Meaningful Comparisons : The Method of Systematic Process Analysis and Different Explanatory Approaches in Case Study Research
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2013-06-26
Author(s)
Abstract
How can political reforms be meaningfully analysed in a comparative Setting? Taking Peter A. Hall's method of systematic process analyses as a starting Point, I argue that the combination of three different explanatory approaches in case study Research can be used as an alternative to medium-N quantitative approaches of political reforms. First, a co-variation design can be used to assess whether different values of a given Independent variable lead to different outcomes. Just like quantitative approaches, co-variation designs rely on the Analysis of between-case Variation and allow for the contigent generalization of findings to a Population of cases that are similar in respect to all control variables. However, unlike quantitative approaches, they allow for the usage of indicators in a more context-sensitive way than more formalized approaches. Sencond, a casual-process tracing design can be used to identify the causal mechanisms that lead to a specific outcome. Causal-process tracing designs allow fo the identification of the configurations of conditions that are necessary and together sufficient for the outcome. Finally, a congruence analyses design can be used to compare the explanatory merits of the different theoretical explanations proposed in the literature. The congruence method follows a deductive logic in the sense that theories are used to formulate observable implications that are subsequently tested against empirical evidence. I demonstrate the benefits of combining These three explanatory approaches in case study Research using the example of the historical development of Job security regulations in Western Europe.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SEPS - Economic Policy
Refereed
No
Book title
Crisis & Contingency: State of (In)stability
Publisher
Council for European Studies
Publisher place
New York
Start page
18
Event Title
20th International Conference of Europeanists (CES)
Event Location
Amsterdam
Event Date
25.-27.06.2013
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
224094
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Meaningful%20Comparisons%20Emmenegger.pdf
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239.22 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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