version 3.18

# Theory evaluation

## Description

Function to enable theory evaluation, as introduced by Ragin (1987, p.118) and extended Schneider & Wageman (2012, p.295), by producing parameters of fit for all possible intersections between a given theoretical statement (a SOP expresison) and the solutions found by function `minimize()`.

## Usage

    modelFit(model, theory)

## Arguments

`model` |  |  |  | A minimization object of class `"QCA_min"`.
`theory` |  |  |  | Character, a SOP expression.

## Details

There are in fact four intersections: presence - presence, presence - absence, absence - presence and absence - absence, where by "absence" is actually meant a negation of an expression using the function `negate()`.

When multiple models exist, all of them are automatically detected, negated and intersection with the theory. Intersections and parameters of fit are going to be produced using a single theoretical expression.

## Value

A list containing objects of class `"QCA_pof"` with the parameters of fit. For a single theoretical expression and a single model, the object is a simple `"QCA_pof"` object.

## References

Ragin, C.C. (1987) The Comparative Method: Moving beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Schneider, C.Q.; Wagemann, C. (2012) Set-Theoretic Methods for the Social Sciences: A Guide to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Berkeley: University of California Press.

## Examples

    # Lipset fuzzy version data

    ttLF <- truthTable(LF, outcome = "SURV", incl.cut = 0.8)

    # parsimonious solution
    pLF <- minimize(ttLF, include = "?")

    modelFit(model = pLF, theory = "DEV*STB")

    model:          DEV*~IND + URB*STB
    theory:         DEV*STB
    model*theory:   DEV*URB*STB + DEV*~IND*STB
    model*~theory:  ~DEV*URB*STB + DEV*~IND*~STB
    ~model*theory:  DEV*~URB*IND*STB
    ~model*~theory: ~DEV*~URB + ~DEV*~STB + IND*~STB

                       inclS   PRI   covS
    --------------------------------------
    1  DEV*~IND        0.815  0.721  0.284
    2  URB*STB         0.874  0.845  0.520
    3  model           0.850  0.819  0.714
    4  theory          0.869  0.848  0.824
    5  model*theory    0.866  0.839  0.660
    6  model*~theory   0.688  0.422  0.191
    7  ~model*theory   0.709  0.634  0.237
    8  ~model*~theory  0.234  0.057  0.255
    --------------------------------------

    # hypothetical exploration of intermediate solutions
    iLF <- minimize(ttLF, include = "?", dir.exp = "1,0,0,0,0")

    modelFit(iLF, "DEV*STB")

    M-C1P1
    model:          DEV*URB*STB + DEV*~URB*~IND
    theory:         DEV*STB
    model*theory:   DEV*URB*STB + DEV*~URB*~IND*STB
    model*~theory:  DEV*~URB*~IND*~STB
    ~model*theory:  DEV*~URB*IND*STB
    ~model*~theory: ~DEV + URB*~STB + ~URB*IND*~STB

                       inclS   PRI   covS
    --------------------------------------
    1  DEV*URB*STB     0.901  0.879  0.468
    2  DEV*~URB*~IND   0.806  0.719  0.268
    3  model           0.866  0.839  0.662
    4  theory          0.869  0.848  0.824
    5  model*theory    0.866  0.839  0.660
    6  model*~theory   0.671  0.311  0.122
    7  ~model*theory   0.709  0.634  0.237
    8  ~model*~theory  0.254  0.091  0.295
    --------------------------------------

## Author

Adrian Dusa

## See also

`intersection`, `negate` `pof`