4 - Research Design and Alternative Explanations

Summary

This chapter begins by outlining the mixed-methods approach used to test the argument. To assess causal mechanisms, it relies on process-tracing techniques drawing on archival and primary data, in addition to secondary sources, within a paired case comparison framework. To assess generalizability, the chapter tests an observable implication of the theory using a large-n quantitative analyses with an original dataset. Next, it delineates the observable implications of theoretical contentions, then it discusses three rival explanations that are simultaneously evaluated in each chapter. The chapter explains the case selection strategy and presents an overview of the results. It concludes with a discussion of data and measures for the key variables.