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dc.contributor.authorSCHNEIDER, Carsten Q.
dc.contributor.authorWAGEMANN, Claudius
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-23T13:40:53Z
dc.date.available2011-05-23T13:40:53Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.identifier.citationEuropean journal of political research, 2006, 45, 5, 751-786
dc.identifier.issn0304-4130
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1814/17459
dc.description.abstractComparative methods based on set theoretic relationships such as 'fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis' (fs/QCA) represent a useful tool for dealing with complex causal hypotheses in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions under the constraint of a medium-sized number of cases. However, real-world research situations might make the application of fs/QCA difficult in two respects - namely, the complexity of the results and the phenomenon of limited diversity. We suggest a two-step approach as one possibility to mitigate these problems. After introducing the difference between remote and proximate factors, the application of a two-step fs/QCA approach is demonstrated analyzing the causes of the consolidation of democracy. We find that different paths lead to consolidation, but all are characterized by a fit of the institutional mix chosen to the societal context in terms of power dispersion. Hence, we demonstrate that the application of fs/QCA in a two-step manner helps to formulate and test equifinal and conjunctural hypotheses in medium-size N comparative analyses, and thus to contribute to an enhanced understanding of social phenomena.
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectSocial sciences
dc.subjectDemocracy
dc.subjectComparative analysis
dc.subjectQualitative analysis
dc.subjectResearch methods
dc.subjectEuropean studies
dc.subjectStatistics
dc.subjectElectoral systems
dc.subjectEurope
dc.titleReducing complexity in qualitative comparative analysis (QCA): remote and proximate factors and the consolidation of democracy
dc.typeArticle
dc.identifier.volume45
dc.identifier.startpage751
dc.identifier.endpage786
eui.subscribe.skiptrue
dc.identifier.issue5


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