1. A short Introduction to the Ideas of the Algorithm used in MVQCA
How MVQCA works
A short Introduction to the Ideas of the Algorithm used in MVQCA
Lasse Cronqvist

2. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
MVQCA vs. QCA
The algorithms used in QCA can‘t be used for medium or large size MV-Datasets:
Size restriction
All variables are treated as nominal scaled variables (but MVQCA cares about ordinal scales)
Inputs and Outputs are not elegant with Dummy Variables.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

3. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
MVQCA vs. QCA
We could build a MV-Interface for classical QCA-Algorithms to ease things up. But this has shown to be less successful (Brayton/Khatri 1999: 9)
Important theoretical work has been made by the Electronic Engineers at the University of Berkeley. But their procedures are specialised on EE‘Applications:
no ordinal scales possible
only one solution found
(no easy to use User Interface)
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

4. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Due to this, a new algorithm has been developed and is included in Tosmana, the Tool for Small-N Analysis.
In this presentation,
1. special conditions of MVQCA Analysis in the Social Science will be presented.
2. the basic Ideas of the Algorithm will be introduced
3. a sample calculation will be done on a (small) data set
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

5. Social Science and MVQCA
There are several special conditions of Small-N Analysis, which have to be observed when creating an Algorithm for MVQCA:
The number of cases is small.
The number of variables is also rather small (no fishing expeditions..)
Variables may be of ordinal scale
We want more than one (working) solution.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

6. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
An Algorithm for MVQCA
The main problem of Multi Value Datasets is their complexity.
Having a data set with ten variable with a range of five possible values leaves us with a mass of possible configurations to deal with.
=> it is not possible to build a configuration tree with all configuration to calculate with as it is used in some Boolean Minimization Algorithms.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

7. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Calculation in MVQCA
The Calculation is done on a Matrix in MVQCA:
Variables
States of each Variable
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

8. Calculation in MVQCA (2)
Each case is placed in the matrix as a link between the fields:
Variables
cases with the outcome to minimize are called „good cases“ and are drawn with a green line in this presentation
cases with a different outcome to outcome to minimize are called „bad cases“ and are drawn with a blue line in this presentation
States of each Variable
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

9. Calculation in MVQCA (3)
When all cases are placed in the matrix, the Implicants are indicated by single fields or paths between fields of one or more „good“ cases, which are not completely followed by one or more „bad“ cases.
Variables
Some Terms are marked with a red line or a filled red circle on the next page.
States of each Variable
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

10. Calculation in MVQCA (4)
When all cases are placed in the matrix, the Implicants are indicated by single fields or paths between fields of one or more „good“ cases, which are not completely followed by one or more „bad“ cases.
Variables
States of each Variable
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

11. Calculation in MVQCA (5)
Only Prime Implicants are of interest: All term-paths that are non shortable and all single field terms are Prime Implicants.
Variables
The red path is not a representing a prime implicant, as the upper half of the line is a implicant it self.
States of each Variable
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

12. Calculation in MVQCA (6)
Problem: Not all (most actually) Terms are consisting of states of variables „next to each other“.
Variables
States of each Variable
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

13. Calculation in MVQCA (7)
To solve this, a null-field is introduced to all variables, and each case has also a path to this null-field.
Variables
States of each Variable
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

14. Calculation in MVQCA (7)
When all paths are set, a agent is send out from a root field to all fields of the first variable (including the zero-field)
The agent is having to sets with it: A set of good cases still represented by the agent and a set of bad cases still represented by the agent.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

15. Calculation in MVQCA (8)
In each field there a various calculations on the agent:
The Set of Good Cases is recalculated with the Set of good cases passing the field (boolean AND).
The Bad of Good Cases is recalculated with the Set of good cases passing the field (boolean AND).
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

16. Calculation in MVQCA (9)
The agent has following possibilities in each field of the Variable-Matrix:
The agent‘s set of good cases is empty: go back
The agent‘s set of bad cases is empty (and the set of good cases is not): The path walked by the agent is a Term. Report and go back.
Neither the set of good nor the set of bad cases is empty: Go on to each field of the next variable (if there is one)
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

17. Calculation in MVQCA (10)
When the agent has ended its expedition through the matrix, all Terms have been collected into a set of Terms.
Terms implied by other Terms are sorted out.
The remaining Terms (prime implicants) are sorted by length.
Then the Terms are combined to find the Solutions
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

18. Calculation in MVQCA (11)
The solutions are found in a simular way, but there are some differences in the way of calculation:
Terms are used instead of variables in the matrix
There are just two fields for the each Term: „Used“ and the zero-field
The agent has only one set: The set of non-explained good cases. In each „used“-field this set is recalculated by joining the set of the agent with the non-explained set of a Term (= „good“-Cases not implied by the Term) with boolean AND.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

