Methodological Issues in Studying the Effectiveness of Nongovernmental and Nonprofit Organizations

Many theoretical and methodological difficulties have limited the develop ment of research on the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. After reviewing contemporary approaches to the task of defining and distin guishing among voluntary, nonprofit organizations, this article suggests several workable indicators that can advance research into effectiveness, especially if they are used in combination. It also presents and illustrates the uses of Boolean algebra as an analytical technique that promises to enhance comparative case study research.

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