In this innovative approach to the practice of social science, Charles Ragin explores the use of fuzzy sets to bridge the divide between quantitative and qualitative methods. Paradoxically, the fuzzy set is a powerful tool because it replaces an unwieldy, "fuzzy" instrument—the variable, which establishes only the positions of cases relative to each other, with a precise one—degree of membership in a well-defined set. Ragin argues that fuzzy sets allow a far richer dialogue between ideas and evidence in social research than previously possible. They let quantitative researchers abandon "homogenizing assumptions" about cases and causes, they extend diversity-oriented research strategies, and they provide a powerful connection between theory and data analysis. Most important, fuzzy sets can be carefully tailored to fit evolving theoretical concepts, sharpening quantitative tools with in-depth knowledge gained through qualitative, case-oriented inquiry. This book will revolutionize research methods not only in sociology, political science, and anthropology but in any field of inquiry dealing with complex patterns of causation.

Fuzzy-Set Social Science

1. Introduction 2. Concepts, theories and models, and types of measurements 3. The development of a measurement instrument 4. Field testing - item reduction and data structure 5. Reliability 6. Validity 7. Responsiveness 8. Interpretation 9. Systematic reviews of measurement properties Index.

Measurement in Medicine: A Practical Guide

THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization

From the mechanical point of view the spinal system is highly complex, containing a multitude of components, passive and active. In fact, even if the active components (the muscles) were exchanged by passive springs, the total number of elements considerably exceeds the minimum needed to maintain static equilibrium. In other words, the system is statically highly indeterminate. The particular role of the active components at static equilibrium is to enable a virtually arbitrary choice of posture, independent of the distribution and magnitude of the outer load albeit within physiological limits. Simultaneously this implies that ordinary procedures known from the analysis of mechanical systems with passive components cannot be applied. Hence the distribution of the forces over the different elements is not uniquely determined. Consequently nervous control of the force distribution over the muscles is needed, but little is known about how this achieved. This lack of knowledge implies great difficulties at numerical simulation of equilibrium states of the spinal system. These difficulties remain even if considerable reductions are made, such as the assumption that the thoracic cage behaves like a rigid body. A particularly useful point of view about the main principles of the force distributions appears to be the distinction between a local and a global system of muscles engaged in the equilibrium of the lumbar spine. The local system consists of muscles with insertion or origin (or both) at lumbar vertebrae, whereas the global system consists of muscles with origin on the pelvis and insertions on the thoracic cage. Given the posture of the lumbar spine, the force distribution over the local system appears to be essentially independent of the outer load of the body (though the force magnitudes are, of course, dependent on the magnitude of this load). Instead different distributions of the outer load on the body are met by different distributions of the forces in the global system. Thus, roughly speaking, the global system appears to take care of different distributions of outer forces on the body, whereas the local system performs an action, which is essentially locally determined (i.e. by the posture of the lumbar spine). The present work focuses on the upright standing posture with different degree of lumbar lordosis. The outer load is assumed to consist of weights carried on the shoulders. By reduction of the number of unknown forces, which is done by using a few different principles, a unique determination of the total force distributions at static equilibrium is obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/17453678909154177

Stability of the lumbar spine. A study in mechanical engineering

Redesigning Social Inquiry Fuzzy Sets And Beyond

Human factors/ergonomics (HFE) has great potential to contribute to the design of all kinds of systems with people (work systems, product/service systems), but faces challenges in the readiness of ...

/pdf/a-strategy-for-human-factors-ergonomics-developing-the-3of1gqbrts.pdf

A strategy for human factors/ergonomics: developing the discipline and profession

