Subjective causality and counterfactuals in the social sciences: toward an ethnographic causality?

Abell, Peter and Engel, Ofer (2021) Subjective causality and counterfactuals in the social sciences: toward an ethnographic causality? Sociological Methods and Research, 50 (4). pp. 1842-1862. ISSN 0049-1241

Text (Abell and Engel 2019 Subjective Causality and Counterfactuals in the Social Sciences- revised submission following reviewer's comments v1.7) - Accepted Version Download (342kB)

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Abstract

The article explores the role that subjective evidence of causality and associated counterfactuals and counterpotentials might play in the social sciences where comparative cases are scarce. This scarcity rules out statistical inference based upon frequencies and usually invites in-depth ethnographic studies. Thus, if causality is to be preserved in such situations, a conception of ethnographic causal inference is required. Ethnographic causality inverts the standard statistical concept of causal explanation in observational studies, whereby comparison and generalization, across a sample of cases, are both necessary prerequisites for any causal inference. Ethnographic causality allows, in contrast, for causal explanation prior to any subsequent comparison or generalization.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://journals.sagepub.com/home/smr
Additional Information:	© 2021 SAGE Publications
Divisions:	Management
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2021 14:33
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 02:43
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/112598

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