Crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research Articles

Dynamic Analysis and Temporal Governance of Safety Risks: Evidence from Underground Construction Accident Reports

Due to the complexity and dynamics of underground construction projects, safety risk management has experienced significant challenges restricting the sustainable development of underground space. The research on risk causal chains and risk coupling has yet to reveal the dynamic interactive characteristics of these risk factors and their temporal relationships over time. This study utilized a complex system view for safety risk analysis, using 37 accident investigation reports of underground construction projects. Combined with two novel and emerging analytical methods, temporal qualitative comparative analysis and crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis, this study discusses the temporal relationship of risk factors to the cause of accidents and explores the multi-actor coupling characteristics of management risk. The findings indicate that (1) compared with general construction projects, underground construction should pay more attention to management safety risks because they have an obvious time lag effect expressed in all accident causation paths, namely, preceding management risk, management risk, and machine/material risk cross-concurrently, and management risk initiation and (2) underground construction project management risks have three key main paths, namely, single-actor-dominated management deficiency (supervisors, owners, and subcontractors that cause management risks as a single-core actor) and dual-actor-dominated management deficiency (owner and subcontractor as dual core actors of management risk). Multi-actor-dominated management deficiency (owners, subcontractors, and supervisors are the multiple core actors of management risk). This study thus developed a temporal governance framework of underground construction safety risks based on the synergy of multi-actors and proposed risk governance strategies, such as synergistic multi-actor governance, to consider the temporal relationship of safety risk. This study further reveals the temporal and coupling characteristics of safety risks to enrich the risk casual chain theory and risk coupling theory and establish a systematic risk analysis framework for new guidance for safety and risk management for underground construction projects.

Necessary and sufficient conditions for social science undergraduates’ academic success in English medium instruction settings: a crisp set qualitative comparative analysis

ABSTRACT Previous research has examined the impact of various factors on the academic success of undergraduate students in English Medium Instruction (EMI) environments, with the aim of improving students’ academic outcomes. However, clarity regarding the necessity and sufficiency of these factors for EMI academic success remains elusive, limiting a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon. This study used crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (csQCA) to analyse data from 16 empirical studies that investigated factors influencing the academic success of social science undergraduate students in EMI settings, using the EMI Academic Success (EMIAS) model. The findings revealed that English language proficiency emerged as a necessary and sufficient condition for EMI academic success, while students’ characteristics appeared to be a sufficient but not necessary condition. In addition, three causal configurations leading to EMI academic success were identified among four condition variables – English language proficiency, students’ characteristics, educational background, and English language support. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the determinants of EMI academic success and highlights the importance of students’ English language proficiency and their characteristics in the context of EMI.

Beyond regression: Unpacking research of human complex systems with qualitative comparative analysis

This study underscores the effectiveness of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) when compared to conventional regression analysis (CRA) in the investigation of complex human systems. Utilizing historical secondary cross-national data from Lipset & Man (1960) spanning 18 countries, where CRA may be impractical, the research emphasizes the superior performance of QCA, specifically utilizing both crisp set QCA and fuzzy set QCA. The dataset includes variables such as democracy survival and its precursors, such as gross national product per capita, urbanization, literacy rate, and industrial labor force. In contrast to conventional regression results indicating an insignificant relationship between democracy survival and its antecedents, crisp set QCA identifies two distinct combinations of antecedents associated with high levels of democracy survival, albeit with limited solution coverage. Meanwhile, fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) reveals five combinations of antecedents linked to robust democracy survival, providing adequate solution coverage and consistency. These findings suggest that fsQCA excels in capturing the intricacies of real-life scenarios in human complex systems, offering more robust empirical solutions compared to crisp set QCA and conventional regression. As a result, researchers may find value in integrating fsQCA into their new projects focused on human complex systems.

A Relational Theory of Jihadist Affiliate Behaviour: The Case of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State

ABSTRACT Why do some AQ and IS affiliates fight one another while others avoid tension or even coordinate? While the extant theories of environment and power balancing provide inroads into such a puzzle, they overlook key relational factors shaping jihadist affiliate behaviour. In this article, I develop a relational theory of AQ-IS interactions, mapping out three avenues of pre-existing social networks: affiliate-civilian, AQ-IS affiliate and affiliate-unaffiliated rebels. Using several datasets, I examine AQ-IS relations in six regions from 2014 to 2018 with a crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis. Rival affiliates conflict less while relying on civilian support and cooperate more as off-shoots.

