COMPASSS

Konstanz Methods Excellence Workshops (KOMEX): Advanced QCA (with R) course (online)
2025-02-17 - 2025-02-21 | Online
In February 2024, Komex offers the course Microcredential ekomex Advanced Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). This 5-day online course exposes participants to advanced methodological developments in Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) that allow for further solidifying their results, and enables them to apply state-of-the-art set-theoretic analytic tools in R.
komex combines cutting-edge, inclusive, and affordable methodological training in both qualitative and quantitative research design and techniques, together with feedback and discussion of the methodological aspects of your own research project and those of other participants. Participation in a workshop will provide you with guidance for how to design your research and/or how to use a method in practice in relation to your research question.
The courses are aimed at Ph.D. scholars and junior researchers. Class sizes are kept small in the workshops.
In collaboration with MethodsNET, komex draws on local expertise to provide world-class PhD-level methods training at affordable prices.

Konstanz Methods Excellence Workshops (KOMEX): Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) using R (On-Site course)
2025-02-17 - 2025-02-21 | University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, Konstanz, 78464, Germany
This five-day in-person course introduces you to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), an innovative set-theoretic technique that allows for comparisons of small, intermediate or large numbers of cases in order to identify necessary and / or sufficient conditions for an outcome, model causal complexity, and integrate in-depth case knowledge at all stages of the analysis. The intensive course has a practical focus and combines theoretical blocks with hands-on exercises. We will use real-world data to replicate a published study with the freely available R software, and discuss examples from the participants’ own research projects in class.
Intructor: Eva Thomann, University of Konstanz, Germany

Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (online)
2025-03-24 - 2025-03-28 | Online
This course, hosted by “The European Consortium For Political Research”, will provide you with an interactive online learning environment using advanced pedagogical tools, and is specifically designed for masters level students and above. The course is limited to a maximum of 16 participants, ensuring that the teaching team can address the unique needs of each individual.
Purpose of the course
Upon completion of this course, you will have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of qualitative comparative analysis and how to apply it to a research project within your area of study. This knowledge and practical experience will equip you with valuable skills for conducting in-depth research and analysis in your field.
ECTS Credits
3 ECTS credits awarded for engaging fully in class activities.
1 additional ECTS credit awarded for completing a post-course assignment.

4th Annual QCA Conference of the Americas
2025-04-02 - 2025-04-04 | Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, United States
The QCA Conference of the Americas (AQCA) provides a venue for the broad, cross-disciplinary community of researchers and practitioners working with configurational-comparative methods and approaches to gather together to present and receive feedback on current research projects, share theoretical and methodological developments, and discuss new directions in configurational-comparative research practices. Bringing together the diverse set of QCA empirical and methodological researchers, AQCA offers a supportive environment for the community to meet, engage in dialogue, network, learn, and collectively move forward on advancing the configurational-comparative perspective.

Introduction to Causal Data Analysis & Modeling with Coincidence Analysis
2025-05-19 - 2025-05-22 | The National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA), Copenhagen, Denmark
This workshop offers an intensive 4-day introduction to causal modeling with Coincidence Analysis (CNA), a novel configurational comparative method of data analysis geared towards causal complexity, which has seen a considerable uptick in applications in recent years (click here for references). No prior knowledge of CNA is required.
For further details, please see link below.

Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (GSERM)
2025-06-09 - 2025-06-13 | GSERM, University of St. Gallen, Tellstrasse 2 9000 St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is a research approach consisting of both an analytical technique and a conceptual perspective for researchers interested in studying configurational phenomena. QCA is particularly appropriate for the analysis of causally complex phenomena marked by multiple, conjunctural causation where multiple causes combine to bring about outcomes in complex ways.
QCA was developed in the 1980s by Charles Ragin, a sociologist and political scientist, as an alternative comparative approach that lies midway between the primarily qualitative, case-oriented approach and the primarily quantitative, variable-oriented approach, with the goal of bridging both by combining their advantages and tackling situations where causality is complex and conjunctural. QCA uses Boolean algebra for the analysis of set relations and allows researchers to formally analyze patterns of necessity and sufficiency regarding outcomes of interest. Since its inception, QCA has developed into a broad set of techniques that share their set-analytic nature and include both descriptive and inferential techniques.
Many researchers have drawn on QCA because it offers a means to systematically analyze data sets with relatively few observations. In fact, QCA was originally developed for small- to medium-N situations with between 10 and 50 cases. In such situations there are frequently too many cases to pursue a classical qualitative approach but too few cases for conventional statistical analysis. However, more recently, researchers have also applied QCA to medium- and large-N situations marked by hundreds of thousands of cases. While these applications require some changes to how QCA is applied, they retain many advantages for analyzing situations that are configurational in nature and marked by causal complexity.
The goal of this workshop is to provide a ground-up introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and fuzzy sets. Participants will get intensive instruction in the method as well as hands-on experience with the fsQCA software package. On completion of the course, participants should be prepared to design and execute research projects using the set-analytic approach.
Specifically, after successful completion of you should be able to:

