Strategies for Studying Causation in Complex Ecological-Political Systems Export

@article{citeulike:4117773, abstract = {This article shows that some commonly advocated methodological principles of modern political science are inapprapriate for the study of complex ecological-political systems. It also provides conceptual tools for thinking about the causal roles of environmental and demographic factors, and it discusses various strategies for hypothesis and inference testing. 10.1177/107049659600500202}, author = {Homer-Dixon, Thomas}, citeulike-article-id = {4117773}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/107049659600500202}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://jed.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/5/2/132}, comment = {Outlines a different approach for understanding complex causal networks in conflicts. From text: "In summary, when researchers investigate highly complex causal systems, such as ecological-political systems, the choice of methodology to test hypotheses should be partly determined by the stage of research. In early stages, more attention should be given to the process tracing of causal links in cases where the hypothesised causal links appear to exist. As hypotheses are refined, an expanded range of methodologies can be used, including correlational analysis and controlled case comparison. Truly robust hypotheses-that is, hypotheses that reflect the complexity of the system under examination and that have a high probability of validity-are necessarily a product of later stages of research. They are the product of an iterative process of engagement with empirical data, using a range of quantitative and case-based tests.}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1177/107049659600500202}, journal = {The Journal of Environment Development}, keywords = {causality, ecosystem}, month = {June}, number = {2}, pages = {132--148}, posted-at = {2009-03-02 00:21:39}, priority = {2}, title = {Strategies for Studying Causation in Complex Ecological-Political Systems}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/107049659600500202}, volume = {5}, year = {1996} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:4117773 L3 - citeulike-article-id:4117773 N2 - This article shows that some commonly advocated methodological principles of modern political science are inapprapriate for the study of complex ecological-political systems. It also provides conceptual tools for thinking about the causal roles of environmental and demographic factors, and it discusses various strategies for hypothesis and inference testing. 10.1177/107049659600500202 IS - 2 JF - The Journal of Environment Development EP - 148 TI - Strategies for Studying Causation in Complex Ecological-Political Systems VL - 5 SP - 132 KW - causality KW - ecosystem N1 - Outlines a different approach for understanding complex causal networks in conflicts. From text: "In summary, when researchers investigate highly complex causal systems, such as ecological-political systems, the choice of methodology to test hypotheses should be partly determined by the stage of research. In early stages, more attention should be given to the process tracing of causal links in cases where the hypothesised causal links appear to exist. As hypotheses are refined, an expanded range of methodologies can be used, including correlational analysis and controlled case comparison. Truly robust hypotheses-that is, hypotheses that reflect the complexity of the system under examination and that have a high probability of validity-are necessarily a product of later stages of research. They are the product of an iterative process of engagement with empirical data, using a range of quantitative and case-based tests. AU - Homer-Dixon, Thomas PY - 1996/06/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/107049659600500202 ER -