Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences

Belfer Center Studies in International Security

by Alexander L. George, Andrew Bennett

The use of case studies to build and test theories in political science and the other social sciences has increased in recent years. Many scholars have argued that the social sciences rely too heavily on quantitative research and formal models and have attempted to develop and refine rigorous methods for using case studies. This text presents a comprehensive analysis of research methods using case studies and examines the place of case studies in social science methodology. It argues that case studies, statistical methods, and formal models are complementary rather than competitive. The book explains how to design case study research that will produce results useful to policymakers and emphasizes the importance of developing policy-relevant theories. It offers three major contributions to case study methodology: an emphasis on the importance of within-case analysis, a detailed discussion of process tracing, and development of the concept of typological theories. Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences will be particularly useful to graduate students and scholars in social science methodology and the philosophy of science, as well as to those designing new research projects, and will contribute greatly to the broader debate about scientific methods.

Genres: Political Science, Politics, Social Science, Nonfiction, Research, Academic, Research Methods

331 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2005

Reviews

[Mayim de Vries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best methodology textbook I have read in my life.

[phia]

I have to start counting my academic books because otherwise we’re getting nowhere people

[Julie]

I hated this book and so did everyone in my seminar class, I'm pretty sure. I'm marking this as "read" but I think there may be one chapter I didn't read.

while this book actually does give a good run down of how to do good research, how to develop your theory, how to test your theory, how to avoid bias and so on, it is painfully dry. when assigned readings from G&B, it would take me forever to get through them because the content is like dissecting a skin cell. this book provided me with a few moments of intellectual meditation but also a few moments of me falling asleep on my couch while trying to finish a chapter.

another point for G&B--this isn't just a textbook that guides you through the research process and how to do it. rather, it is a critique of how to do scholarly pseudo-science that backs up it's conclusions with a survey of other research method publications. each chapter has its own set of footnotes as well.

I found it particularly difficult to digest this book when I hadn't really conducted research before. I mean, how am I supposed to grasp criticisms of research when I haven't TRULY done any PROFESSIONAL research? how am I supposed to understand critiques of Game of Thrones when I haven't even seen the show? anyway...perhaps if I reread (shudders) the book now, after lectures and practice trying to create survey questions (etc) I might get more out of G&B's book. I imagine I will also find this book useful later on in my graduate life.

[Perdani Budiarti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book, the reader should read DSI by KKV first to gain more understanding about what the writers want to convey.
For me, even though this book is somehow difficult to understand, but it more applicable than DSI.

*dying in case studies & quality methods #die

[Jan Schaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Überragendes Buch aus fachlicher Sicht. Unverzichtbar, wenn man politikwissenschaftliche Fallstudien machen möchte.

[Nanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Naomi McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

great for making claims that a case study approach is useful for more than just description of exceptionalism - but also for theory development.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for designing you research project. It has a number of exercises to help you think critically about your research design and decisions. Very useful.