understand the goals, assumptions, and key concepts of QCA
conduct data analysis using the fsQCA software package
design and execute research projects using a set-analytic approach
apply advanced forms of set-analytic investigation

I would like this workshop to be as useful to you as possible. To get the most out of this workshop, you would ideally already be working on an empirical project that might be aided by taking a configurational approach, but that is not essential. Over the course of this workshop, I hope you will be thinking about how you can apply these methods to your research, and I will do my best to be of assistance.

MethodsNET Summer School with CEU: Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
2025-07-07 - 2025-07-11 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
As part of a rich case-based and comparative methods course program at its Summer School hosted by the Central European University in beautiful Vienna, MethodsNET offers the course Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), taught by Nena Oana. This 5-day intensive in person course introduces Qualitative Comparative Analysis as an approach and a technique, its main assumptions, its standard procedures and operations, and the technical environment (R software and packages) used for its application. QCA enables researchers to model causal complexity by analyzing whether different configurations of conditions are necessary or sufficient for an outcome, based on a formalized comparison of intermediate to large numbers of cases. Throughout the course, emphasis is put on a thorough understanding of the formal logic of set-theoretic methods and QCA, including topics such as Boolean algebra, causal complexity, sets and their calibration, necessity, and sufficiency. The course also discusses the logic and analysis of truth tables and the most important problems that emerge when this analytical tool is used for exploring social science data. Right from the beginning, participants are exposed to performing set-theoretic analyses with the relevant R software packages using data from published applications in the social sciences. Full course details here.
The MethodsNET Summer School (30+ courses offered) stands for top-pedagogy hands-on methods training, while staying affordable. The weekly course fee also gives access to a free plenary program of cross-cutting short courses. Beyond the course, MethodsNET membership also provides access to the multimedia digital ‘MethodsNET Communities’, in particular the ‘Case-based and comparative approaches’ Community that enables users and experts to communicate and collaborate.

MethodsNET Summer School with CEU: Comparative Research Designs
2025-07-07 - 2025-07-11 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
As part of a rich case-based and comparative methods course program at its Summer School hosted by the Central European University in beautiful Vienna, MethodsNET offers the course Comparative Research Designs, taught by Benoît Rihoux. This 5-day intensive in person course is designed to enable participants to build, consolidate and implement the comparative research design (CRD) that best meets their needs. Via interactive pedagogy, it enables each participant to: (1) rigorously and critically reflect on all steps of their comparative research project, and find pragmatic solutions to their CRD challenges; (2) clarify their research goals and their ‘casing’ (defining their cases); (3) choose the most appropriate case selection strategy, among multiple possible alternative strategies, from basic to more advanced; (4) choose the most appropriate strategy for data collection, management and analysis – considering case-based qualitative, systematic comparative (QCA) and statistical types of analysis (QCA is especially examined, including how it can be sequenced with other methods); and (5) write up the full ‘research design’ section of their comparative project. Full course details here.
The MethodsNET Summer School (30+ courses offered) stands for top-pedagogy hands-on methods training, while staying affordable. The weekly course fee also gives access to a free plenary program of cross-cutting short courses. Beyond the course, MethodsNET membership also provides access to the multimedia digital ‘MethodsNET Communities’, in particular the ‘Case-based and comparative approaches’ Community that enables users and experts to communicate and collaborate.

