Data Lab
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Case studies are a specific type of research design in the social sciences. They are an attractive choice for researchers as they allow for covering a wide variety of social and political phenomena with a great dose of detail. Case study research has been a powerful tool for developing, refining, and testing social scientific theories and producing research findings helpful to policymakers. This version of the Data Lab aims to explore case study research's main components and examine its place within social science methodology. Case studies can serve various research goals, from thick descriptions of particular cases to developing and testing causal theories, yet each goal requires specific types of designs. We will focus on two types of designs that are most prevalent in contemporary social and political sciences: (i) cross-case comparisons (controlled comparisons), focusing on identifying factors and conditions that are credibly associated with an outcome of interest, and (ii) within-case analysis (process tracing) focusing on tracing causal mechanisms linking those factors and conditions to outcomes.
The course's two objectives are to understand the advantages and challenges of these different designs and to acquire the essential tools to conduct rigorous case study research. We will explore both the theory and practice of cross-case and within-case analysis, focusing on core issues such as appropriate case selection techniques, the type of data that we can use (e.g., testimonial, observation, archival), the types of inferences that we can make based on these data, and strategies to assess the quality and evidentiary weight of these data.
At the end of the course, students will have the tools to be both critical consumers of literature using case study research and start becoming aware producers of that literature
The course's two objectives are to understand the advantages and challenges of these different designs and to acquire the essential tools to conduct rigorous case study research. We will explore both the theory and practice of cross-case and within-case analysis, focusing on core issues such as appropriate case selection techniques, the type of data that we can use (e.g., testimonial, observation, archival), the types of inferences that we can make based on these data, and strategies to assess the quality and evidentiary weight of these data.
At the end of the course, students will have the tools to be both critical consumers of literature using case study research and start becoming aware producers of that literature
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
- Recognize the most prevalent types of case study research used in contemporary social and political science: cross-case analysis (controlled comparisons) and within-case analysis (process tracing).
- Understand and critically assess the methodological choices of published work using these types of case study research, acknowledging its advantages and limitations.
- Develop the fundamental skills to design a research project that coherently aligns research goals, research questions, type of case study design, case selection, and plans for data collection and analysis
- Recognize the most prevalent types of case study research used in contemporary social and political science: cross-case analysis (controlled comparisons) and within-case analysis (process tracing).
- Understand and critically assess the methodological choices of published work using these types of case study research, acknowledging its advantages and limitations.
- Develop the fundamental skills to design a research project that coherently aligns research goals, research questions, type of case study design, case selection, and plans for data collection and analysis
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The full, detailed syllabus with week-by-week readings will be made available via Ariel. The program covers the following topics:
- What is case study research?
- Fundamentals of Controlled Comparisons
- Case selection for comparative research
- Positive and negative cases
- Fundamentals of Process Tracing
- Theorizing via Causal Mechanisms
- Case Selection for Process Tracing
- Assessing Evidence in Process Tracing
- Crafting your own Research Design
- What is case study research?
- Fundamentals of Controlled Comparisons
- Case selection for comparative research
- Positive and negative cases
- Fundamentals of Process Tracing
- Theorizing via Causal Mechanisms
- Case Selection for Process Tracing
- Assessing Evidence in Process Tracing
- Crafting your own Research Design
Prerequisites for admission
There are no pre-requirements.
Teaching methods
The lab is designed as a combination of lectures, seminar discussions, and hands-on workshops. Lectures will be devoted to presenting the fundamentals of each session's topic. I will cover the topics of the assigned readings, but I will draw on additional material and not summarize the contents of the readings. The seminar component implies that we will engage in in-class discussions of theoretical and methodological literature on case study research. This discussion can be based on the material covered in the lecture but should also be fed by questions you bring based on the readings. Finally, during the workshops, we will assess applications of published work, do in-class exercises, and develop preliminary designs to answer your own research questions.
Teaching Resources
There is no textbook for this Lab. A detailed list of readings for each session is listed in the syllabus (available via Ariel).
Students must complete the readings before each meeting. Readings are limited to a maximum of two papers/chapters per session. Students are responsible for locating the assigned readings in the library catalogue.
Students must complete the readings before each meeting. Readings are limited to a maximum of two papers/chapters per session. Students are responsible for locating the assigned readings in the library catalogue.
Assessment methods and Criteria
This Lab is a pass/fail course with no final exam. To obtain the 3 ECTS associated with the Lab, attending students must attend at least 8/10 of the lab sessions.
Professor(s)