Causal Case Study Methods: Foundations and Guidelines for Comparing, Matching, and Tracing

In this comprehensive introduction to causal case study methods,Derek Beach, Rasmus Brun Pedersen, and their co-authors delineatethe ontological and epistemological differences among these methods,offer suggestions for determining the appropriate methods for a givenresearch project, and explain the step-by-step application of selectedmethods. Causal Case Study Methods begins with the cohesive, logical foundationsfor small-n comparative methods, congruence methods, and processtracing, then delineate the distinctive types of causal relationshipsfor which each method is appropriate. Next, the authors providepractical instruction for deploying each of the methods individuallyand in combination. They walk the researcher through each stage ofthe research process, starting with issues of concept formation and theformulation of causal claims in ways that are compatible with case-basedresearch. They then develop guidelines for using Bayesian logic as a setof practical questions for translating empirical data into evidence thatmay or may not confirm causal inferences. Widely acclaimed instructors, the authors draw upon their extensiveexperience at the graduate level in university classrooms, summer andwinter school courses, and professional workshops, around the globe.