MethodsNET Summer School with CEU: Advanced Applied Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
2025-07-14 - 2025-07-18 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
As part of a rich case-based and comparative methods course program at its Summer School hosted by the Central European University in beautiful Vienna, MethodsNET offers the course Advanced Applied Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), taught by Carsten Schneider. This 5-day intensive in person course aims to enable participants to put in practice state-of-the-art QCA empirical research, including the exploitation of the most recent QCA innovations. Apart from learning how to apply QCA in the best possible way, discussions in class will address from a set-theoretic point of view general methodological issues, such as robustness tests, theory evaluation, case selection strategies, or the role of time and temporality in descriptive and causal inference. Full course details here.
The MethodsNET Summer School (30+ courses offered) stands for top-pedagogy hands-on methods training, while staying affordable. The weekly course fee also gives access to a free plenary program of cross-cutting short courses. Beyond the course, MethodsNET membership also provides access to the multimedia digital ‘MethodsNET Communities’, in particular the ‘Case-based and comparative approaches’ Community that enables users and experts to communicate and collaborate.

QCA Workshop at AOM (Info: Parts 1, 2 & 3)
2025-07-25 11:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Copenhagen) | Academy of Management, Boston, MA, United States
Meet us at AoM on Friday, July 25 (11:00AM-1:00PM CEST) at Bella Center in Hall C- C3-m1 in Copenhagen!

Dear colleagues,
We would like to draw your attention to the following PDW at the Academy of Management Meeting 2025, held in Copenhagen: Configurational Analysis in Management Research: Advances in QCA Methodology and Applications

Part 1-3
The PDW includes 3 Parts. If you have no or only a little knowledge of, and experience with, QCA you can join us during Part 1 to learn the basic “nuts and bolts” of QCA and configurational logic and understand if this might be the right tool for your research project. If you are also interested in current methodological issues and advances in QCA, join us during Part 2! For those who’d like to get feedback on one of your ongoing QCA research papers, join us for Part 3!

Registration?
If you’re joining us for Part 1 and Part 2, you do not need to register (PDW is open to all conference attendees). If you’d like to participate in Part 3, please submit an extended abstract of 1,500-2,000 words to Johannes.meuer@klu.org by 10 July 2025. In your abstract, please summarize your study’s topical area, theoretical background, research gap, and question, and include details about the data, analytical strategy (for empirical papers), and preliminary results. Please indicate your target journal and add a few questions you would like the reviewers to address. A panel of QCA experts will review all submissions and evaluate their fit with the PDW according to the clarity of purpose, methodological rigor, and innovative character of the research. We will inform you shortly, by 20 July 2024, about your opportunities to participate in Part 3.

Reading list
We offer a list of recommended pre-readings and QCA resources along with the PDW. If you’d like to receive the list of recommended pre-readings and resources get in touch with Johannes (johannes.meuer@klu.org).

Conveners & Facilitators:
Ruth Aguilera, Northeastern University, r.aguilera@northeastern.edu
Joanna T. Campbell, University of Cincinnati, joanna.campbell@uc.edu
Donal Crilly, London Business School, dcrilly@london.edu
Peer C. Fiss, University of Southern California, fiss@marshall.usc.edu
Santi Furnari, City University London, Santi.Furnari.1@city.ac.uk
Thomas Greckhamer, Louisiana State University, tgreck@lsu.edu
Rodney Lacey, Arizona State University, Rodney.Lacey@asu.edu
Johannes Meuer, KLU Hamburg, johannes.meuer@klu.org
Vilmos F. Misangyi, The Pennsylvania State University, vfm10@psu.edu

29th Summer School in Social Science Methods: Exploring Causal Complexity with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) (in presence)
2025-08-11 - 2025-08-15 | Università della Svizzera Italiana, Via Buffi 13, Lugano, 6900, Switzerland
This five-day intensive workshop provides participants with a comprehensive introduction to QCA, emphasizing research design and empirical application. Participants will follow an ideal-typical research process, starting with empirical illustrations of how and why QCA is used in the social sciences. These foundational sessions explore key principles, such as set theory, Boolean algebra, and the calibration of crisp and fuzzy sets, while guiding participants through the protocol for identifying patterns of causal complexity using truth tables and Boolean minimization. The course progresses step by step, from study design to the interpretation of results, incorporating hands-on exercises with real-world examples. Advanced topics – including multi-method research, robustness tests, and recent developments in QCA – are tailored to participants’ needs and research interests. Opportunities to present individual projects and explore potential applications further enhance the workshop.