Foreword (Chris Voss, London Business School) Aims and overview of this book A review of case studies in business research (Raf Jans and Koen Dittrich) Principles of empirical research Theory-testing research Part II: Theory-testing in case study research Testing sufficient and necessary conditions How to test a sufficient or a necessary condition Case study 1: Testing a theory of collaboration characteristics of innovation projects (Koen Dittrich) Methodological reflection on case study 1 Case study 2: Testing a theory of ideal typical organizational configurations of successful product innovations (Ferdinand Jaspers and Jan van den Ende Methodological reflection on case study 2 Testing a deterministic proportional relationship How to test a deterministic proportional relationship Case study 3: Testing the influence of urban time access windows on a retailer's distribution costs (Hans Quak) Methodological reflection on case study 3 Testing a probabilistic proportional relationship How to test a probabilistic proportional relationship Case study 4: Testing the influence of a retailer's distribution strategy on a retailer's sensitivity to urban time access windows (Hans Quak Methodological reflection on case study 4 Part III: Other types of case study research The pilot case study How to design and conduct a pilot case study Case study 5: Testing a theory of conditions of success of new products (Murthy Halemane and Felix Janszen Methodological reflection on Case study 5 The theory-building case study How to design and conduct a theory-building case study Case study 6: Exploring which company representatives are involved in communication with providers of business services (Wendy van der Valk and Finn Wynstra Methodological reflection on case study 7 The practice-oriented case study How to design and conduct a practice-oriented case study Case study 7: Building a model of best practice of company standardization (Henk de Vries and Florens Slob) Methodological reflection on case study 7

Case Study Methodology in Business Research

textManagers usually associate ergonomics with occupational health and safety and related legislation, not with business performance. In many companies, these decision makers seem not to be positively motivated to apply ergonomics for reasons of improving health and safety. In order to strengthen the position of ergonomics and ergonomists in the business and management world, we discuss company strategies and business goals to which ergonomics could contribute. Conceptual models are presented and examples are given to illustrate: 1) the present situation in which ergonomics is not part of regular planning and control cycles in organizations to ensure business performance, and 2) the desired situation in which ergonomics is an integrated part of strategy formulation and implementation. In order to realize the desired situation, considerable changes must take place within the ergonomics research, education and practice community by moving from a health ergonomics paradigm to a business ergonomics paradigm, without losing the health and safety goals.

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Ergonomics Contributions to Company Strategies

The article describes the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (DMQ) for the analysis of musculoskeletal workload and associated potential hazardous working conditions as well as musculoskeletal symptoms in worker populations. Its qualities are explored using a database of 1,575 workers in various occupations who completed the questionnaire. The DMQ-questions can be categorized into 7 indices (force, dynamic and static load, repetitive load, climatic factors, vibration and ergonomic environmental factors). Together with 4 separate questions on standing, sitting, walking and uncomfortable postures, the indices constitute a brief overview of the findings on musculoskeletal workload and related working conditions. Homogeneity of the indices is satisfactory. The divergent validity of the indices is fair when compared with an index of psychosocial working conditions and discomfort during exposure to physical loads. Furthermore it appears that most indices and factors show significant associations with low back and/or neck-shoulder symptoms. The DMQ can be used as a simple and quick check to identify worker groups that need thorough ergonomic control. ©Medline

Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire: description and basic qualities.

Theoretical “necessary but not sufficient” statements are common in the organizational sciences. Traditional data analyses approaches (e.g., correlation or multiple regression) are not appropriate for testing or inducing such statements. This article proposes necessary condition analysis (NCA) as a general and straightforward methodology for identifying necessary conditions in data sets. The article presents the logic and methodology of necessary but not sufficient contributions of organizational determinants (e.g., events, characteristics, resources, efforts) to a desired outcome (e.g., good performance). A necessary determinant must be present for achieving an outcome, but its presence is not sufficient to obtain that outcome. Without the necessary condition, there is guaranteed failure, which cannot be compensated by other determinants of the outcome. This logic and its related methodology are fundamentally different from the traditional sufficiency-based logic and methodology. Practical recommendation...

/pdf/necessary-condition-analysis-nca-logic-and-methodology-of-n2fuik7hhb.pdf

Jan Dul

Papers

A strategy for human factors/ergonomics: developing the discipline and profession

Case Study Methodology in Business Research

Ergonomics Contributions to Company Strategies

Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire: description and basic qualities.

Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) Logic and Methodology of “Necessary but Not Sufficient” Causality