Case Selection via Matching. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nielsen, Richard A.
• Other Names: Elman Colin guest-editor.; Gerring John guest-editor.; Mahoney James guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Sociological methods & research. Volume 45:Number 3(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 569
• Page End: 597
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: case selection -- matching -- most similar systems -- qualitative methods -- research design; Sociology -- Research -- Periodicals; Sociology -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 301.072
• DOI: 10.1177/0049124114547054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0049-1241

Abstract

This article shows how statistical matching methods can be used to select "most similar" cases for qualitative analysis. I first offer a methodological justification for research designs based on selecting most similar cases. I then discuss the applicability of existing matching methods to the task of selecting most similar cases and propose adaptations to meet the unique requirements of qualitative analysis. Through several applications, I show that matching methods have advantages over traditional selection in "most similar" case designs: They ensure that most similar cases are in fact most similar; they make scope conditions, assumptions, and measurement explicit; and they make case selection transparent and replicable.