Qualitative Comparative Analysis in Mixed Methods Research and Evaluation

Leila C. Kahwati, MD MPH, is a senior research scientist in RTI International’s Social and Health Organizational Research and Evaluation Program. She has over 20 years of experience in government, community, and academic health care practice and research settings with a focus on clinical program and policy development and evaluation. Dr. Kahwati is board certified in family medicine and in general preventive medicine/public health and has training in epidemiology and health services research through a Health Resources and Services Administration National Research Service Award in Primary Care Research through the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With her colleagues, she has pioneered the use of qualitative comparative analysis in mixed methods health services research and in systematic reviews of complex interventions. Before joining RTI she was the Deputy Chief Consultant for Preventive Medicine in the Veterans Health Administration. She holds an adjunct faculty appointment in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Heather L. Kane, PhD is a senior public health analyst and director of the Child and Adolescent Research and Evaluation program at RTI International, specializing in qualitative research methodologies, qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), and evaluation. Dr. Kane has more than 15 years of experience in planning and implementing mixed methods evaluations. Her work focuses on the lives of vulnerable populations, such as children and adults experiencing food insecurity, persons living with multiple sclerosis (MS), and low-income persons lacking access to health care. Before joining RTI, she was an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Research Service Award postdoctoral research fellow at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and recipient of the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education.  She holds an adjunct faculty appointment with Tulane University, School of Professional Advancement.

Editors′ Introduction
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1: Qualitative Comparative Analysis as Part of a Mixed Methods Approach
Overview of Mixed Methods Study Designs
How QCA Compares to Other Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Underlying Assumptions of Causal Complexity
QCA in Mixed Methods Studies
Overview of the Rest of the Book and Guiding QCA Heuristic
Chapter 2: Overview of QCA Concepts and Terminology
Configural Research Questions
The Concept of Sets
Set Operators and Symbolic Notation
From Concepts to Real-World Application
Chapter 3: Selecting Cases and Choosing Conditions and Outcome
Overview of Case, Condition, and Outcome Selection
Apply Theoretical, Empirical, and Practical Considerations for Selecting Cases
Apply Theoretical, Empirical, and Practical Considerations for Selecting Conditions and Outcomes
Identify Strategies for Optimizing the Number of Cases and Conditions
School Health Features and Academic Performance Example
Chapter 4: Calibrating Sets and Managing Data
Data Types and Sources
Calibration versus Measurement
Types of Calibration and Processes Used
Calibration Examples
Good Calibration Practices and Data Management Strategies
Chapter 5: Analyzing the Data—Initial Analyses
Overview of Analysis
Transform a Data Matrix into a Truth Table
Strategies for Managing Contradictory Truth Table Rows
Revisiting the Data to Manage Contradictory Truth Table Rows
Inspect the Truth Table for Potential Issues
Conduct an Analysis of Necessary Conditions and Combinations of Conditions
Conduct Analysis of Sufficient Conditions and Combinations of Conditions
Chapter 6: Analyzing the Data—Model Analytics
Overview of Model Analytics
Interpret Solution Parameters of Fit
Evaluating Assumptions
Evaluating Assumptions: An Applied Example
Model Ambiguity
Evaluating Model Ambiguity: An Applied Example
Assessing Robustness
Evaluating Robustness: An Applied Example
Iterative Respecification
Chapter 7: Interpreting Results: Within- and Cross-Case Analysis
Overview of Interpretation
Considerations for Conducting Within- and Cross-Case Analysis
Study Aims and Case Selection for Within- and Cross-case Analysis
Example: School health and Wellness Policies and Academic Performance
Chapter 8: Advanced Topics in QCA
Multi-value QCA
Incorporating Time in QCA
Critiques of QCA
Chapter 9: Preparing Proposals, Reports, Manuscripts, and Presentations
Overview
Reporting QCA Methods
Summarizing Findings and Limitations
Improving Accessibility to Readers
Responding to Peer Review Critiques
Chapter 10: Examples of Mixed Methods Approaches using QCA
QCA Within a Mixed Methods Approach
Example of Convergent Design: Evaluation of the Jobs to Careers Program
Example of Sequential Design: A Configurational Approach to Understanding Project Delays
APPENDIX: Recommended QCA Resources
Glossary
References
Index