Configurational Explanations

First introduced by Charles C. Ragin in 1987, Qualitative Comparative Analysis is an analytic eliminative technique that deploys set theory to connect a bundle of factors and an outcome. As such, it can complement ¬ ndings from more conventional frequentist techniques employed to establish the causal effect of a single factor, “everything else being equal”. However, QCA’s set–theoretic operations often raise doubts that results can be entrusted with the same causal standing as conventional ones. Con¬ gurational Explanations intends to dispel some of these doubts in light of a consideration: set theory is equipped to test whether a bundle and an outcome are systematically linked by an “if–then” relationship, which renders the formal side of causation in the logical tradition. Formal validity, however, is not enough: explanations also require the bundle to be causally interpretable and sound. The book reasons interpretability is ensured when factors are selected to render a constitutive mechanism, while soundness ultimately depends on how gauges preserve cases’ qualitative and quantitative information of interest. The book integrates these considerations into a usable protocol for credible con¬ gurational explanations and illustrates its application with a study of the accountability designs beneath the diversity in perceived corruption.