ctSweepM: MCTS–QCA: Multi-condition threshold sweep

In TSQCA: Threshold Sweep Extensions for Qualitative Comparative Analysis

MCTS–QCA: Multi-condition threshold sweep

Description

Performs a grid search over thresholds of multiple X variables. For each combination of thresholds in sweep_list, the outcome Y and all X variables are binarized, and a crisp-set QCA is executed.

Usage

ctSweepM(
  dat,
  outcome = NULL,
  conditions = NULL,
  sweep_list,
  thrY,
  pre_calibrated = NULL,
  dir.exp = NULL,
  include = "",
  incl.cut = 0.8,
  n.cut = 1,
  pri.cut = 0,
  extract_mode = c("first", "all", "essential"),
  return_details = TRUE,
  Yvar = NULL,
  Xvars = NULL
)

Arguments

dat	Data frame containing the outcome and condition variables.
outcome	Character. Outcome variable name. Supports negation with tilde prefix (e.g., "~Y") following QCA package conventions.
conditions	Character vector. Names of condition variables.
sweep_list	Named list. Each element is a numeric vector of candidate thresholds for the corresponding X. Names must match conditions. Variables listed in pre_calibrated do not need a sweep_list entry.
thrY	Numeric. Threshold for Y (fixed).
pre_calibrated	Character vector or NULL. Names of condition variables that have been pre-calibrated (e.g., via QCA::calibrate()) and should be passed through to QCA::truthTable() without binarization. These variables must contain values in the [0, 1] range. Variables not listed here will be binarized using sweep_list thresholds as usual. Default is NULL (all variables binarized). It is recommended to sweep variables on their original (raw) scale rather than as pre-calibrated fuzzy values, because raw-scale thresholds are easier to interpret substantively.
dir.exp	Directional expectations for minimize. If NULL (default), no directional expectations are applied. To compute the intermediate solution, specify a numeric vector (1, 0, or -1 for each condition). Example: dir.exp = c(1, 1, 1) for three conditions all expected to contribute positively.
include	Inclusion rule for minimize. "" (default, QCA compatible) computes the complex solution without logical remainders. Use "?" to include logical remainders for parsimonious (with dir.exp = NULL) or intermediate solutions (with dir.exp specified).
incl.cut	Consistency cutoff for truthTable.
n.cut	Frequency cutoff for truthTable.
pri.cut	PRI cutoff for minimize.
extract_mode	Character. How to handle multiple solutions: "first" (default), "all", or "essential". See qca_extract for details.
return_details	Logical. If TRUE (default), returns both summary and detailed objects for use with generate_report().
Yvar	Deprecated. Use outcome instead.
Xvars	Deprecated. Use conditions instead.

Value

If return_details = FALSE, a data frame with columns:

• combo_id — index of the threshold combination

• threshold — character string summarizing thresholds, e.g. "X1=6, X2=7, X3=7"

• expression — minimized solution expression

• inclS — solution consistency

• covS — solution coverage

• (additional columns depending on extract_mode)

If return_details = TRUE, a list with:

• summary — the data frame above

• details — per-combination list of combo_id, thrX_vec, truth_table, solution

Examples

# Load sample data
data(sample_data)

# === Three Types of QCA Solutions ===

# Quick demonstration with 2 conditions
sweep_list <- list(X1 = 7, X2 = 7)

# 1. Complex Solution (default, QCA compatible)
result_comp <- ctSweepM(
  dat = sample_data,
  outcome = "Y",
  conditions = c("X1", "X2"),
  sweep_list = sweep_list,
  thrY = 7
  # include = "" (default), dir.exp = NULL (default)
)
head(result_comp$summary)

# 2. Parsimonious Solution (include = "?")
result_pars <- ctSweepM(
  dat = sample_data,
  outcome = "Y",
  conditions = c("X1", "X2"),
  sweep_list = sweep_list,
  thrY = 7,
  include = "?"  # Include logical remainders
)
head(result_pars$summary)

# 3. Intermediate Solution (include = "?" + dir.exp)
result_int <- ctSweepM(
  dat = sample_data,
  outcome = "Y",
  conditions = c("X1", "X2"),
  sweep_list = sweep_list,
  thrY = 7,
  include = "?",
  dir.exp = c(1, 1)  # Positive expectations
)
head(result_int$summary)

# === Threshold Sweep Example ===

# Using 2 conditions and 2 threshold levels
sweep_list <- list(
  X1 = 6:7,
  X2 = 6:7
)

# Run multiple condition threshold sweep (complex solutions by default)
result_quick <- ctSweepM(
  dat = sample_data,
  outcome = "Y",
  conditions = c("X1", "X2"),
  sweep_list = sweep_list,
  thrY = 7
)
head(result_quick$summary)

# Run with negated outcome (~Y)
result_neg <- ctSweepM(
  dat = sample_data,
  outcome = "~Y",
  conditions = c("X1", "X2"),
  sweep_list = sweep_list,
  thrY = 7
)
head(result_neg$summary)


# Full multi-condition analysis (27 combinations)
sweep_list_full <- list(
  X1 = 6:8,
  X2 = 6:8,
  X3 = 6:8
)

result_full <- ctSweepM(
  dat = sample_data,
  outcome = "Y",
  conditions = c("X1", "X2", "X3"),
  sweep_list = sweep_list_full,
  thrY = 7
)
head(result_full$summary)

TSQCA documentation built on Feb. 18, 2026, 5:06 p.m.