Conditions of Sustainable Welfare: A Cross-Case Empirical Analysis of 22 Locality-Based Welfare Systems in Decentralised Indonesia

The existing body of knowledge underpinning welfare state theory suggests that most welfare systems depend on growth. It signifies that the state–market mechanism is a prerequisite for achieving welfare. However, the current ecological crisis highlights the detrimental effects of unchecked economic growth, which often exploits human and natural resources. This phenomenon calls for a countermovement that protects society and natural resources through social and public policies. Within the domain of sustainable welfare, an argument points towards the need to gain an empirical understanding of sustainable welfare policies and gather qualitative evidence that explains the conditions and mechanisms of “better” eco-social performance. This article aims to identify conditions leading to achieving sustainable welfare outcomes and discern under which conditions sustainable welfare outcomes are attainable or fail, especially in the context of the Global South. It draws on empirical data to analyse the locality-based welfare systems of 22 villages across decentralised Indonesia using a conditions-oriented approach of the crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. The findings shed light on the institutional setting and policy mix leading to sustainable welfare outcomes in less-industrialised, informal economy-based, and highly decentralised country contexts. The evidence points to the presence of sustainable welfare outcomes when a substantial level of subsidiarity, self-governance, and meaningful community participation, and a policy mix covering basic needs, services for vulnerable groups, a functioning local economy, and innovative ecological practices are in place. While past research predominantly leans towards a statist-focused approach to sustainable welfare, this study proposes a society-focused perspective. It argues that transforming both modes of production and relational dynamics among society, state, and market in the Global South context is necessary, where an empowered society serves as a prerequisite for sustainable welfare outcomes.

The formation mechanism of primary health care team effectiveness : a qualitative comparative analysis research

BackgroundTeam-based care is an essential part of primary health care (PHC), and its team service delivery process is a systematic one involving multiple and complex influences. Research on the formation mechanism can help improve the effectiveness of primary health care teams (PHCTs).MethodsFirst, based on the Donabedian model, we explored the theoretical framework of a PHC team’s effectiveness formation mechanism. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23primary health care team members in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. A total of seven factors were then included as conditional variables using the crisp set qualitative comparative analysis (csQCA) to explore the complex influences between them and the outcome variable through univariate necessity analysis and path configuration analysis.ResultsUnivariate necessity analysis showed that only “Clear Goals” in the structural dimension were necessary for team effectiveness perception. Six pathways to good primary health care team perception of effectiveness were identified. Two of these paths were more typical.Conclusion“Clear Goals” was the core variable that should be emphasized when exploring the mechanism of PHCT formation. The results suggest that human resources in the management team should be rationally allocated, goal-oriented, and given good attention. Future studies should explore complex combinations of PHCT factors to improve the effectiveness of PHCTs.

Analyzing Community Perception of Protected Areas to Effectively Mitigate Environmental Risks Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis: The Case of Savu Sea National Marine Park, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

The Savu Sea holds significant importance as a conservation area in Indonesia that provides sustenance and livelihoods for local communities. However, the sea is currently facing various threats, including overfishing, pollution, and the impacts of climate change. Therefore, the effective management of this conservation area relies heavily on the active participation of local communities. This study aims to address the research question “What combination of variables leads to the positive outcome of strong participation and could thus mitigate environmental risk?” These variables include the socio-economic condition of coastal households, environmental awareness, the existence of community-based conservation areas, attitudes towards activities within the conservation area, and participation in multi-stakeholder institutions. This study employs the crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) or csQCA methods. A survey was conducted among 22 coastal villages surrounding the Savu Sea, resulting in the identification of 14 different combinations of pathways that contribute to varying levels of perception regarding conservation. Of these 14 pathways, 10 were found to lead to the positive outcome of strong participation. Valuable lessons can be drawn from this study to enhance the design of policies aimed at effectively managing the Savu conservation area.

The role of International Civil Society Organizations in democratization: A crisp-set QCA approach to anti-corruption in Ghana.

An anti-corruption strategy is essential in the process of continuous democratisation for effective governance. The objective of our study is to examine the mechanisms that contribute to an effective anticorruption strategy in a case study of civil society organisations in Ghana. These CSO cases illustrate the efforts of non-state actors to promote democracy in their interactions with Ghana's government. A model of anticorruption strategy and the crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis (cs-QCA) method were employed to examine 264 cases of local civil societies in Ghana that responded to questions on the conditions for an effective anticorruption strategy. Our results indicate that no single condition is sufficient as an anti-corruption strategy. However, the role of international civil society organisations (RISCO) is necessary for any anticorruption strategy. RISCO has to be combined with freedom of expression, good leadership, fear of punishment, and training to provide an effective strategy. On the other hand, despite the fear of punishment, social trust and leadership, rules and regulations, and training, the absence of RISCO explains all ineffective anticorruption strategies. Therefore, Ghana's anti-corruption strategy must always consider the role of organisations such as Amnesty International (AI), Transparency International (TI), and the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) in mitigating corruption. Policymakers should therefore promote the presence of international civil society in Ghana because they ultimately contribute to democratization in addition to all government effort.

