Eckstein 1975 CaseStudyTheoryPoliticalSciences Cap3 StrategiesOfInquiry

HANDBOOK

POLITICAL POLIT ICAL SCIENC SCIENCE E Volume

7

STRATEGIES

NELSON

W.

Edited by GREENSTEIN Princeton University POLSBY Universi ty Berkeley Berkele y

COMPANY

This book is in the

ADDISON -WESLEY SERIES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

1975 by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Philippines copyright 1975 Copyright by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. rights reserved. reserved. No part pa rt this publication may may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, recording, or otherw otherwise, ise, with out t he prior written permission of the publisher. Prin ted in the of Amenca. Published simultaneously i n Libr ary Congre Congress ss Catalog Catalog Card No. 75-6240. ISBN

This book is in the

ADDISON -WESLEY SERIES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

1975 by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Philippines copyright 1975 Copyright by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. rights reserved. reserved. No part pa rt this publication may may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, recording, or otherw otherwise, ise, with out t he prior written permission of the publisher. Prin ted in the of Amenca. Published simultaneously i n Libr ary Congre Congress ss Catalog Catalog Card No. 75-6240. ISBN

CONTENTS

Chapter

1

Source Sourcess for Political Political Inq uiry uir y Library Reference Reference Materials and Manuscripts as Data for Political Science Clement E. Vose, Wesleyan University Errors and Oddities in Reference Materials and an d Indexes t o Books Books an d Period Periodica icals ls Encyclopedias, Yearbooks, Directories, and Handbooks Documents by and about the United States Government

Chapter 2

Sourc Sources es for Politic Political al Inquir y Quantit ative Data  Jero  Je rome me M. Clubb, Univer Uni versit sityy of Michigan Social Science Data Archives Operatio Oper ation n an d of Data Archiv Archives es Development Data Sources Concluding Commen List of of Social Science Data Archives and an d Related Relate d Facilities

Chapter Chapter

Case Study an d Theory Theo ry in Political Science Science  Eckstei  Ecks tein, n, Prince Pri nceton ton Univers Univ ers ity Introduction Definitions Options Opti ons on the Utility of Case Studies: Studies: An Overview the Argument Types Ty pes and a nd Uses Uses of Case Study Objections to the Argument (and Replies to the

 AND THEORY  IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

'ARRY  ECKSTEI N

 ZNT RODUCT ZON

extent to which certain kinds of study are carried out in the field cal science seems to be a poor indicator their perceived utility for building theories. The type of study most frequently made in the field is the intensive study individual cases. Case studies run the gamut the most microscosmic to the most macrocosmic levels of political phenomena. O n the microlevel, we inany studies of conspicuous political personalities (political leaders such as Lincoln, Stalin, Gandhi), and of particular leadership positions and small groups (the American presidency, the British Cabinet, the prime minister in British government, tlie operational of the Soviet leadership, and so on). At the political groupings, the literature the field teems studies of particular pressure groups, political party systems, lutionary an d movements, an d political elites, both on the national and local levels. More ab un da nt are studies individua l in corners the world and at many stages Iiistory and development. Many treat as overall macrocosms; many with the ir subsidiary or ganizations (administrative apparatuses, legislatures, judiciaries, systems o£ local government), or their programs an d policies, or their particular electoral, legislative, executive, or judicial decision processes. Beyond that level, one finds a similar profusion of case studies of transnational plienomena: specific esses of and organizations transnational integration, particular systems in international relations, and the like. international politics, particular Th e of examples is such tliat it seems pointless to "

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