19. Calculation in MVQCA (12)
The agent has following possibilities in the used field of the Term-Matrix (1).
The agent‘s new set of non-explained cases is simular to the one before visiting the field: The Term does not explain any case not explained by the Terms visited by the agent. Go back (then just the path via the zero-field is used).
The agent‘s set of non- explained cases is empty: The path walked by the agent is a Solution. Report and go back.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

20. Calculation in MVQCA (13)
The agent has following possibilities in the used field of the Term-Matrix (2).
The length of the Terms on „used“-field visited by the path of the agent is longer than the allowed length: STOP and go back. The allowed length is the size of the shortest solution found + allowed extra length by the user.
Otherwise: Go on to the zero-field and the used-field of the next Term (if there is one).
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

21. Calculation in MVQCA (14)
When the agent has ended its expedition through the Term-matrix, all Solutions have been collected into a set of Solution.
Solutions longer than allowed are sorted out.
Solutions implied by other Solutions are sorted out.
The remaining Solution are sorted by length.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

22. Calculation in MVQCA (15)
To speed up the calculation a maximum length of prime implicants can be set: If a path is representing more variables (non null) as allowed, the agent is told to go back.
If this threshold is used, the length of the solution must be less or equal this threshold, as the completeness of the set of solution may be not given else. (In this case the maximum length must be raised and the calculation repeated).
A maximum prime implicant length of 4 has proven to be sufficient for datasets with a large number of variables.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

23. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample
The following sample of the agent‘s way of working is shown with the following MV Data Set
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

24. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (2)
All fields are loaded with the good and bad cases represented by the field * * * *
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

25. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (3)
Now the agent is created in the root field and the sets are filled with all cases. * * * *
Agent Sets:
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x,y}
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

26. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (3)
Now the agent is created in the root field and the sets are filled with all cases. * * * *
Agent Sets:
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x,y}
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

27. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (4)
On the following calculation pages the steps by the agent are shown by a red arrow. On left the agents sets are shown. (The old ones above the new ones).
The Set of found Terms is shown on the right
In this sample we start with the first real field of the first variable. In real, the algorithms allways starts with the zero-field.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

28. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (5)
Now the agent is created in the root field and the sets are filled with all cases. V1 V2 V3 V4 * * * *
Terms found:
{Ø}
Old agent Sets:
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x,y}
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
New agent Sets:
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x}
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

29. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (6)
Now the agent is created in the root field and the sets are filled with all cases. V1 V2 V3 V4 * * * *
Terms found:
Old agent Sets: Ø
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x}
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
New agent Sets:
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Good = Ø
Bad = {x}
The good-Set is empty. Go Back
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

30. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (7)
Now the agent is created in the root field and the sets are filled with all cases. V1 V2 V3 V4 * * * *
Terms found:
V1{0}V2{1}
Old agent Sets:
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x}
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
New agent Sets:
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Good = {a,b}
Bad =Ø
The bad-Set is empty. We have found a Term. Report and Go Back
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

31. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (8)
Now the agent is created in the root field and the sets are filled with all cases. V1 V2 V3 V4 * * * *
Terms found:
V1{0}V2{1}
Old agent Sets:
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x}
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
New agent Sets:
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x}
Zero-Field. Go on.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

32. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (9)
Now the agent is created in the root field and the sets are filled with all cases. V1 V2 V3 V4 * * * *
Terms found:
V1{0}V2{1}
V1{0}V3{0}
Old agent Sets:
g: a,b
b: x
g: -
b: x
g: a,b
b: -
g: a
b: x
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {x}
g:-
b: y
g: a,b
b: y
g: -
b: x,y
g: -
b: -
New agent Sets:
g: -
b: -
g: b
b: y
Good = {a,b}
Bad = {-}
The bad-Set is empty. We have found a Term. Report and Go Back
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

33. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (10)
After the agent is finished, we have found the following Terms:
V1{0}V2{1}
V1{0}V3{0}
V1{0}V4{2}
V2{1}V3{0}
V2{1}V4{0}
V3{0}
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

34. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (11)
Two Terms are implied by an other Term and can be deleted.
V1{0}V2{1}
V1{0}V3{0}
V2{1}V3{0}
V3{0}
V1{0}V4{2}
V2{1}V4{0}
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist

35. Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist
Sample (12)
In the End, we are having four Terms (and two Solutions consiting of one Term):
Terms: Solution:
V3{0} yes
V1{0}V2{1} yes
V1{0}V4{2} no
V2{1}V4{0} no
To be complete: V1{0}V4{2} + V2{1}V4{0} is a solution as well.
Basic Ideas of a MVQCA Algorithm - Lasse Cronqvist