Government-university collaboration on smart city and smart government projects: What are the success factors?

Despite the widespread practice of cooperation between governments and universities on smart city and smart government projects, the factors influencing this cooperation are not well known. We explore government-university collaboration to illuminate four potential determinants of success in such projects: output, institutional, relationship, and framework factors. Using mixed methods, including a theoretically informed crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis methodology and thematic analysis of interviews and secondary data, we identify the causal relationships among these determinants and perceived success of government-university collaboration on smart city and smart government projects. We find that for a collaboration to be considered successful, all of these factors must be present and positive. In contrast, a negative assessment of even one of these factors is sufficient to evaluate the collaboration as unsuccessful.

Identifying Resilient and Non-Resilient Labour Conditions in Europe Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Abstract Based on the concept of labour market resilience, this paper is aimed to determine the combination of initial conditions behind resilient and non-resilient labour markets after the financial crisis in 2008 in Europe. We start from the assumption that some initial conditions in 2007 are crucial to achieve a specific labour result when a shock appears. In this sense, the effect of temporary employment in cyclical sectors, labour market flexibility, the level of education among the workforce, and the expenditure on Labour Market Policies (LMP) have been tested using crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (csQCA) in 25 European countries. Whilst our results do not explain labour market resilience in its entirety, we have found a model explaining 85% of the non-resilient cases. These findings suggest that the different levels of initial conditions may have prompted dissimilar labour adjustments with varying success rates in dealing with the job losses.

Analysis of factors influencing the organizational capacity of Institutional Review Boards In China: a crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis based on 107 cases

BackgroundInstitutional Review Boards (IRBs) play a vital role in safeguarding the rights and interests of both research participants and researchers. However, China initiated the establishment of its own IRB system relatively late in comparison to international standards. Despite commendable progress, there is a pressing need to strengthen the organizational capacity building of Chinese IRBs. Hence, this study aims to analyze the key factors driving the enhancement of organizational capacity within these committees.MethodThe cross-sectional survey for this research was conducted from July 2020 to January 2022. Following the statistical grouping based on the "2020 China Health Statistical Yearbook", a systematic investigation of IRBs in various provinces of China was carried out. In-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted with the chairpersons and administrative executives (or secretaries) of highly cooperative IRBs. Subsequently, data were collected from 107 IRBs. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) was employed as the method to analyze the factors influencing the organizational capacity of medical ethics committees and explore the diverse combinations of these factors.ResultsThrough a singular necessary condition analysis, the variable "protection of rights and interests" emerges as a critical factor contributing to the robust construction of Institutional Review Boards Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). Conversely, the variables of "lack of member ability, absence of review process, and deficiency in the supervision mechanism" collectively constitute a sufficient condition leading to weaker IRB construction. The state analysis uncovers three interpretation modes: member ability-oriented (M1), system process-oriented mode (M2), and resource system-oriented mode (M3).ConclusionsThe results of this study are effectively explicable using the "Triangular Force" model proposed for the hypothesis of IRBs' organizational capacity, which provides a solid foundation for the development of organizational capabilities in IRBs. To enhance the organizational capacity of IRBs in China, it is imperative to elevate the competence of committee members and strengthen team development. This can be achieved by establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework and refining procedural protocols. Moreover, clarifying the organizational structure and optimizing resource allocation are essential steps in bolstering the overall organizational capabilities of these committees.

A Social Network Approach to the Dual Aspect of Moral Competence

This work presents evidence supporting the relationship between the dual aspect of moral competence (emotion and cognition) and social networks in school settings. We conducted empirical research with 160 students from various disciplines of the social sciences and different cohorts in two Brazilian public universities. Firstly, the participants responded to Georg Lind’s Moral Competence Test (MCT-xt). Following this, a sociometric generator regarding relationships of friendship and collaboration in social networks was applied, and several Exponential Random Graphs Models (ERGMs), with the MCT-xt score as an exogenous effect and predictor of these relationships, were utilized. We also used a Crisp-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis in order to determine if the cohorts, where the average MCT-xt was associated with the interactional structure, obeyed the same causal configuration. There exist two conditional configurations: (1) a sufficient score of MCT-xt in a social network with homogeneous status encourages a proactive search of collaboration; (2) an insufficient score of MCT-xt in a social network with homogeneous status encourages a collaborative exchange based on the popularity of some individuals. This work reveals how to interpret, at the grouping level, the results of MCT-xt.

