Testing Joint Sufficiency Twice: Explanatory Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Standard Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) applies an eliminative cross-case algorithm to identify which combinations of factors are logically associated with an outcome in a population. As such, it suits the purpose of pinpointing the conditions under which an outcome occurs or fails. However, the explanatory import of its findings only follows if the algorithm identifies theoretically interpretable, logically valid, and empirically plausible causal compounds.