IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/h/elg/eechap/19631_5.html
   My bibliography  Save this book chapter

Boolean algebra

In: Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • .

Abstract

Boolean algebra is QCA’s formal language, which it uses to describe cross-case patterns. Cases have (a degree of) membership in a set. If all cases that are in the outcome set (Y) are also in the explanatory condition set (X), but not all X cases are also Y cases, then X is a superset of Y. This means that X is necessary for Y. If all X cases are also Y cases, but not all Y cases are also X cases, then X is a subset of Y. This means that X is sufficient for Y. QCA is designed to find configurations of conditions that are sufficient for the outcome. Conditions describe cases, and configurations describe cases in complex ways. Individual conditions may be necessary but are almost never sufficient. Boolean algebra combines conditions in intersections (conjunctions) with logical ANDs, and in unions (disjunctions) with logical ORs.

Suggested Citation

  • ., 2024. "Boolean algebra," Chapters, in: Qualitative Comparative Analysis, chapter 5, pages 55-69, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:elg:eechap:19631_5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781839104527.00010
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:elg:eechap:19631_5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Darrel McCalla (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.e-elgar.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.