Search found 7 matches

by arsenalderek
Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:48 pm
Forum: III.1. Comparative methods and process tracing
Topic: Presenting our evidence
Replies: 20
Views: 44628

Re: Presenting our evidence

How should scholars present the evidentiary basis of their analysis? Is it best to discuss the evidence holistically as part of the published analysis? Should we use active citations? When might compiling a list of specific pieces of evidence be helpful? In my new book titled Causal Case Studies, w...
by arsenalderek
Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:21 pm
Forum: III.1. Comparative methods and process tracing
Topic: Transparency in case selection
Replies: 10
Views: 21369

Re: Transparency in case selection

What should scholars say about how cases were selected, and the point in the research process at which such selection took place? Should qualitative researchers always identify a logic (typical, most-likely etc.) for their selection of cases? What other information should scholars provide to make c...
by arsenalderek
Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:13 pm
Forum: III.1. Comparative methods and process tracing
Topic: Presenting our evidence
Replies: 20
Views: 44628

Re: Presenting our evidence

Thank you Tasha for the feedback. This exchange brings up another pragmatic issue, of cost and benefit in trying to achieve "transparency." I'll speak from my personal experience as a scholar in comparative politics currently finishing a book manuscript based on extensive fieldwork in a s...
by arsenalderek
Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:10 pm
Forum: III.1. Comparative methods and process tracing
Topic: Presenting our evidence
Replies: 20
Views: 44628

Re: Presenting our evidence

Thank you for these thoughts. I think your comments on right on, and they go to the core issue of what expectations are both reasonable for authors and also helpful for readers. I would agree that we gather so much "background information" (in Bayesian terms) that informs our inferences t...
by arsenalderek
Fri May 13, 2016 12:41 pm
Forum: Substantive Dimensions of the Deliberations
Topic: "Truth" or DARE: Let's Replace "Transparency" with "Explicitness"
Replies: 5
Views: 20451

Re: "Truth" or DARE: Let's Replace "Transparency" with "Explicitness"

Very nice suggestions! What we of course want to avoid is unfortunately a relatively common practice in case studies of people claiming that empirical material is evidence of their claims without providing arguments for why the material can act as evidence, what it means in the context, and why we c...
by arsenalderek
Fri May 13, 2016 12:26 pm
Forum: Substantive Dimensions of the Deliberations
Topic: [From Steering Committee] Interview-based research and the pros and cons of transparency
Replies: 12
Views: 32048

Re: [From Steering Committee] Interview-based research and the pros and cons of transparency

From someone who has done extensive elite interviews amongst high-level civil servants in both EU institutions and EU member states on highly sensitive topics (treaty reform negotiations), I can confidently say that if my respondents knew I would be forced to archive a transcript - no matter how I t...
by arsenalderek
Fri May 13, 2016 2:10 am
Forum: Substantive Dimensions of the Deliberations
Topic: Very Undesirable Unintended Consequences
Replies: 9
Views: 27381

Re: Very Undesirable Unintended Consequences

I can second the problem with interviews. Having extensively interviewed elites in high-level negotiations in the EU, I can confirm that none of my interviewees would have consented to having the material archived. Many only allow me to refer to them as 'high level Commission official', if at all (m...