Finding structure in diversity: A stepwise small-N/medium-N qualitative comparative analysis approach for water resources management research

Mollinga, Peter; Gondhalekar, Daphne

Abstract

Drawing particularly on recent debates on, and development of, comparative methods in the field of comparative politics, the paper argues that stepwise small-N/medium-N qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is a particularly suitable methodological approach for water resources studies because it can make use of the rich but fragmented water resources studies literature for accumulation of knowledge and development of theory. It is suggested that taking an explicit critical realist ontological and epistemological stance allows expansion of the scope of stepwise small-N/medium-N QCA beyond what is claimed for it in Ragin’s 'configurational comparative methods (CCM)' perspective for analysing the complexity of causality as 'multiple conjunctural causation'. In addition to explanation of certain sets of 'outcomes' as in CCM’s combinatorial, set-theoretic approach, embedding stepwise small-N/medium-N QCA in a critical realist ontology allows the method to contribute to development of theory on (qualitative differences between) the structures in society that shape water resources use, management and governance.

Citation

Mollinga, P., & Gondhalekar, D. (2014). Finding structure in diversity: A stepwise small-N/medium-N qualitative comparative analysis approach for water resources management research. Water alternatives, 7(1), 178-198

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Aug 16, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 11, 2021
• Journal: Water Alternatives
• Electronic ISSN: 1965-0175
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 178-198
• Keywords: water resources, comparative method, critical realism
• Publisher URL: http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol7/v7issue1/240-a7-1-11