Identifying Combinations of Altmetrics and Web of Science Usage That Linked to Early Citations of an Article Received: A Crisp-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (csQCA)

The relations of altmetrics/usage of an article and its citations have been studied extensively by using several variable-oriented approaches, e.g., correlations analysis, regression analysis, and so on. Variable-oriented approaches are symmetrically designed to estimate the “net effects” of independent variables on outcomes. In contrast to variable-oriented approaches, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), a case-oriented approach based on set theory, models the concept of conjunctural causation, rather than a single net effect. QCA assumes asymmetry, equifinality, and causal complexity. In this study, based on four data sets from Scientific Reports, a Crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (csQCA) was employed to identify combinations of altmetrics and Web of Science usage (WOSusage) that linked to early citations an article received. Our results revealed the existence of diverse combinations of altmetrics and WOSusage that linked to early citations. The four combinations with the highest raw coverage for each data set indicated that high Mendeley readers together with high WOSusage played a key role in early citations an article received. The other altmetrics, including Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and news, played roles in linking to early citations an article received but varied in different combinations for each data set.

Modeling systems of sentencing in early inquisition trials: Crime, social connectivity, and punishment in the register of Peter Seila (1241–2)

Despite significant research on the techniques of repression employed by medieval inquisitors against religious dissidents, the case-level influences on the penances they meted out are understood only vaguely: the extent to which sentencing “systems” existed is unknown. To overcome this, we apply formal methods – an exploratory analysis supported by crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, and statistical modeling founded on multiple linear regression – to the large and historically significant register of Peter Seila (1241–2), captured as structured data via a statement-based approach entitled “Computer-Assisted Semantic Text Modelling” (CASTEMO). The results show that Peter systematically weighted different types of crimes and dissident interactions when sentencing; they do not suggest, however, that he was influenced by accomplicity or kinship among the sentenced.

The non-use of evidence in the adoption of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in OECD countries.

Studies confirm the positive effect of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxation on public health. However, only a few countries in Europe adopt SSB taxes. From a public policy perspective, we investigate the conditions under which countries do or do not follow this evidence. Crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) of 26 European Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development countries with and without an SSB tax. We test which configurations of conditions (problem pressure, governmental composition, strategic planning, health care system, public health policies, inclusion of expert advice in policymaking) emerge as relevant in determining adoption and non-adoption between the years 1981 and 2021. Pathways that lead to the presence and absence of SSB taxes are identified separately. At least one of the following configurations of conditions is present in countries that introduced taxation: (i) high financial problem pressure, low regulatory impact assessment activity; (ii) high public health problem pressure, a contribution-financed health care system, no holistic strategy for combatting non-communicable diseases (NCDs); (iii) a tax-financed health care system, a holistic NCD strategy, high strategic and executive planning capacity. In countries that did not adopt SSB taxes, we find (i) high regulatory impact assessment activity, high levels of sugar export; (ii) no holistic NCD strategy, high spending on preventive care; (iii and iv) a lack of strategic planning capacity and either a high share of spending on preventive care or inclusion of expert advice. Evidence inclusion requires clear policy priorities in terms of strategy and resources to promote public health.

Social Policy Expansion and Retrenchment in Latin America: Causal Paths to Successful Reform

Abstract The literature on social policy expansion and retrenchment in Latin America is vast, but scholars differ in how they explain outcomes, arriving at different conclusions about the role of democracy, left parties, favorable economic conditions, and social movements. What can welfare state developments since the end of the commodity boom teach us about the theoretical power of these arguments? This paper engages this question, seeking to explain recent incidents of successful social policy reform in 10 presidential administrations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Using a combination of crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis (csQCA) and case studies, we identify multiple paths toward successful social policy expansion and retrenchment. The QCA results highlight two key findings. First, social policy expansion was generally carried out by programmatic parties (often, though not always, from the left). Second, retrenchment is most likely when nonprogrammatic right parties face fiscal constraints. The case studies affirm these findings and show that differences in electoral competition, social movement pressure, and policy legacies shape the contexts in which expansion and retrenchment is feasible. The results provide new insight into social policy reform, underscoring the relevance of complex forms of causality.

