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9 - Explanatory Challenges

from Part IV - Playing with Theories

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2022

John Gerring  and
Jason Seawright
John Gerring
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Austin
Jason Seawright
Affiliation:
Northwestern University, Illinois
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Summary

Chapter 9 introduces the general desiderata of a good theory and tradeoffs that flow from this set of oft-conflicting criteria. Next, we discuss various complexities of theorizing – the number of causes and effects embraced by a theory, the specification of mechanisms, and the problem of defining units and levels of analysis.

Keywords

theorytrade-offs
Type
Chapter
Information
Finding your Social Science Project
The Research Sandbox
 , pp. 203 - 217
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Explanatory Challenges
  • John Gerring, University of Texas, Austin, Jason Seawright, Northwestern University, Illinois
  • Book: Finding your Social Science Project
  • Online publication: 06 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009118620.009
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  • Explanatory Challenges
  • John Gerring, University of Texas, Austin, Jason Seawright, Northwestern University, Illinois
  • Book: Finding your Social Science Project
  • Online publication: 06 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009118620.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Explanatory Challenges
  • John Gerring, University of Texas, Austin, Jason Seawright, Northwestern University, Illinois
  • Book: Finding your Social Science Project
  • Online publication: 06 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009118620.009
Available formats
×