Qualitative-comparative, set-theoretic and case-based methods

The chapter shows how important comparison is for the study of political institutions. It focuses on qualitative-comparative analysis (QCA) as the probably most standardized comparative method and illustrates six principles of comparative methods which are best visible in a QCA: (1) a property-based perspective on cases; (2) a configurative logic; (3) an equifinal understanding of causality; (4) a tendency towards y-centred research interests; (5) the researchers’ interests in specific cases; and (6) a specific view on inference, mainly focused on middle-range theories. Furthermore, various empirical studies which use QCA for an analysis on comparative political institutions are briefly introduced, demonstrating how well QCA fits their design. After a critical review of recent developments in QCA methodology, the perspective is amplified, once with regard to other methods using set theory, and once to other case-based methods. The conclusion presents the various methods with regard to their degree of standardization.