Process Tracing Course Taster
Channel: MethodsNET
Date: 2022-03-10

In the end of February, around a 100 participants attented to this online introduction to Process Tracing Methods. You want to rewatch this course or you did not have the opportunity to participate ? You'll be able to do so with this video ! 

N.B : very recommanded reading : Winward, 2021. 

If you want to learn more about Process Tracing Methods, join us during the Summer School in Social Research Methods at Nijmegen University. Check this : https://www.ru.nl/nsm/vm/2022-summer-school-social-research-methods/ 
 
➤➤➤ References below ! 

🎙 Speakers : Derek Beach (University of Aarhus) and Hilde van Meegdenburg (Leiden University). 

◾️ Table of content :  
00:04  Introduction

📎 [PART 1] Process tracing as a case-based method.   
00:50 - Correlation is not causation. 
02:22 - Process tracing, or opening the black box of causation. 
03:10 - Cross case study. 
05:52 - Asking the "how question". 
06:40 - What is your case a "case of?" 
07:53 - Regularity based approach to Process Tracing, a path to generalisation. 
08:49 - Level of analysis, time period, etc.  
10:59 - Process tracing in sum. 

📎 [PART 2] What are we tracing ? 
13:37 - What is a causal mechanism ? 
16:18 - The X - M - Y model. 
17:32 - Disagregated multi-part mechanisms. 
20:34 - Wimward example. 
27:01 - Important key points and observations on the method. 

📎 [PART 3] - How can we trace it ? 
29:34 - What are we tracing ? 
34:14 - Counterfactual comparisons design. 
41:14 - Mechanistic evidence design.
44:22 - Example of evidences. 
45:38 - Example : evidence in the process tracing of  epistemic learning. 
48:10 - Discussing probative value and the source trust. 

📎 [PART 4] - Case selection and generalization. 
50:54 - Type of cases in process tracing. 
54:17 - Does the process theory travel ? 
56:13 - Causal heterogeneity.  
58:48 - Extarnal validity of mechanistic claims. 

1:00:12 - Conclusions .
1:00:27 - Q&A : post-positivist process-tracing. 

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◾️ References

Beach, D., Schäfer, D., & Smeets, S. (2021). The past in the present—The role of analogical reasoning in Epistemic learning about how to tackle complex policy problems. Policy Studies Journal, 49(2), 457-483.

Haggard, S., & Kaufman, R. R. (2012). Inequality and regime change: Democratic transitions and the stability of democratic rule. American Political Science Review, 106(3), 495-516.

Machamer, P., Darden, L., & Craver, C. F. (2000). Thinking about mechanisms. Philosophy of science, 67(1), 1-25.

Mayntz, R. (2004). Mechanisms in the analysis of social macro-phenomena. Philosophy of the social sciences, 34(2), 237-259.

Ross, M. L. (2004). What do we know about natural resources and civil war?. Journal of peace research, 41(3), 337-356.

Ross, M. L. (2004). How do natural resources influence civil war? Evidence from thirteen cases. International organization, 58(1), 35-67.

Runhardt, R. W. (2015). Evidence for causal mechanisms in social science: Recommendations from Woodward’s manipulability theory of causation. Philosophy of Science, 82(5), 1296-1307.

Smeets, S., & Beach, D. (2022). New Institutional Leadership goes viral EU crisis reforms and the coming about of the Covid Recovery Fund. European Journal of Political Research.

Winward, M. (2021). Intelligence capacity and mass violence: Evidence from Indonesia. Comparative Political Studies, 54(3-4), 553-584.