Causal case study methods : foundations and guidelines for comparing, matching and tracing / Derek Beach and Rasmus Brun Pedersen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Beach, Derek, author.

Pedersen, Rasmus Brun, 1978- author.

Contributor:

Michigan Publishing (University of Michigan), publisher.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Case method.

Research--Methodology.

Research.

Causation--Research.

Causation.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 388 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 2016.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

In this comprehensive introduction to causal case study methods, Derek Beach, Rasmus Brun Pedersen, and their coauthors delineate the ontological and epistemological differences among these methods, offer suggestions for determining the appropriate methods for a given research project, and explain the step-by-step application of selected methods. Causal Case Study Methods begins with the cohesive, logical foundations for small-n comparative methods, congruence methods, and process tracing, then delineate the distinctive types of causal relationships for which each method is appropriate. Next, the authors provide practical instruction for deploying each of the methods individually and in combination. They walk the researcher through each stage of the research process, starting with issues of concept formation and the formulation of causal claims in ways that are compatible with case-based research. They then develop guidelines for using Bayesian logic as a set of practical questions for translating empirical data into evidence that may or may not confirm causal inferences. Widely acclaimed instructors, the authors draw upon their extensive experience at the graduate level in university classrooms, summer and winter school courses, and professional workshops, around the globe. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Causal Case Studies 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 What Is a Case? 5

1.3 Plan of the Book 7

1.4 Three Philosophical Positions and Case-Based Research 11

Chapter 2 Understanding Causation in Case-Based Methods 14

2.1 Introduction 14

2.2 Different Ontological Assumptions in Causal Case Study Methods 17

2.3 The Core of Case-Based Research: Determinism and Asymmetry 19

2.4 Causality as Counterfactuals versus Mechanisms 27

2.5 Regularity versus Singular Causation 42

2.6 Methodological Implications of Deterministic and Asymmetric Causal Claims 44

Chapter 3 Types of Causal Explanations in Case-Based Research 62

3.1 Introduction 62

3.2 The Types of Causal Claims Being Made in Different Methods 62

3.3 Necessary and Sufficient Conditions 65

3.4 Causal Mechanisms-Minimalist and Systems Understandings 71

3.5 Are Causal Theories and Mechanisms Observable? 92

3.6 Conclusions; or, How Do I Know a Good Causal Theory When I See It? 94

Chapter 4 Defining the Attributes of Causal Concepts / Jørgen Møller Møller, Jørgen, Svend-Erik Skaaning Skaaning, Svend-Erik 95

4.1 Introduction 95

4.2 The Implications of Determinism and Asymmetry for Conceptualization 98

4.3 What Does a "Good" Defined Causal Concept Look Like in Case-Based Research? 101

4.4 Defining the Attributes That Make Up Causal Concepts-Concept Structure 104

4.5 Defining Concepts-A Three-Step Procedure 109

4.6 Concluding Guidelines for How to Define the Content of Causal Concepts 117

Chapter 5 Measuring Causal Concepts / Jørgen Møller Møller, Jørgen, Svend-Erik Skaaning Skaaning, Svend-Erik 119

5.1 Introduction 119

5.2 Measurement Reliability and Validity 122

5.3 Differences in Measurement in Variance-Based and Case-Based Research 124

5.4 Defining the Observable Manifestations of Concepts 126

5.5 Measuring the Attributes of Causal Concepts 133

5.6 Concluding Guidelines for Measurement of Causal Concepts 151

Chapter 6 Making Inferences in Case-Based Research 154

6.1 Introduction 154

6.2 Two Categories of Evidence: Difference-Making and Mechanistic 159

6.3 Problems with Existing Inferential Frameworks in Case Study Research 161

6.4 Informal Bayesian Logic and Case-Based Methods 169

6.5 What Is Our Prior Confidence in the Theoretical Hypothesis? 177

6.6 The Theoretical Weight of Evidence 182

6.7 Linking Propositions with Empirical Material 188

6.8 The Collective Body of Evidence-Aggregating Individual Pieces of Evidence 201

6.9 An Example of the Aggregation of Evidence in Practice-Tannenwald (1999) 214

6.10 Conclusions 224

Chapter 7 Comparative Methods / Jørgen Møller Møller, Jørgen, Svend-Erik Skaaning Skaaning, Svend-Erik 227

7.1 Introduction 227

7.2 The Assumptions of Comparative Methods 230

7.3 What Does It Mean to Compare? 231

7.4 The Tools of Comparative Methods 235

7.5 Using Comparative Methods to Find Causes 241

7.6 Building Causally Homogeneous Populations 245

7.7 Disconfirming Theory Tests Using Comparative Methods 253

7.8 Single-Case, Counterfactual Comparisons 260

7.9 An Example of Comparative Design 262

7.10 Concluding Guidelines 265

Chapter 8 Congruence Methods 269

8.1 Introduction 269

8.2 The Assumptions of Congruence Case Study Methods 271

8.3 What Are We Making Inferences About? 272

8.4 Explaining Outcome Congruence Studies 275

8.5 Theory-Building-Exploratory Case Studies 279

8.6 Testing-Plausibility Probes and Robust Congruence Case Studies 280

8.7 Refining Theories Using Congruence 292

8.8 An Extended Example-Brooks and Wohlforth's Congruence Analysis 293

8.9 Concluding Recommenditions 300

Chapter 9 Process-Tracing Methods 302

9.1 Introduction 302

9.2 The Assumptions of Process-Tracing Methods 305

9.3 What Are We Making Inferences about in Process-Tracing? 307

9.4 Explaining Outcome Process-Tracing 308

9.5 Theory-Building Process-Tracing 313

9.6 Theory-Testing Process- Tracing 319

9.7 Revising Theories with Process-Tracing 325

9.8 An Example-Brast's Study of State-Building Interventions 328

9.9 Concluding Guidelines 335

Chapter 10 Bringing It All Together 337

10.1 Introduction 337

10.2 Our Contribution 338

10.3 Possible Critique and Responses 342

10.4 Directions for Future Methodological Research 343.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on information from the publisher.

ISBN:

9780472073221

0472073222

9780472053223

0472053221

9780472122318

Publisher Number:

10.3998/mpub.6576809

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.