Exploring Causal Complexity with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
2025-08-11 - 2025-08-15 | Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano West Campus, Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, Lugano, CH-6900, Switzerland
– Full-week intensive workshop with R software application
– Summer School in Social Sciences Methods
– August 11–15, 2025
– Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland
Course details & registration (reduced fee for students):
https://www.usi.ch/en/education/lifelong-learning/summer-winter-school/ssm/qualitative-comparative-analysis-research-design-and-application

Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis
2025-08-21 - 2025-08-28 | Online and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
This course offers an interactive hybrid learning environment (both online and on-site), designed specifically for master’s-level students and above. It utilizes advanced pedagogical tools to create an engaging and supportive learning experience. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 16 participants, allowing the teaching team to provide personalized guidance and support.
By the end of the course, you will have a solid foundation in the fundamentals of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and the skills to apply it to a research project within your area of study. This combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience will equip you with valuable competencies for conducting rigorous research and analysis in your field.
You will gain access to the learning platform at least two weeks prior to the course start date, enabling you to prepare through pre-readings and pre-recorded materials. Participants are expected to dedicate approximately 20 hours per week during this period, totaling around 40 hours of preparatory work. We will work in the fs/QCA software, and additional resources for conducting analyses in R will also be provided.

2nd MethodsNET Conference
2025-09-10 - 2025-09-12 | Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium (remote participation also possible)
The 2nd MethodsNET Conference is taking place in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium (remote participation also possible), 10-12 September – https://methodsnet.org/conference/2nd-methodsnet-conference/, which also comprises several QCA training options.

20+ short PhD-level training modules, across various formats. You can find the full list on the conference website, here is a short summary, including a QCA track:

Track A: Modeling methods: Quantitative, computational and SNA
Track B: Meaning-making and holistic methods: Qualitative, interpretive, case-based and QCA
Track C: Methodologies and pedagogies: Reflexivity, bias, arts/practice-based, data quality, pedagogy
Track D: Mixed methods

a 1-to-1 ‘Meet the Expert’ session with leading scholars, also QCA experts
Interactive and hands-on sessions designed especially with junior researchers in mind.

To register: (1) if you are not yet a MethodsNET member: join MethodsNET (https://methodsnet.org/become-a-member/ ) to benefit from a major registration fee discount; and then (2) register to the Conference (https://methodsnet.org/conference/2nd-methodsnet-conference/).

13th European QCA Conference 2025 in Kraków, Poland
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-11 | Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
QCA enthusiasts will soon gather at the 13th European QCA Conference 2025 (previously known as the International QCA Workshop) in Kraków, Poland.
Visit the website for details.

EQCA2025 comprises two events:
1. EQCA Paper Development Workshop
Event is organized for researchers working in various domains who seek constructive feedback on their QCA-based projects and papers. The event is open to researchers at any stage of their QCA journey (an early or more advanced).
Call for papers (deadline: 1st October 2025):
2. Expert Workshop
We invite experienced QCA researchers to submit abstracts that focus on methodological development of QCA or a related method.
Call for papers (deadline: 1st October 2025):

We look very much forward to welcoming you to captivating Kraków this winter!

Anna Sławik, Institute of Economics, Finance and Management, Jagiellonian University, anna.slawik@uj.edu.pl
Seweryn Krupnik, Institute of Sociology, Center for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies Jagiellonian University, seweryn.krupnik@uj.edu.pl
Aleksandra Rudawska, Institute of Management, University of Szczecin, aleksandra.rudawska@usz.edu.pl

Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (online)
2026-02-16 - 2026-02-20 | Online
This course will provide you with an interactive online learning environment using advanced pedagogical tools, and is specifically designed for masters level students and above. The course is limited to a maximum of 16 participants, ensuring that the teaching team can address the unique needs of each individual.
Upon completion of this course, you will have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of qualitative comparative analysis and how to apply it to a research project within your area of study. This knowledge and practical experience will equip you with valuable skills for conducting in-depth research and analysis in your field.
3 ECTS credits awarded for engaging fully in class activities.
1 additional ECTS credit awarded for completing a post-course assignment.
Instructor: Seweryn Krupnik (Jagiellonian University)

seweryn.krupnik@uj.edu.pl

Konstanz Methods Excellence Workshops: Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) (Online course)
2026-02-23 - 2026-02-27 | Online
This five-day online course introduces Qualitative Comparative Analysis as an approach that enables researchers to model causal complexity by analyzing whether different configurations of conditions are necessary or sufficient for an outcome, relying on technical implementation in R.

