ABOUT THIS BOOK

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.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Derek Beach is Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University.
Rasmus Brun Pedersen is Associate Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University.

REVIEWS

“A practical guide for using process-tracing in social research . . . Recommended.”
—Choice

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“There is a real need for a book of this kind. The authors have thought through a number of the issues. They are able to explain the technique, its rationale and limitations in terms that are readily accessible to students.”
—Peter Hall, Harvard University

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“Process-tracing is foundational to the within-case qualitative research tradition. Beach and Pedersen provide a comprehensive introduction to the approach and help to fill a significant gap in the qualitative research methods canon. This book will be widely read and cited.”
—Colin Elman, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Acknowledgments

1.1. Introduction: The Three Components of Process-Tracing as a Social Science Method

1.2. What Are We Tracing?

1.3. What Are Traces?

1.4. Case Selection and Generalization

1.5. Four Variants of Process-Tracing

1.6. A Primer on the Foundations of Case-Based Methods

2.1. Introduction

2.2. The Nature of Causal Mechanisms

2.3. Five Common Questions Relating to Mechanistic Approaches

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Defining Concepts to Be Compatible with Mechanistic Explanations

3.3. Theorizing Mechanisms—Minimalist and Systems Understandings

3.4. Level of Abstraction of Mechanistic Explanations

3.5. The Importance of Context and the Dangers of Mechanistic Heterogeneity

3.6. The Temporal Dimension and Levels of Analysis

3.7. The Building Blocks of Mechanism-Based Theoretical Explanations

3.8. How to Theorize about Mechanisms in Practice

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Selecting Appropriate Cases for Process-Tracing

4.3. Problems with the State of the Art Regarding Generalizing Findings about Mechanisms

4.4. Five Sources of Mechanistic Heterogeneity

4.5. Snowballing Outward as a Strategy to Test the Boundaries of Generalization When Generalizing from Process-Tracing Case Studies

4.6. Conclusions

Appendix 1 - An Illustration of Mechanistic Heterogeneity in Practice

Appendix 2 - Bounding Populations in Practice

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Problems with Existing Approaches for Making Inferences in Process-Tracing

5.3. What Is Mechanistic Evidence?

5.4. Bayesian Reasoning and Operationalizing Propositions about the Empirical Fingerprints of Mechanisms

5.5. What Is Our Prior Confidence in the Theoretical Hypothesis?

5.6. Operationalizing Empirical Fingerprints of Mechanisms

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Collecting Observations

6.3. Evaluating What Found/Not Found Observations Tell Us about the Existence of a Proposition

6.4. Can We Trust the Found/Not Found Observables?

6.5. Challenges Associated with Different Types of Sources

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Argument Road Maps

7.3. Rules for Aggregating Evidence

7.4. An Example of the Aggregation of Evidence in Practice—Tannenwald (1999)

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Minimalist Theory-Testing Process-Tracing

8.3. In-Depth Theory-Testing Process-Tracing

8.4. Guidelines for Theory-Testing Process-Tracing

Appendix 1 - An Example of In-Depth Theory-Testing Process-Tracing

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Theory-Building Process-Tracing

9.3. Theory Revision with Theory-Building Process-Tracing

9.4. Guidelines for Theory-Building Process-Tracing

Appendix 1 - Janis's Theory-Building Process-Tracing

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Conducting an Explaining-Outcome Process-Tracing Design

Appendix 1 - An Example of Explaining-Outcome Process-Tracing

Appendix: "Silver Blaze"

References

Index

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