Natural Experiments in the Social Sciences: A Design-Based Approach

Strategies for Social Inquiry

by Thad Dunning

This unique book is the first comprehensive guide to the discovery, analysis, and evaluation of natural experiments – an increasingly popular methodology in the social sciences. Thad Dunning provides an introduction to key issues in causal inference, including model specification, and emphasizes the importance of strong research design over complex statistical analysis. Surveying many examples of standard natural experiments, regression-discontinuity designs, and instrumental-variables designs, Dunning highlights both the strengths and potential weaknesses of these methods, aiding researchers in better harnessing the promise of natural experiments while avoiding the pitfalls. Dunning also demonstrates the contribution of qualitative methods to natural experiments and proposes new ways to integrate qualitative and quantitative techniques. Chapters complete with exercises, and appendices covering specialized topics such as cluster-randomized natural experiments, make this an ideal teaching tool as well as a valuable book for professional researchers.

Genres: Political Science, Sociology, Nonfiction, Politics, Research, Social Science

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2012

Reviews

[J.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a textbook om natural experiments on social science. Need I say more?

[Nick Geiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear and thorough overview of the major methods in natural experiments (regression-discontinuity, instrumental-variables). Definitely one of the few methods books that doesn't make you want to gouge your eyes out.