The process-tracing method in political science. Variants and application Cover Image

Śledzenie procesu w badaniach politologicznych. Warianty i potencjał zastosowania
The process-tracing method in political science. Variants and application

Author(s): Kamil Ławniczak
Subject(s): Politics, Political Theory, Political Sciences, Sociology
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: qualitative research; causal mechanism; methodology; case study; practice tracing

Summary/Abstract: Process-tracing is a method of within-case analysis, which can provide causal explanations of various social phenomena. Its focus on developing and testing causal theories attracts interest among qualitative researchers who do not want to limit their inquiries to exploratory or descriptive aims. At the same time, the case-centric variant of process-tracing, in which theories are used pragmatically as heuristic devices, provides a systematic but also creative way of researching singular events and processes. This paper attempts to show what process-tracing is and what it is not, what its variants are and how they should be used. It also probes the ontological and epistemological limits of the method, by showing how it can be used in idealist and interpretive research.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 49-61
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish