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Analyzing Relationships of Necessity Not Just in Kind But Also in Degree

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  • Barbara Vis
  • Jan Dul

Abstract

Analyzing relationships of necessity is important for both scholarly and applied research questions in the social sciences. An often-used technique for identifying such relationships— fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA)—has limited ability to make the most out of the data used. The set-theoretical technique fsQCA makes statements in kind (e.g., “a condition or configuration is necessary or not for an outcome†), thereby ignoring the variation in degree . We propose to apply a recently developed technique for identifying relationships of necessity that can make both statements in kind and in degree , thus making full use of variation in the data: Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA). With its ability to also make statements in degree (“a specific level of a condition is necessary or not for a specific level of the outcome†), NCA can complement the in kind analysis of necessity with fsQCA.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara Vis & Jan Dul, 2018. "Analyzing Relationships of Necessity Not Just in Kind But Also in Degree," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 47(4), pages 872-899, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:47:y:2018:i:4:p:872-899
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124115626179
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dul, Jan, 2016. "Identifying single necessary conditions with NCA and fsQCA," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1516-1523.
    2. Martin R Schneider & Conrad Schulze-Bentrop & Mihai Paunescu, 2010. "Mapping the institutional capital of high-tech firms: A fuzzy-set analysis of capitalist variety and export performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(2), pages 246-266, February.
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    5. Gary Goertz & Tony Hak & Jan Dul, 2013. "Ceilings and Floors," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 42(1), pages 3-40, February.
    6. Dul, J. & Hak, A. & Goertz, G. & Voss, C., 2010. "Necessary Condition Hypotheses in Operations Management," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2010-019-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
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    8. Dul, J., 2015. "Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA)," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2015-004-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Richter, Nicole Franziska & Hauff, Sven, 2022. "Necessary conditions in international business research–Advancing the field with a new perspective on causality and data analysis," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(5).
    5. Yang, Jialei & Hurmelinna-Laukkanen, Pia, 2022. "Evolving appropriability – Variation in the relevance of appropriability mechanisms across industries," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    6. Ana M. Greco & Georgina Guilera & Laura Maldonado-Murciano & Juana Gómez-Benito & Maite Barrios, 2022. "Proposing Necessary but Not Sufficient Conditions Analysis as a Complement of Traditional Effect Size Measures with an Illustrative Example," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    7. Mohammad Soltani Delgosha & Tahereh Saheb & Nastaran Hajiheydari, 0. "Modelling the Asymmetrical Relationships between Digitalisation and Sustainable Competitiveness: A Cross-Country Configurational Analysis," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-21.
    8. Jan Dul & Sven Hauff & Ricarda B. Bouncken, 2023. "Necessary condition analysis (NCA): review of research topics and guidelines for good practice," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 683-714, February.
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