Instructors:
Ioana-Elena Oana, European University Institute, Italy
Barbora Valik, Central European University, Austria

Konstanz Methods Excellence Workshops: Advanced Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) (Online course)
2026-02-23 - 2026-02-27 | Online
This 5-day online course exposes participants to advanced methodological developments in Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) that allow for further solidifying their results, and enables them to apply state-of-the-art set-theoretic analytic tools in R.
Intructor: Ioana-Elena Oana, European University Institute

Konstanz Methods Excellence Workshops: Comparative Case Study Design (On-Site course)
2026-02-23 - 2026-02-27 | University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, Konstanz, 78464, Germany
This five-day in-person course teaches you how to design your qualitative comparative case study research, from defining research questions and concepts to selecting cases, choosing strategies for data collection and analysis, and addressing research-practical issues.
Intructors: Eva Thomann, University of Konstanz, Germany

Konstanz Methods Excellence Workshops: Introduction to Causal Process Tracing (Online course)
2026-02-23 - 2026-02-27 | Online
Taking a hands-on approach, this five-day online course introduces you to the essentials of Process Tracing and develops both the theoretical understanding and the practical skills to set-up and conduct a full-fledged PT-study.
Intructors: Hilde van Meegdenburg, Leiden University, Netherlands

Introduction to Causal Data Analysis & Modeling with Coincidence Analysis
2026-06-08 - 2026-06-11 | University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare and the Peder Sather Center, Berkeley, United States
This workshop offers an intensive four-day introduction to causal modeling with Coincidence Analysis (CNA), a novel configurational comparative method of data analysis geared towards causal complexity, which has seen a considerable uptick in applications in recent years (click here for references). No prior knowledge of CNA is required.
In plenary lectures, the main developer of CNA, Michael Baumgartner, and a team of experienced CNA methodologists and practitioners (Drs. Cragun, Freitas, Huang, and Miech) will guide participants through the nuts and bolts of configurational data analysis and cutting-edge methodological innovations, as well as offer advice on practical issues such as getting funded and published with CNA. In smaller practice groups, understanding of the material will also be deepened through applied exercises and the instructors will demonstrate how to make the most of current software for CNA.
From Boolean algebra and the philosophical roots of regularity theories of causation, over the basic ideas behind CNA’s search algorithm, and measures of fit to multi-outcome structures, model ambiguities, and robustness analyses, this introduction will enable participants to conduct CNA analyses themselves and review those of other researchers in a sophisticated manner. This will also be an opportunity to get to know researchers working with and on CNA from all over the world.
The workshop agenda is available here. You can register for the conference here.
Costs:

Early bird fee for registration prior to January 31, 2026 is $850.
Standard registration (February 1, 2026 – April 15, 2026) is $950.
Late registration (April 16th 2026 – May 15th, 2026) is $1050.

Crisp and Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) Course at GSERM, St. Gallen, Switzerland | June 8-12, 2026
2026-06-08 - 2026-06-12 | GSERM, University of St. Gallen, Tellstrasse 2 9000 St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Five-day QCA course as part of the Global School in Empirical Research Methods (GSERM), hosted by the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Course Overview
This intensive workshop provides a thorough introduction to both crisp- and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Participants receive hands-on instruction with the fsQCA software package and develop the skills necessary to design and execute research projects using set-analytic approaches.
Who should attend:
This course is intended for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty across the social sciences who are interested in studying configurational phenomena and causal complexity using set-analytic methods.
About QCA
Qualitative Comparative Analysis combines analytical techniques with a conceptual framework ideal for studying configurational phenomena. It excels at analyzing causally complex situations characterized by multiple, conjunctural causation—where various factors interact in complex ways to produce outcomes.
Developed in the 1980s by sociologist and political scientist Charles Ragin, QCA bridges the gap between primarily qualitative, case-oriented approaches and primarily quantitative, variable-oriented approaches.
QCA employs Boolean algebra to analyze set relations, allowing researchers to formally identify patterns of necessity and sufficiency for outcomes of interest. Since its inception, QCA has evolved into a diverse set of techniques sharing a set-analytic foundation, encompassing both descriptive and inferential methodologies.
Applications
As a formal approach for data analysis, QCA can be applied to essentially any setting, but it is particularly valuable for analyzing datasets with relatively few observations (traditionally 10-50 cases). Recent developments have expanded QCA applications to medium- and large-N situations involving hundreds or even thousands of cases. While these applications require methodological adaptations, they maintain QCA’s advantages for analyzing configurational phenomena and causal complexity.
Contact Information
For questions or additional information, please contact me at fiss@marshall.usc.edu.
The complete course manual can be found here: Complete course details and application information here

Introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
2026-06-29 - 2026-07-03 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
This five-day course introduces Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), a set-theoretic method that enables researchers to analyze causal complexity by identifying necessary and sufficient configurations of conditions for an outcome. The course combines conceptual foundations with hands-on exercises, including calibration, necessity and sufficiency analysis, truth tables, and solution interpretation using R.
Instructor:
Eva Thomann, University of Konstanz

Introduction to Process Tracing Methods
2026-06-29 - 2026-07-03 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
This five-day course provides an introduction to process tracing as a qualitative method for within-case causal inference. Participants learn how to theorize causal mechanisms, collect and assess empirical evidence, and apply process tracing to their own research designs.
Instructor:
Hilde van Meegdenburg, Leiden University

Introduction to R
2026-06-29 - 2026-07-03 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
This introductory course provides a practical introduction to R for social scientists. Participants learn the basics of R programming, data import and cleaning, data transformation, visualization, and reproducible research workflows.
Instructor:
Daniel Kovarek, Central European University

Comparative Research Designs: Building and Conducting Your Comparative Project
2026-07-06 - 2026-07-10 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
This advanced course supports participants in developing and implementing rigorous comparative research designs. Topics include the logic of comparison, case selection, data collection strategies, analytical approaches across qualitative and quantitative methods, and writing a coherent and defensible research design.
Instructor:
Benoît Rihoux, Université catholique de Louvain

Advanced QCA and Set-Theoretical Multi-Methods Research
2026-07-06 - 2026-07-10 | Central European University, Vienna, Austria
This advanced course builds on introductory QCA and focuses on state-of-the-art developments in set-theoretic methods. Topics include limited diversity, robustness checks, enhanced standard analysis, theory evaluation, and combining QCA with other qualitative methods such as process tracing, using R.
Instructor:
Ioana-Elena Oana, European University Institute

QCA Workshop at AOM 2026 (Info: Parts 1, 2 & 3)
2026-08-01 | Academy of Management, Boston, MA, United States
Professional Development Workshop (PDW) at the Academy of Management (AoM) Conference
If you’re doing management research with QCA, consider joining us on Saturday, Aug 1 2026 10:00AM – 1:00PM ET (GMT-4/UTC-4) at Marriott in Franklin 8!

Part 1-3
The PDW includes 3 Parts. If you have no or only a little knowledge of, and experience with, QCA you can join us during Part 1 to learn the basic “nuts and bolts” of QCA and configurational logic and understand if this might be the right tool for your research project. If you are also interested in current methodological issues and advances in QCA, join us during Part 2! For those who’d like to get feedback on one of your ongoing QCA research papers, join us for Part 3!

Registration?
If you’re joining us for Part 1 and Part 2, you do not need to register (PDW is open to all conference attendees).
If you’d like to participate in Part 3, please submit an extended abstract of 1,500-2,000 words to Anna @ anna.slawik@uj.edu.pl by 15 July 2026. In your abstract, please summarize your study’s topical area, theoretical background, research gap, and question, and include details about the data, analytical strategy (for empirical papers), and preliminary results. Please indicate your target journal and add a few questions you would like the reviewers to address. A panel of QCA experts will review all submissions and evaluate their fit with the PDW according to the clarity of purpose, methodological rigor, and innovative character of the research. We will inform you shortly, by 25 July 2026, about your opportunities to participate in Part 3.

