Comparative Qualitative Research Methods Oxford University, Hilary Term 2006 Wk 8: WithinCase Analys

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Comparative Qualitative Research MethodsOxford
University, Hilary Term 2006Wk 8 Within-Case
Analysis

• Adrienne LeBas
• Nuffield College, Oxford
• Email adrienne.lebas_at_nuffield.ox.ac.uk
• Phone [phone]

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Types of Case Studies(Eckstein 1975)

• Configurative-idiographic Gerring would not
  define this as a case
• Disciplined-configurative case as test of
  existing theory
• Heuristic case provides building blocks of
  theory
• Plausibility probe may establish scope of theory
• Crucial case test of theory

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Most likely and least likely research designs

• Crucial case studies case study as experiment
  (Eckstein 1975 116)
• Criticism 1 How does one identify crucial
  cases? Prior comparison necessary.
• Folk Bayesian approach crucial cases dont
  operate in a vacuum
• Criticism 1 only have value if they are
  deviant cases can only disconfirm or modify
  established generalizations from elsewhere
• Causal mechanisms approach reliability of
  observations may be high

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Intra-Case Complexity

• Intensive study of single cases can deal with
  complex processes that are often ignored in
  quantitative research
• Hidden processes Scott and weapons of the
  weak contextual interpretation
• Time critical junctures path dependence
• Concatenations of mechanisms

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Causal Mechanisms

• Micro-foundations of larger theories (Stinchcombe
  1991)
• a delimited class of events that alter relations
  among specified sets of elements in identical or
  closely similar ways over a variety of
  situations (McAdam, Tarrow Tilly 2001)
• Different from covering law explanation requires
  cogs connecting variables (Elster 1989, etc
  Hedstrom and Swedberg 1998)
• Indeterminacy of outcome
• Mechanism versus process

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Methodological Individualism Causal Mechanisms

• Many scholars see individual-level mechanisms as
  the only sound form of mechanism (Elster,
  Hedstrom et al)
• Methodological individualism social phenomena
  result from individual actions, themselves a
  result of actors preferences
• Macro-micro-macro model of link between structure
  and agency

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Colemans Boat

• Macro level

Situational mechanisms
Transformational mechanisms
Micro level
Action-formation mechanisms
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An Example Threshold Models of Collective Action
/ Coordination

• Individual decision to participate shaped by
  assessment of likely participation of others
  (Granovetter 1978)
• Used to explain mass protest (Lichbach 1998, etc,
  etc), language choice (Laitin 1998), state
  collapse (Solnick 1998)
• How do individuals assess? Type matching (Lohmann
  1994) announcements (Bhavnani Ross 2003)

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Non-Cognitive Mechanisms

• McAdam, Tarrow and Tilly (DOC 2001) suggest that
  this is too narrow a view of mechanisms.
  Instead, environmental and relational mechanisms
  are viable bases for explanation.
• Environmental broader social changes or
  processes. e.g., birth booms and rebellion
  (Goldstone)
• Relational brokerage boundary construction.
  e.g., social networks and mobilization (Gould)

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Within-Case Analysis Conceptual Issues

• Different ways of structuring case stories
  Analytic Narratives (Bates et al) versus
  process-tracing (Bennett George)
• But shared assumption of selective use of case
  materials structured, focused comparison
• Explicit and sustained attention to fit between
  theory and case narrative

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Within-Case Analysis Nuts and Bolts

• In order to maximize leverage of case analysis,
  one must
• Transform descriptive into analytical
  explanations not Przeworski Teune
• Disaggregate processes into mechanisms
• Have a working theory of time
• Have a working theory of contingency