Quantifying the qualitative : information theory for comparative case analysis
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Quantifying the qualitative : information theory for comparative case analysis
Sage, c2017
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Note
Includes bibliographical references (p. 151-154) and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Quantifying the Qualitative presents a systematic approach to comparative case analysis based on insights from information theory. This new method, which requires minimal quantitative skills, helps students, policymakers, professionals, and scholars learn more from comparative cases. The approach avoids the limitations of traditional statistics in the small-n context and allows analysts to systematically assess and compare the impact of a set of factors on case outcomes with easy-to-use analytics. Rigorous tools reduce bias, improve the knowledge gained from case studies, and provide straightforward metrics for effectively communicating results to a range of readers and leaders.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: Enhancing Small-n Analysis: Information Theory and the Method of Structured-Focused Comparison
Why Quantify the Qualitative? Enhancing Qualitative Analysis With Information Theory
Who Needs to Quantify the Qualitative?
Information and Action Under Uncertainty
Origins and Motivations
From Cryptography and Communication to Comparative Case Studies
Making Qualitative Analysis of Information Systematic: The Method of Structured-Focused Comparison
Information Theory and Metrics for Qualitative Learning
A Roadmap for Quantifying the Qualitative
Conclusion
CHAPTER 2: The Information Revolution
Information Theory for the Information Age
What's Under the Hood: A Primer A Primer on Logarithms and Probability for Small-n Analysis
Information Uncertainty Measures
Fundamental Contributions of Information Theory
The Growing Use of Information Metrics
A Note for Practitioners: From Analytics to Action
Conclusion
CHAPTER 3: Case Selection
Research Design and Information Theory
Case Selection Strategies and Challenges
Coding Cases
Case Selection and the Advantages of Information Theoretic Analysis
Conclusion
CHAPTER 4: The Information Method-If You Can Count, You Can Do It
Quantify: Setting up a Truth Table for Comparative Case Analysis
Count: Calculating the Probabilities
Compute: Computing the Uncertainty Measures
Compare: Understanding the Outcomes
Conclusion
CHAPTER 5: Information Metrics at Work-Three Examples
Example 1-Ecology: Information Analysis for Tropical Forest Loss
Example 2-Education: Accounting for Teaching Quality
Example 3- Medicine: Effective Nursing Care
Conclusion
CHAPTER 6: Sensitivity Analysis-Entropy, Inference, and Error
Confidence Intervals and the Information Metric
Analytic Leverage for a Study of Environmental Incentives
The Information Metric and the Problem of Inference
Sensitivity Analysis
Dropped-Case Analysis
Outcome Coding Sensitivity
Conclusion
CHAPTER 7: The QCA Connection
Understanding Qualitative Case Analysis (QCA)
QCA and Causal Complexity
Where QCA and Information Metrics Differ
Examples of Enhancing QCA with Information Metrics
Conclusion
Selected Introductory QCA Resources
QCA Software and Web Resources
CHAPTER 8: Conclusion
Information, Research, and the Digital Era
Reducing Uncertainty and Improving Judgment: Using Information Analysis in the Real World
The Limits and Further Possibilities for Information Analysis
Extensions
Conclusion
APPENDIX A: Using Excel for Information Metrics
Step One: Enter Data
Step Two: Probability Calculations
Step Three: Entropy and Mutual Information Metrics
APPENDIX B: Using R for Information Metrics
Example 1: Deriving Information Metrics from Conditional Probabilities
Example 2: Deriving Information Metrics with the abcd Method
References
Index
by "Nielsen BookData"