Nested analysis as a mixed-method strategy for comparative research
Nested analysis as a mixed-method strategy for comparative research
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DOI：
10.1017/s0003055405051762
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发表时间：
2005-08-01
影响因子：
6.8
通讯作者：
Lieberman, ES
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Lieberman, ES
尽管人们一再呼吁在比较分析中使用“混合方法”，但政治科学家几乎没有进行这种工作的系统指南。本文详细介绍了一个统一的方法，加入密集的案例研究分析与统计分析。不仅是每种方法的优势相结合，而且还有一个协同价值的嵌套研究设计：例如，统计分析可以指导案例选择深入的研究，提供更集中的案例研究和比较的方向，并用于提供额外的测试小N研究产生的假设。小N分析可用于评估观察到的变量之间的统计关系的可验证性，从离群值和其他情况中产生理论见解，并制定更好的测量策略。这一综合战略通过利用两种重要方法的独特优势，改善了在跨国和其他形式的比较研究中做出有效因果推断的前景。
Despite repeated calls for the use of "mixed methods" in comparative analysis, political scientists have few systematic guides for carrying out such work. This paper details a unified approach which joins intensive case-study analysis with statistical analysis. Not only are the advantages of each approach combined, but also there is a synergistic value to the nested research design: for example, statistical analyses can guide case selection for in-depth research, provide direction for more focused case studies and comparisons, and be used to provide additional tests of hypotheses generated from small-N research. Small-N analyses can be used to assess the plausibility of observed statistical relationships between variables, to generate theoretical insights from outlier and other cases, and to develop better measurement strategies. This integrated strategy improves the prospects of making valid causal inferences in cross-national and other forms of comparative research by drawing on the distinct strengths of two important approaches.