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

5th Annual QCA Conference of the Americas
2026-03-18 - 2026-03-20 | University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, United States
The 5th Annual QCA Conference of the Americas (AQCA2026) will be held March 18-20, 2026 at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati, USA. See https://compasss.org/aqca/ for the call for proposals, registration process, conference program, and complete details.
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
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

5th International Conference on Current Issues in Coincidence Analysis
2026-06-12 - 2026-06-13 | University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare and the Peder Sather Center, Berkeley, United States
We are pleased to announce the 5th International Conference on “Current Issues on Coincidence Analysis,” scheduled to take place on June 12-13, 2026, at UC Berkeley, School of Social Welfare. This conference serves as a premier platform for the exchange of ideas and collaboration between Coincidence Analysis (CNA) methodologists and applied researchers.
Conference Scope: The conference will feature discussions on the latest methodological developments in CNA, addressing open questions and challenges in the field. Moreover, researchers will have the opportunity to showcase exemplary applications of CNA from any discipline, as well as theoretical or conceptual developments.
Highlights:

Invited talks by leading CNA experts
Contributed paper presentations
Networking opportunities

We now invite the submission of extended abstracts for contributed papers. Submissions may cover three main areas: Applied (utilizing CNA to analyze empirical data), methodological (further developing the CNA method and its technical aspects), or theoretical (advancing the theory of causation underpinning CNA). We request extended abstracts of up to 1000 words that clearly outline the research question, methodology, key findings, and contribution to the field. All submissions will undergo a peer-review process. To submit an abstract, fill out this form. The submission deadline is March 13, 2026. Notification of acceptance will occur by March 28, 2026.
Conference Venue: UC Berkeley, School of Social Welfare
Contact Information: For any inquiries or additional information, please contact michael.baumgartner@uib.no.

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

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
