Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T21:01:21.041Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Smoke, but No Fire? In Social Science, Focus on the Most Distinct Part

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 December 2013

Kamila Pieczara  and
Yong-Soo Eun
Kamila Pieczara
Affiliation:
Warwick University
Yong-Soo Eun
Affiliation:
Incheon National University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Causality in social science is hard to establish even through the finest comparative research. To ease the task of extracting causes from comparisons, we present the benefits of tracing particularities in any phenomenon under investigation. We introduce three real-world examples from 2011: British riots, worldwide anticapitalist protests, and the highway crash near Taunton in southwestern England. Whereas all of these three examples have broad causes, we embark on the quest after specific factors. The Taunton accident can send a powerful message to social scientists, which is about the danger of making general statements in their explanations. Instead of saying much but explaining little, the merit of singling out the specific is substantial. As social scientists, when we are faced with “smoke” but no “fire,” let us then focus on the part that is distinct.

Type
Features
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 47 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 145 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barrett, Clear, and Kavanagh, Michael. 2011. “Weather Gets the Blame When Sales Are on the Slide.” Financial Times, December 3–4. Google Scholar
BBC. 2011a. “Seven Confirmed Dead in M5 Accident in Somerset.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15606278 (accessed September 1, 2013).Google Scholar
BBC. 2011b. “‘There Were Huge Flames,’ Says M5 Crash Witness.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15605064 (accessed September 1, 2013).Google Scholar
Economist. 2011a. “Sober London.” November 19. Google Scholar
Economist. 2011b. “The Efficiency Conundrum.” November 19. Google Scholar
Economist. 2011c. “The French Way of Work.” November 19. Google Scholar
Economist. 2013. “The Sound of Silence.” September 7. Google Scholar
Elman, Colin. 1996. “Horses for Courses: Why Not Neorealist Theories of Foreign Policy?” Security Studies 6 (1): 7–53.Google Scholar
Erickson, Andrew, and Collins, Gabe. 2012. “China's New Strategic Target: Arctic Minerals.” Wall Street Journal , http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/01/18/china%e2%80%99s-new-strategic-target-arctic-minerals/ (accessed September 1, 2013).Google Scholar
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. [1926] 1994. Great Gatsby. London: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Guardian. 2012. “Fireworks Smoke Linked to UK Crash that Killed 7.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9933877 (accessed September 13, 2012).Google Scholar
IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies). 2013. The Annual Review of World Affairs. Oxon, UK: Routledge for the IISS.Google Scholar
Kennedy, Maev. 2013. “Sheppey Bridge Closes after Massive Pile-Up Crash Involving 100 Vehicles.” The Guardian . http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/05/shepney-bridge-crash-100-vehicle (accessed September 7, 2013).Google Scholar
Mackenzie, Craig, and Cooper, Rob. 2011. “Tragedy of M5 Crash Family: Wheelchair-Bound Father Dies alongside His Daughter while Second Girl Is Left ‘In Coma’.” Daily Mail , http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2058100/M5-crash-Did-rugby-club-fireworks-display-cause-catastrophe.html (accessed September 1, 2013).Google Scholar
Morris, Stephen. 2011. “M5 Crash: Experts Doubt Fireworks Smoke Theory.” The Guardian . http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/07/m5-crash-smoke-theory-unclear (accessed September 9, 2013).Google Scholar
Morris, Steven. 2012a. “Road Deaths: Fireworks Organizer in Court over Fatal Crash.” Guardian, November 13. Google Scholar
Morris, Steven. 2012b. “M5 Fireworks Organizer Bailed over Crash Deaths.” Guardian , http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/nov/12/m5-fireworks-organiser-bailed (accessed September 7, 2013).Google Scholar
Morris, Steven. 2013. “Manslaughter Charges Dropped over Firework Display Near M5 Pileup.” Guardian , http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jan/15/manslaughter-charges-dropped-firework-m5 (accessed September 1, 2013).Google Scholar
Morris, Steven, and Siddique, Haroon. 2011. “Police Investigate Roadside Rugby Club Fireworks as Cause of Deadly M5 Crash: Witnesses Recount Bank of Smoke across Carriageway.” Guardian, November 7. Google Scholar
New York Times. 2011. “Navies Ramping Up: Three Contested Regions,” http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/11/13/opinion/13gunboat-img.html?ref=sunday-review (accessed September 1, 2013).Google Scholar
Putnam, Robert D. 2003. “APSA Presidential Address: The Public Role of Political Science.” Perspectives on Politics 1 (2): 249–55.Google Scholar
Randall, David, and Thomas, Matt. 2011. “Across the World, the Indignant Rise up against Corporate Greed and Cuts.” Independent, October 16. Google Scholar
Smith, Lewis, Hall, Richard, and Manning, Sanchez. 2011. “Father and Daughter Killed in M5 Crash.” Independent, November 7. Google Scholar
Waltz, Kenneth N. 1979. Theory of International Politics. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.Google Scholar
Zinsser, William. 2006. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. 7th ed. New York: Collins.Google Scholar