Qualitative Structural Theory: A Basis for Decision-Making

David Canter

International Studies of Management & Organization, 2019, vol. 49, issue 3, 265-282

Abstract: The development of analyses of qualitative data that reveal their underlying structure, using the facet framework, are reviewed in the present article. These provide the basis for a general theory of the inherent structure of most qualitative data, an aspect that other approaches typically only allow for with quantitative data. This broadens the application of Facet Theory beyond its usual remit with quantitative measures. It also provides a conceptual model, or “theory,” that combines ordered (modulating) and non-ordered (radial) facets for many different contexts. Results from “qualitative structural theory” (QST) are shown to be open to interpretation as a form of Narrative Action System. Although the power of QST has been illustrated in many areas, in this article three contrasting areas of application are discussed, which each uses a different form of non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS). One is the exploration of variation in the actions of arsonists revealed through Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). A second is the modeling of consumer choice of chocolates using Multidimensional Scalogram Analysis (MSA). The third is the differentiation of genuine and false claims of rape using Partial Order Scalogram Analysis by Co-ordinates (POSAC). The practical implications of these QST models to assist decision making are briefly discussed.

Date: 2019
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/00208825.2019.1627705 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:mimoxx:v:49:y:2019:i:3:p:265-282

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/mimo20

DOI: 10.1080/00208825.2019.1627705

Access Statistics for this article

International Studies of Management & Organization is currently edited by Abraham Stefanidis

More articles in International Studies of Management & Organization from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().