| Description |
1 online resource (272 p.) |
| Contents |
Cover -- Half-title -- Title page -- Copyright information -- Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Preface -- List of Articles -- Articles partially incorporated into this book -- Chapter 1 The Nature of Explanation -- The Epistemic versus Ontic Conception of Explanation -- The Influence of Ontology -- Understanding -- Tautology -- Explanatory Completeness -- Allomorph -- Fact and Foil -- Explanatory Generality -- Explanatory Interestingness -- An Overview of the Book -- Chapter 2 Causation -- Regularity Theory of Causation -- Necessary Connection -- Definitions of Causation |
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Causal Relationships versus Accidental Regularities -- Necessary and Sufficient Conditions -- A Counterfactual Analysis of Causation -- Possible Worlds -- Symmetrical Overdetermination -- Backtracking -- Probabilistic Causation -- Causal Graph Modeling -- Back-door Paths -- Markov Condition -- Vector Space Modeling -- Nature of Data Used -- Conversion of Data Input into Output -- Nature of Output -- Assumptions -- Strengths -- Limitations -- Agent versus Event Causation -- Mechanisms -- Characteristics -- Causal Inference -- Process Tracing -- Chapter 3 Modes of Explanation |
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Aristotle's Doctrine of the Four Causes -- Covering Law Model -- Vienna Circle -- Deductive-Nomological Model -- Inductive-statistical Model -- Symmetry between Explanation and Prediction -- Counterexamples -- Mechanismic Explanation -- Peering into the Black Box of Causality -- Comparison with the Covering Law Model -- Intentional Explanation -- Reason and Intention -- Hermeneutics -- Teleological or Functional Explanation -- The Forward-looking Problem -- Functional Explanation in Social Science -- Historical Explanation -- The Covering Law Model of Historical Explanation |
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Comparison with Functional Explanation -- Process Organization Studies -- Variance versus Process Theorizing -- Connection with Other Modes of Explanation -- Chapter 4 Microfoundations -- Methodological Individualism -- Ontological Individualism -- Coleman's Macro-Micro Relations -- Emergent Entities and Properties -- Chapter 5 Theory versus Non-theory-Based Explanation -- Atheoretical Explanation -- Luck as an Explanation -- Theory-Ladenness of Observation -- Incommensurability of Paradigms or Theories -- Substantive Theory and Metatheory -- Chapter 6 Multi-theoretical Explanation |
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Relatively Few Multi-theoretical Studies -- Functions of a Multi-theoretical Approach -- Capturing the Essence of Complex Strategic Decisions -- Providing a More Complete Explanation of Outcomes -- Compensating for the Explanatory Deficiency of a Single Theory -- Exploiting the Complementarity of Theories -- Testing Conflicting Explanations -- Some Suggestions -- Promoting Multi-theoretical Studies -- Reconciling Inconsistent Core Assumptions -- Addressing Levels Issues -- Beware of Ockham's Razor -- Chapter 7 Research Methods -- Structural versus Reduced Models -- Post Hoc Hypothesizing |
| Summary |
A comprehensive guide for management and social science researchers to achieve a deeper understanding of the nature of explanation |
| Notes |
Description based upon print version of record |
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Replication |
| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9781009323123 |
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1009323121 |
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