从规范化理念到规范化实践:透明度视域下案例研究方法新突破

From the Normative Concept to Normative Practice:A New Breakthrough in Case Study Methodology from the Perspective of Transparency

作为方法的案例研究关乎我们对研究对象的认知和理解。社会科学“学术规范化运动”及后续规范性讨论对案例研究方法的质量提升发挥了关键作用,但并未化解宏观规范化理念和微观规范化实践之间的内在张力,导致其促进研究方法发展的边际效益递减。基于社会科学研究透明度分析视角,于案例研究方法使用中促进数据透明、过程透明、分析透明,能在进一步保障研究真实性的同时,对拓展个案研究限度、强化证据导向、提升案例研究方法挖掘因果机制能力等发挥积极作用。当然,案例研究方法自身及外部环境不确定性的特点,也对其透明度提升造成一定挑战,在案例研究透明度与保持研究方法特征之间实现平衡将成为未来讨论的焦点。

As a method, case studies are about our perception and understanding of the research object. The academic normative movement and subsequent normative discussions in social sciences have played a key role in improving the quality of case study methodology, but they have not solved the inherent tension between macro-normative concepts and micro-normative practices, resulting in diminishing marginal benefits in promoting the development of research methods. Based on the perspective of transparency in social science, promoting transparency in data, process, and analysis in the use of case study methods can further guarantee the authenticity of research, expand the limits of case studies, strengthen the evidence orientation, and enhance the ability of case study methods to explore causal mechanisms. Of course, the uncertainty of the case study methodology and the external environment also poses certain challenges to transparency, and the balance between case study transparency and maintaining the characteristics of the research methodology will be central to future discussions.