Combinational Regularity Analysis (CORA): A New Method for Uncovering Complex Causation

Configurational comparative methods (CCMs) such as Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) have gained in popularity over the last three decades in many scientific disciplines. However, all existing CCMs still face major theoretical limitations, analytical constraints or unresolved algorithmic problems. The present article introduces a new CCM called Combinational Regularity Analysis (CORA). CORA integrates a generalized regularity view of causation with the developed mathematical and visual machinery of combinational logic design. After having introduced CORA’s epistemological and algebraic foundations, we present example applications to showcase its inferential powers and compare results to those generated by existing CCMs.