The methods
Direct method of agreement
For a property to be a necessary condition it must always be present if the effect is present. Since this is so, then we are interested in looking at cases where the effect is present and taking note of which properties, among those considered to be 'possible necessary conditions' are present and which are absent. Obviously, any properties which are absent when the effect is present cannot be necessary conditions for the effect. This method is also referred to more generally within comparative politics as the most different systems design. Symbolically, the method of agreement can be represented as: : A B C D occur together with w x y z : A E F G occur together with w t u v : —————————————————— : Therefore A is the cause, or the effect, of w. To further illustrate this concept, consider two structurally different countries. Country A is a former colony, has a centre-left government, and has a federal system with two levels of government. Country B has never been a colony, has a centre-left government and is a unitary state. One factor that both countries have in common, theMethod of difference
This method is also known more generally as the most similar systems design within comparative politics. : A B C D occur together with w x y z : B C D occur together with x y z : —————————————————— : Therefore A is the cause, or the effect, or a part of the cause of w. As an example of the method of difference, consider two similar countries. Country A has a centre-right government, a unitary system and was a former colony. Country B has a centre-right government, a unitary system but was never a colony. The difference between the countries is that Country A readily supports anti-colonial initiatives, whereas Country B does not. The method of difference would identify the independent variable to be the status of each country as a former colony or not, with the dependant variable being supportive for anti-colonial initiatives. This is because, out of the two similar countries compared, the difference between the two is whether or not they were formerly a colony. This then explains the difference on the values of the dependent variable, with the former colony being more likely to support decolonization than the country with no history of being a colony.Indirect method of difference
Also called the "Joint Method of Agreement and Difference", this principle is a combination of two methods of agreement. Despite the name, it is weaker than the direct method of difference and does not include it. Symbolically, the Joint method of agreement and difference can be represented as: : A B C occur together with x y z : A D E occur together with x v w : F G occur with y w : —————————————————— : Therefore A is the cause, or the effect, or a part of the cause of x.Method of residue
If a range of factors are believed to cause a range of phenomena, and we have matched all the factors, except one, with all the phenomena, except one, then the remaining phenomenon can be attributed to the remaining factor. Symbolically, the Method of Residue can be represented as: : A B C occur together with x y z : B is known to be the cause of y : C is known to be the cause of z : —————————————————— : Therefore A is the cause or effect of x.Method of concomitant variations
If across a range of circumstances leading to a phenomenon, some property of the phenomenon varies in tandem with some factor existing in the circumstances, then the phenomenon can be associated with that factor. For instance, suppose that various samples of water, each containing bothSee also
*References
Further reading
* * *{{cite book , last=Kreeft , first=Peter , year=2009 , title=Socratic Logic, A Logic Text Using Socratic Method, Platonic Questions, and Aristotelian Principles , publisher=St. Augustine's Press, South Bend, Indiana , isbn=978-1-890318-89-5External links