Antw: [Interpretationandmethods] Non-variables-based security studies

[Patrick Jackson]

While generally in agreement with Philip, I think it's important to  
distinguish between interpretive and non-variable approaches. There  
are, after all, non-variable approaches that are still causal, albeit  
not statistical-causal -- I'm thinking, as usual, of relational/ 
network approaches, discourse analysis of the sort that goes beyond  
description of practices and gets into the production of outcomes,  
and the mechanism work of Tilly/Tarrow/McAdam and their ilk.

In other words: I think the problem with "selection bias" is related  
not to causation per se, but to the neopositivist account of  
causation as always manifesting itself in systematic cross-case  
covariations, and to the basic presupposition in neopositivist  
research that true statements correspond to a mind-independent world.  
I think that there can be causation without these two assumptions --  
and cashing out a causal claim that didn't make these assumptions  
would not run into the problem of "selection bias."

PTJ

On Sep 19, 2007, at 7:46 AM, Philip Liste wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
>
> Lene Hansen has written something on the issue of "case selection"  
> in her recent book "Security as Practice". In addition, I think  
> that Dvora Yanows question points to an interesting aspect of  
> interpretative research and of replying to the usual (positivist)  
> objections. One could argue that the problem of a "selection bias"  
> is directly related to the concern of validating a proposed causal  
> relation between variables. The aim of an "adequate case selection"  
> is thus to rule out non-relations (in a causal sense). What could  
> be discussed is this: When causality is not the focus of  
> interpretative (non-variable) analysis, why is then a "biased  
> selection" a problem? Of course, it might still be one but if this  
> is the case it must be a problem for another reason.
>
>
> Best,
> Philip Liste
>
> _______________________________
> Philip Liste
> Research Associate
> Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK)
> Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)
> Leimenrode 29
> 60322 Frankfurt am Main
> +49-(0)69-959104-40
> liste at hsfk.de
>
>
>>>> D.Yanow at fsw.vu.nl 18.09.2007  20:33 >>>
>
> Colleagues,
>
> I am wondering if any of you (Patrick, Cecelia, Claire, Ido,  
> others?) might help with a question that has come up.
>
> I am looking for sources that would help support an argument on  
> behalf of a non-variables approach to an issue in security  
> studies.  Specifically, the research in question is based on 12  
> interviews, selected via purposive "sampling" (I would prefer to  
> use the term exposure).  Reviewers are asking for clarification of  
> the dependent and indep. variables, as well as about "selection  
> bias" because of the small sample size.
>
> Peri and I take up the matter of interpretive research as non- 
> variables-based research in various intro. sections of  
> Interpretation and Method, as well as in chs. 4 and 5; and other  
> chapters provide examples.
>
> But I'm wondering:  can someone point me to works in security  
> studies itself, or perhaps in IR or Comparative Government more  
> broadly, that would help advance/support a non-variables argument?
>
> Cecelia, I don't have your book at hand -- do you and Audie engage  
> this question there?  If so, can you point me to the ch. or pages?
>
> Dvora Yanow
>
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===
Patrick Thaddeus Jackson
American University, SIS
patrickthaddeusjackson at gmail.com
http://profptj.blogspot.com | http://www.kittenboo.com
calendar: http://ical.mac.com/onyxdr/Patrick



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