Reading list
Finally, we offer a list of recommended pre-readings and QCA resources along with the PDW. If you’d like to receive the list of recommended pre-readings and resources get in touch with Anna Slawik (anna.slawik@uj.edu.pl).

Exploring Causal Complexity with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), Lugano
2026-08-17 - 2026-08-21 | Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano West Campus, Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, Lugano, CH-6900, Switzerland
Causal complexity is everywhere in the social sciences—yet most researchers lack the systematic tools to capture it rigorously. In this intensive 5-day workshop (28 contact hours) you will learn how to design, apply, and publish empirical research with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) in the R software environment. The course follows the comprehensive framework developed in Mello (2021, Georgetown University Press), progressing systematically from the foundations of QCA to advanced applications.
The course emphasizes research design alongside analytical techniques, addressing both conceptual foundations and practical application of QCA. You will follow an ideal-typical research process, starting with empirical illustrations of where and how QCA is used in the social sciences. Foundational sessions explore key principles, such as set theory, Boolean algebra, and the calibration of crisp and fuzzy sets, while guiding you through the analytical protocol for identifying patterns of causal complexity using truth tables and Boolean minimization.
The course progresses step by step, from study design to the interpretation of results, incorporating hands-on exercises with examples from published studies and R script templates to adapt for your own purposes. Advanced topics—including multi-method research, robustness tests, and recent developments in QCA—will be tailored to your needs and research interests. Opportunities to present your individual project and explore potential applications further enhance the workshop.
Designed to be inclusive, the workshop welcomes participants at all levels—from PhD students to senior researchers—and strikes a balance between theory, practical exercises, and individualized support. A strong emphasis on collaboration and dialogue in a small group setting ensures ample time for consultation, group discussions, and networking. By the end of the workshop, you will be equipped with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to apply QCA effectively, providing a robust framework for addressing causal complexity in comparative social science research.
This course is part of the 30th Summer School in Social Sciences Methods.
For more information, please visit https://www.usi.ch/en/education/summer-winter-school/ssm/exploring-causal-complexity-with-qualitative-comparative-analysis

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) course (in Italian) at UniMORE, Modena, Italy | September, 21-25 2026
2026-09-21 - 2026-09-25 | UniMORE, Modena, Italy
Five-day QCA course (taught in Italian) with focus on the calibration of qualitative data. The course is part the School in Qualitative and Mixed Methods hosted by the Fondazione Marco Biagi and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMORE), Italy.
Course Overview:
The course offers the theoretical and methodological foundations to perform QCA, from set-conceptualisation, to configurational thinking, to casing and data calibration. By means of examples and exercises, the course focusses on the collection and calibration of qualitative data, although the acquired knowledge and skills can be applied to any type of data for QCA performance. The participants will also take part in tutored classes in the afternoon to apply what they learned about QCA to their prospective or on-going research projects. The course also includes sessions on the practical application of QCA by using the R packages ‘QCA’ and ‘SetMethods’ in the R Studio environment by replicating selected published QCA papers.
More information on the course is available at this page.
Who should attend:
This course targets Italian-speaking master and doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty across the social and human sciences who are interested in configurational thinking using set-analytic methods to examine causal complexity.
About QCA
Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) has been introduced by Charles C. Ragin’s (1987) book ‘The Comparative Method.’ Rooted in historical comparative research in political sciences, QCA expands the logic of qualitative analysis to multiple case studies. By following a formalised workflow, QCA allows researchers to perform systematic cross-case comparison and assess the ‘fit’ of the obtained results in comparative terms by relying on specific parameters.
Most interesting to QCA is the ‘shift of mindset’ required along all the stages of the research, as cases have to be considered elements belonging to conditions (factors) and outcomes (‘effects’) conceptualised as sets. QCA rests on configurational thinking for the representation and explanation of the selected cases in the sample through the concepts of necessity and sufficiency, equifinality, multifinality and limited diversity, which are the main elements composing causal complexity which characterises QCA.
QCA is typically applied to samples composed of small- or intermediate-n (usually, 10-50 cases), but it is increasingly used by researchers to examine large-n datasets from a configurational and set-theoretic logic.
Contact Information
For questions or additional information, please contact dr. Sofia Pagliarin by writing to pagliarin@ihs.nl
