Between X and Y: how process tracing contributes to opening the black box of causality

TLDR

Process tracing is widely accepted as a method for unpacking causal and temporal mechanisms. The article maps the methodological debate on process tracing and highlights commonalities among its diverse variants. The authors distinguish inductive and deductive uses of process tracing, summarize its added value and drawbacks, and offer ten guidelines for its application. The study concludes that process tracing offers significant benefits but also notable drawbacks, and it presents ten practical guidelines for effective use.

Abstract

This article maps the methodological debate on process tracing and discusses the diverse variants of process tracing in order to highlight the commonalities beyond diversity and disagreements. Today most authors agree that process tracing is aimed at unpacking causal and temporal mechanisms. The article distinguishes two main types of use for process tracing. Some are more inductive, aimed at theory building (i.e. at uncovering and specifying causal mechanisms) while others are more deductive, aimed at theory testing (and refining). The paper summarizes the main added value and drawbacks of process tracing. It ends by providing ten guidelines for when and how to apply process tracing.