line with the extant literature, we take a comprehensive view on robustness arguing that decisions on calibration, consistency, and frequency thresholds should all be tested. Second, we introduce the notion of “sensitivity range” as the range of values for any of these parameters within which the solution formula remains unchanged. Third, we argue that interpreting robustness is more intricate than simply checking if solutions remain unchanged. Beyond sensitivity ranges, researchers should assess robustness by evaluating changes in parameters of fit and the classification of cases as robust, shaky, or possible. Fourth, we enable researchers to perform more than one robustness test at a time by proposing the notions of a “test set”: the overlap between conceptually plausible alternative solutions that can be generated; and of a “robust core”: that part of a QCA solution that withstands the robustness checks. Fifth, we present functionalities implemented in the R package SetMethods that enable researchers to put in practice our proposals. These advancements are integrated into a comprehensive QCA Robustness Test Protocol consisting of three main tests: sensitivity ranges, fit-oriented robustness, and case-oriented robustness. We illustrate the protocol’s implementation with an example on high life expectancy across the globe.



中文翻译:

应用 QCA 的稳健性测试协议:理论和 R 软件应用

定性比较分析 (QCA) 结果的稳健性在方法学家和从业者的议程中占据重要位置。本文旨在在几个方面推进这场辩论。首先,根据现有文献,我们对稳健性采取全面的观点,认为关于校准、一致性和频率阈值的决定都应该进行测试。其次,我们引入了“灵敏度范围”的概念,作为其中任何参数的值范围,在该范围内解公式保持不变。第三,我们认为解释稳健性比简单地检查解决方案是否保持不变更复杂。超出敏感性范围,研究人员应通过评估拟合参数的变化和案例分类为稳健、不稳定或可能来评估稳健性。第四,我们通过提出“测试集”的概念,使研究人员能够一次执行多个稳健性测试:可以生成的概念上合理的替代解决方案之间的重叠;和“强大的核心”:QCA 解决方案中经受住稳健性检查的那部分。第五,我们介绍了 R 包 SetMethods 中实现的功能,使研究人员能够将我们的建议付诸实践。这些进步被集成到一个全面的 QCA 稳健性测试协议中,该协议由三个主要测试组成:灵敏度范围、面向拟合的稳健性和面向案例的稳健性。我们通过一个关于全球高预期寿命的例子来说明该协议的实施。可以生成的概念上合理的替代解决方案之间的重叠;和“强大的核心”:QCA 解决方案中经受住稳健性检查的那部分。第五,我们介绍了 R 包 SetMethods 中实现的功能,使研究人员能够将我们的建议付诸实践。这些进步被集成到一个全面的 QCA 稳健性测试协议中,该协议由三个主要测试组成:灵敏度范围、面向拟合的稳健性和面向案例的稳健性。我们通过一个关于全球高预期寿命的例子来说明该协议的实施。可以生成的概念上合理的替代解决方案之间的重叠;和“强大的核心”:QCA 解决方案中经受住稳健性检查的那部分。第五,我们介绍了 R 包 SetMethods 中实现的功能,使研究人员能够将我们的建议付诸实践。这些进步被集成到一个全面的 QCA 稳健性测试协议中,该协议由三个主要测试组成:灵敏度范围、面向拟合的稳健性和面向案例的稳健性。我们通过一个关于全球高预期寿命的例子来说明该协议的实施。这些进步被集成到一个全面的 QCA 稳健性测试协议中,该协议由三个主要测试组成:灵敏度范围、面向拟合的稳健性和面向案例的稳健性。我们通过一个关于全球高预期寿命的例子来说明该协议的实施。这些进步被集成到一个全面的 QCA 稳健性测试协议中,该协议由三个主要测试组成:灵敏度范围、面向拟合的稳健性和面向案例的稳健性。我们通过一个关于全球高预期寿命的例子来说明该协议的实施。

更新日期:2021-08-26
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