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Mollinga, Peter and 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). pp. 178-198.

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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.

Item Type: Journal Article
Keywords: water resources, comparative method, critical realism
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > Department of Development Studies
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Legacy Departments > Faculty of Law and Social Sciences > Department of Development Studies
ISSN: 19650175
Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2015 12:18
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/20562

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