Business models for digital sustainability: Framework, microfoundations of value capture, and empirical evidence from 130 smart city services

The emerging research stream on digital sustainability examines how digital technologies enable the creation of environmental and social value. The need to finance the creation of such value calls for a business model perspective that combines value creation and value capture. To extend the digital sustainability literature in this regard, we adopt a microfoundations perspective and argue that the configuration of value creation influences the decision of users to pay for a value proposition or not, which in turn affects organizational value capture. Applying a crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis to 130 smart city initiatives in Switzerland, we develop a three-dimensional framework of business models for digital sustainability. The framework comprises 12 theoretically possible business model types, representing distinct business model configurations. We contribute to the digital sustainability and the microfoundations literatures by analyzing, explaining, and classifying the diversity of digitally enabled business models in the context of smart cities.

A Qualitative Comparative Analysis to explore the predictors of individuals’ willingness towards vaccination

The emergence of COVID-19 traumatized individuals from all walks of life and while the demand for vaccines increased exponentially, the authorities seem to encounter greater challenges on their road to create herd immunity. Governments initiated numerous campaigns to influence individuals to opt for vaccination and India being a diverse country makes it difficult to understand the motivating factors for getting COVID-19 vaccination.The study aimed to explore the predictors of individuals’ willingness to get vaccinated using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). After screening using the vaccine hesitancy scale, a semi-structured interview was conducted among 30 respondents from India. Crisp Set QCA was utilized to analyse the data which lead to nine conditions.A solution combination of seven conditions showed a consistency of 1 and coverage of 0.6. They included knowledge about vaccines, perceived severity of the COVID-19 virus, family and peer influence, media and health department's influence, a sense of social responsibility, trust in the authorities and vaccine efficacy.This study contributes to the relevance of QCA's use in psychological research, especially to identify predictors of willingness to immunize. The findings of this study would help in designing appropriate interventions to enhance willingness to get vaccinated.

How to become an excellent pediatric resident: a qualitative comparative study from China

BackgroundCompetency-oriented medical education has become a global trend. However, most current studies focus on the independent effects of various competencies and lack an examination of the combined effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the competency configurations of excellent pediatric residents and general pediatric residents and to provide a scientific reference for the talent training and career development of pediatric residents.MethodsBehavioral event interviews were conducted with 23 pediatric residents at a children's hospital in Beijing in July and August 2019. Two researchers coded the interview data to summarize the competency of pediatric residents. The research group scored the performance of 23 pediatric residents in various aspects of competency and used the crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis method to explore the competency configurations of excellent pediatric residents and general pediatric residents.ResultsThis study concludes that pediatric residents should have six core competencies: professional spirit, clinical skills, communication ability, learning ability, mental capacity and research ability. There are 4 combinations of competencies for becoming an excellent pediatric resident: the clinical type, scientific research type, all-around development type and high emotional intelligence type. In addition, there are 3 combinations of competencies for becoming a general pediatric resident: the comprehensive ability deficiency type, lack of professionalism and mental capacity type, lack of communication ability type.ConclusionsThere are differences in competence between excellent and general pediatric residents. Excellent pediatric residents do not need to possess all competencies but should specialize in clinical practice, scientific research or communication skills. This study suggests that training in mental capacity, professional spirit and communication ability should be strengthened during pediatric resident training. Pediatric residents should make career development plans according to their actual situation, and hospitals should arrange suitable positions according to the characteristics of pediatric residents.

Does Help-Seeking Message Content Impact Online Charitable Behavior? A Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on 40 Waterdrop Projects

A help-seeking message is composed of abundant types of content; therefore, it is unsuitable for analysis by the traditional methods that assume that variables are independent of one another. To address this problem, we introduced qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to explore the synergistic effects of help-seeking message content on online charitable behavior. Crisp-set QCA and fuzzy-set QCA were both used to analyze qualitative and quantitative data from 40 Waterdrop projects. To analyze the qualitative data, three members of our research team intensively and separately read a large number of help-seeking messages, analyzed and summarized the main content referring to previous studies on charitable donation, extracted rational appeals, positive emotions, negative emotions, moral appeals, and the economic condition as condition variables, and finally determined the coding rules collaboratively. The necessity analysis results show that moral appeals and rational appeals are necessary conditions for online charitable behavior. The sufficiency analysis results show that there are three configurations impacting online charitable behavior. This study can help inspire future studies shifting from a traditional perspective to a configuration perspective and help seekers obtain more charitable donations.