ABSTRACT
This chapter converts the cases in terms of the variables to values suitable for being analyzed via QCA. It requires the positioning of a threshold between values with a low degree and values with a high degree of a certain variable. The chapter analyses the main features of the method for data analysis. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), are presented. The chapter dichotomizes the empirical data in order to prepare it for a QCA procedure. It analyses this QCA-ready data by means of Boolean minimization. The chapter explains which combinations of conditions explain a certain degree of discretion. The chapter interprets these explanations in the form of minimal formulae of the empirical data. This way, in order to understand the results of the QCA procedure, the data described is brought back into the analysis. While a non-compelling external environment causes a low degree of negotiation discretion for the European Union (EU) negotiator.
