Process-Tracing Methods

Foundations and Guidelines

• Author(s): Derek Beach, Rasmus Brun Pedersen,
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press
• Pages: 328
• ISBN_10: 0472037358
  ISBN_13: 9780472037353
  
• Language: en
• Categories: Social Science / General , Social Science / Methodology ,

Description:... Process-tracing in social science is a method for studying causal mechanisms linking causes with outcomes. This enables the researcher to make strong inferences about how a cause (or set of causes) contributes to producing an outcome. In this extensively revised and updated edition, Derek Beach and Rasmus Brun Pedersen introduce a refined definition of process-tracing, differentiating it into four distinct variants and explaining the applications and limitations of each. The authors develop the underlying logic of process-tracing, including how one should understand causal mechanisms and how Bayesian logic enables strong within-case inferences. They provide instructions for identifying the variant of process-tracing most appropriate for the research question at hand and a set of guidelines for each stage of the research process.