Introduction to Process Tracing Methodology

This course on Process Tracing gives you the foundations of PT methods and, most importantly, enables you to use PT methods in your own research. You will gain the practical research skills needed to guide you through the steps to construct a PT research design.

In comparison with other research methods, PT as a distinct method involves research where,

‘The cause-effect link that connects independent variable and outcome is unwrapped and divided into smaller steps; then the investigator looks for observable evidence of each step.’ (Van Evera 1997:64).

The promise of PT as a methodological tool is that it enables the researcher to study more-or-less directly the causal mechanism(s) linking an independent variable (or set of variables) and an outcome, allowing us to open up the ‘black box’ of causality itself.

Within political science methodology, PT is arguably the only method that allows us to study causal mechanisms, allowing us to understand how an X (or set of X’s) produces Y instead of simply studying correlations and associations, and therefore is an

‘…invaluable method that should be included in every researcher’s repertoire.’ (George and Bennett 2005:224).

The course starts by differentiating Process Tracing from other methods; including both large-n quantitative, frequentist methods, but also other small-n methods such as analytical narratives, comparative case studies, congruence etc. Here, PT is defined by the interest in studying causal mechanisms in single case studies.

The course will discuss the overall variants of PT designs: theory-testing, theory-building and -revision. It will also explain outcome PT and provide examples of the different methods.

The workshop also offers insights into the recent debate on the role of causal mechanism in political science. Topics include how we should understand causal mechanisms (as intervening variables or systems) and how they can be conceptualised and operationalised.

Conceptualisation deals with translating a causal theory into a theorised causal mechanism that can explain how X produces Y.

Operationalisation relates to how we develop ‘empirical fingerprints’ that allow us to test whether the theorised mechanism can be observed in the empirical material.

The course also provides guidelines for how to work with empirics by utilising Bayesian-inspired inference.

We then turn our attention to how we would focus on questions of case selection and mixed-methods research.

Some background knowledge of qualitative case study methods and research designs would be helpful.

It is particularly useful to know about the debate between scholars who argue that there is only one logic of scientific inquiry and qualitative scholars who contend that there are important differences between quantitative and qualitative methods and how they impact upon the logic of inference and the construction of research designs. 

Each course includes pre-course assignments, including readings and pre-recorded videos, as well as daily live lectures totalling at least two hours. The instructor will conduct live Q&A sessions and offer designated office hours for one-to-one consultations.

Please check your course format before registering.

Online courses

Live classes will be held daily for two hours on a video meeting platform, allowing you to interact with both the instructor and other participants in real-time. To avoid online fatigue, the course employs a pedagogy that includes small-group work, short and focused tasks, as well as troubleshooting exercises that utilise a variety of online applications to facilitate collaboration and engagement with the course content.

In-person courses

In-person courses will consist of daily three-hour classroom sessions, featuring a range of interactive in-class activities including short lectures, peer feedback, group exercises, and presentations.

Disclaimer

This course description may be subject to subsequent adaptations (e.g. taking into account new developments in the field, participant demands, group size, etc.). Registered participants will be informed at the time of change.

By registering for this course, you confirm that you possess the knowledge required to follow it. The instructor will not teach these prerequisite items. If in doubt, please contact us before registering.