A Tale of Two Cultures
Douban
Qualitative and Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences
Gary Goertz / James Mahoney
overview
Some in the social sciences argue that the same logic applies to both qualitative and quantitative methods. In "A Tale of Two Cultures", Gary Goertz and James Mahoney demonstrate that these two paradigms constitute different cultures, each internally coherent yet marked by contrasting norms, practices, and toolkits. They identify and discuss major differences between these two traditions that touch nearly every aspect of social science research, including design, goals, causal effects and models, concepts and measurement, data analysis, and case selection. Although focused on the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, Goertz and Mahoney also seek to promote toleration, exchange, and learning by enabling scholars to think beyond their own culture and see an alternative scientific worldview. This book is written in an easily accessible style and features a host of real-world examples to illustrate methodological points.
contents
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Mathematical Prelude: A Selective Introduction to Logic and Set Theory for Social Scientists
I. CAUSAL MODELS AND INFERENCE
3. Causes-of-Effects versus Effects-of-Causes
4. Causal Models
5. Asymmetry
6. Hume's Two Definitions of Cause
II. WITHIN-CASE ANALYSIS
7. Within-Case versus Cross-Case Causal Analysis
8. Causal Mechanisms and Process Tracing
9. Counterfactuals
III. CONCEPTS AND MEASUREMENT
10. Concepts: Definitions, Indicators, and Error
11. Meaning and Measurement
12. Semantics, Statistics, and Data Transformations
13. Conceptual Opposites and Typologies
IV. RESEARCH DESIGN AND GENERALIZATION
14. Case Selection and Hypothesis Testing
15. Generalizations
16. Scope
17. Conclusion
Appendix
Name Index
Subject Index
